The office of Attorney General Jay Jones is clarifying how recent court orders affect the state’s new assault weapons ban and large-capacity magazine restrictions, saying the laws remain in effect but cannot currently be enforced by Virginia State Police and some localities because of preliminary injunctions.
The clarification comes after four lawsuits were filed challenging the constitutionality of the restrictions, resulting in two injunctions and creating confusion over whether the laws — which took effect at midnight Wednesday — were fully blocked statewide.
Two courts have issued preliminary injunctions in cases filed in Lancaster and Washington counties, while a Spotsylvania County judge denied a request to block enforcement. A Fauquier County judge has not yet ruled on a similar request.
The OAG said the injunctions do not invalidate the laws or prevent them from eventually taking effect. Instead, they temporarily restrict enforcement by the government officials named as defendants in those lawsuits.
Because the superintendent of the Virginia State Police is a defendant in the Lancaster County case, the attorney general’s office said state police will not enforce the new restrictions statewide while the injunction remains in place, “in the interest of uniformity and certainty.”
The injunctions also prevent enforcement by commonwealth’s attorneys named as defendants in the Washington County lawsuit, including prosecutors in Washington County, Chesapeake, York County, Frederick County, Giles County and Chesterfield County.
However, the attorney general’s office emphasized that the court orders do not bind individuals or local law enforcement agencies that were not named as defendants in the lawsuits.
“The new laws remain in force,” the office said in the update, while noting that individuals and businesses with questions about how the injunctions apply to their circumstances should seek legal advice.
The four lawsuits — filed in Washington, Lancaster, Spotsylvania and Fauquier counties — are also seeking permanent relief from the restrictions. A Virginia Supreme Court panel is scheduled to hear arguments July 6 on whether the four cases should be consolidated into a single forum.
The attorney general’s office said it plans to appeal the injunctions issued in Lancaster and Washington counties.
The federal government also filed a lawsuit against the ban on Wednesday morning.
Just as the Second Amendment is not a second-class right, the AR-15 is not a second-class arm,” said Assistant Attorney General of the United States Harmeet Dhillon. “As promised, [the DOJ Civil Rights Division] is moving fast to vindicate Virginians’ rights to acquire the most popular rifle in the country for self-defense.”
The restrictions were approved during the 2026 General Assembly session and signed into law by Gov. Abigail Spanberger.