Wednesday brought good news for Virginia’s sizable sporting community when the Washington County Circuit Court stayed proceedings in one lawsuit against the state’s gun control regime.
That means that fundamental rights will remain in place as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments this fall and decide the constitutionality of Old Dominion’s AR-15 ban in Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins.
Sweeping injunction applying to entire state to remain in effect
The injunction in Santolla v. Katz, issued by Judge Jeffrey L. Campbell and clarified to cover the entire state, means these popular firearms remain lawful to purchase or transfer.
Santolla’s plaintiffs challenged the legality of Gov. Abigail Sponberger’s (D) pet legislation to ban the importation, manufacture, sale, purchase, and transfer of the country’s most popular sporting rifles. The litigants further argued against the ban on magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds.
All four major suits against Virginia’s gun control apparatus are now on hold
U.S. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia granted a stay in McDonald v. Katz just days earlier. This NRA, FPC, and SAF-supported lawsuit also targeted the AR-15 and magazine ban.
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones sought to have the four cases combined, but that plea went unheeded.
As it stands and will until at least late Spring 2027, Virginia’s law-abiding citizens continue to enjoy the right to keep and bear the arms of their choosing.
To be clear, modern sporting rifles and the magazines they use are bearable by the public for numerous lawful purposes and number in the tens of millions. This satisfies the SCOTUS determination that the Second Amendment protects Americans’ right to possess firearms in “common” use.
As Virginia’s state government knows well.
There is no guarantee of a favorable ruling that remains several months away. But the aggressive defense of constitutional rights by 2A organizations and their partners extended Virginians’ capabilities to continue to enjoy these ubiquitous firearms.
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