Virginia Prosecutors Say They Will Not Enforce New Semi-Automatic Weapons Ban

Several conservative prosecutors in Virginia said they will not enforce new state restrictions on the sale and transfer of certain semi-automatic firearms as lawsuits challenge the law.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

At least five Virginia prosecutors say they will not enforce new state laws that ban the sale and transfer of certain semi-automatic weapons, setting up a local resistance effort ahead of the restrictions taking effect.

The law, which is scheduled to take effect in about five weeks, will make it a misdemeanor to buy, sell, transfer or import covered semi-automatic weapons. Violations could carry up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Spotsylvania County prosecutor Ryan Mehaffey said his office will not pursue cases under the new restrictions.

“The Second Amendment is alive and well in Spotsylvania County,” Mehaffey told News4.

Prosecutors in Powhatan, Pulaski, Scott and Smyth counties have also said they will not enforce the ban, according to the submitted report.

The resistance from local prosecutors comes as several lawsuits have already been filed challenging the new restrictions. The legal challenges are expected to test whether the law can survive constitutional scrutiny under the Second Amendment.

The dispute places Virginia at the center of a broader fight over gun control, prosecutorial discretion and the role of local law enforcement officials in carrying out state firearms laws. Supporters of the ban argue the restrictions are intended to limit access to certain semi-automatic weapons, while opponents say the measure infringes on constitutional gun rights.

The prosecutors’ statements indicate that enforcement may vary by jurisdiction once the law takes effect. In counties where commonwealth’s attorneys decline to bring charges, the practical impact of the ban could be limited unless state officials or other authorities pursue enforcement through separate channels.

The new law’s rollout is likely to draw continued attention as the effective date approaches, lawsuits move forward and Virginia residents wait to see how the restrictions will be applied across the state.