Virginia gun owners are facing one of the most aggressive legislative attacks on the Second Amendment in recent memory. As the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session begins, lawmakers have introduced a wave of gun control bills aimed at taxing, restricting, and outright banning common firearms and accessories.

At the center of the controversy is House Bill 207, which would impose a $500 state excise tax on firearm suppressors, just months after the federal suppressor tax was repealed. The proposal would make suppressors—widely used for hearing protection and safe shooting—more expensive than ever, pricing many law-abiding Virginians out of the market.

But the suppressor tax is only the beginning. Additional bills include House Bill 271, which targets commonly owned semi-automatic rifles and magazines, effectively reviving an “assault weapon” ban. Other proposals threaten concealed carry reciprocity, restrict firearms in vehicles, ban homemade firearms, expand prohibited-person categories, and expose gun manufacturers and retailers to lawsuits through vague “responsible conduct” standards.

Together, these measures represent a coordinated effort to erode lawful gun ownership in the Commonwealth. Critics argue the bills do nothing to stop crime and instead punish responsible citizens through higher costs, legal uncertainty, and reduced access to constitutionally protected rights.

With multiple bills moving quickly through the legislature, gun owners are being urged to stay informed, contact their representatives, and engage before these proposals become law. As history shows, stopping bad legislation early is far easier than undoing years of infringement later.