Virginia

“More than a week after a statewide injunction halted enforcement of Virginia’s new assault weapons ban, parts of the legal fight have entered a holding pattern as state and federal courts await guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court,” The Center Square reported. Washington County Circuit Judge Jeffrey L. Campbell expanded the injunction statewide on July 21 and later paused the case while the high court reviews similar bans in Illinois and Connecticut; the injunction stays in effect until further order or no later than 60 days after those decisions.

The law, which took effect July 1, prohibits future sales and transfers of certain semiautomatic firearms and magazines holding more than 15 rounds while allowing continued possession of those already owned. Most firearms dealers have resumed selling the affected items under the injunction, according to the Virginia Citizens Defense League, though a separate challenge in Lancaster County remains active with a hearing set for Aug. 21.

“Virginia voters won’t have to wait until Super Tuesday to pick a Democratic presidential candidate in 2028. The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee proposed Virginia as the sixth state on the early presidential primary calendar in 2028, with the election scheduled on Feb. 29 — leap day. It will follow Democratic presidential primaries in South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Michigan under the calendar adopted Friday,” Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, Sen. Lamont Bagby and former Gov. Terry McAuliffe praised the move as recognition of Virginia’s diverse electorate, strong election administration and national political weight, giving the commonwealth an earlier platform for candidates ahead of Super Tuesday.

For the first time under a new law, Virginia’s election offices were open Sunday, but in nearly half the state no one showed up to vote, Cardinal News reported. Turnout was strong in some Northern Virginia localities while most rural areas recorded zero in-person votes, with offices required to open again this Sunday.

“Gun shops across Virginia resumed sales of assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines today after a statewide injunction blocking enforcement of the new ban officially took effect,” WSET reported. A Washington County judge clarified that the temporary order applies statewide, preventing enforcement of the ban across the commonwealth following weeks of legal challenges over its constitutionality.

Del. Tim Griffin, R-53rd District, called the ruling a win for Second Amendment rights, while Del. Sam Rasoul, D-38th District, urged patience as the case proceeds. The attorney general’s office said the state remains confident the ban will be upheld and noted that related U.S. Supreme Court cases could inform the outcome.

“The gun used at Old Dominion University by a convicted foreign terrorist supporter came from a Virginian who stole it and was dealing firearms without a license, according to his guilty plea,” The Center Square reported. Kenya Mcchell Chapman, 32, of Smithfield, pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to three counts of making false statements during firearm purchases and faces up to 35 years at his Dec. 18 sentencing. Prosecutors say he stole the weapon from a vehicle in Newport News a year earlier and sold it to Mohamed Bailor Jalloh the day before the March 12 attack.

Jalloh, previously convicted in 2016 of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, killed one person and wounded two others during a shooting at an Army ROTC class on the Norfolk campus before he was subdued and fatally stabbed. Cellphone records showed Chapman’s number was the most frequently contacted in the week leading up to the attack, and ammunition matching that used in the shooting was recovered from Chapman’s residence the following day.