Virginia is days away from one of the most significant changes to its firearms laws in decades. Starting July 1, 2026, the sale, manufacture, transfer, and importation of certain semi-automatic firearms — commonly referred to as "assault weapons" — will be prohibited under state law. If you own guns, live in Virginia, or plan to travel there, here's everything you need to know. What Does Virginia's New Gun Law Actually Ban? Virginia's House Bill 217 / Senate Bill 749, signed by Gove …