A spokesperson for Gov. Abigail Spanberger confirmed to Virginia Scope on Wednesday night that Virginia State Police will resume conducting background checks for private gun sales after a court order paused the practice last October.
This comes two days after Cardinal News published a story about an emergency clause on legislation signed by Spanberger to immediately require background checks on all gun sales that was not being enacted by Virginia State Police.
Philip Van Cleave, the founder of the gun rights advocacy group Virginia Citizens Defense League, announced the change on social media after being notified.
“The Virginia Attorney General’s office just informed us that the Virginia State Police intends to enforce Universal Background Checks for private sales IN DIRECT DISREGARD OF THE COURT ORDER HALTING ENFORCEMENT!” Van Cleave posted late Wednesday night.
The court order that Van Cleave is referencing prevented Virginia State Police from conducting background checks for private sales of weapons at gun shows while a lawsuit in Lynchburg Circuit Court is pending over the requirement’s validity.
The Office of the Attorney General did not respond to a request for comment late Wednesday night.
The Virginia State Police website was updated Thursday morning to show that background checks on private sales are available.
In Spanberger’s substitute for HB 1525, which flew under the radar, she included an emergency clause that reinstates background checks on private gun sales.
The emergency clause put the law into effect immediately upon passage.