Virginia Democrats advance bill banning sale of assault-style weapons

Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly on Monday advanced legislation that would fundamentally alter the state’s firearm laws by outlawing the future sale and transfer of “assault-style” firearms in the Commonwealth. 

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee reported an amended version of Senate Bill 749, sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Saddam Salim, that would ban the sale of assault-style weapons regardless of their manufacture date. 

The amendment would also impose a 10-round magazine limit and make it a Class 1 misdemeanor to import, sell, manufacture, purchase, or transfer such weapons. 

Crucially for gun owners, the legislation clarifies that this limit does not include a grandfather provision for sales or transfers, effectively making the trade of high-capacity magazines illegal if the bill becomes law.  

The legislation would