Assault Weapon Laws in Virginia

Last updated August 31, 2026 .

Virginia prohibits any person:

Who is not a citizen of the U.S., or who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence, from knowingly and intentionally possessing or transporting any semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol equipped with a magazine capable of holding more than 20 rounds of ammunition, or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer, or equipped with a folding stock;¹ or

Who is a firearms dealer from transferring any firearm described above to such a person;² and

From importing, selling, possessing or transferring “the Striker 12, commonly called a ‘streetsweeper,’ or any semi-automatic folding-stock shotgun of like kind with a spring tension drum magazine capable of holding twelve shotgun shells.”³

Effective July 1, 2026, Virginia prohibits the importation, sale, manufacture, purchase and transfer of assault firearms.⁴ With certain exceptions, Virginia law also prohibits any person under 18 years of age from knowingly and intentionally possessing or transporting an assault firearm.⁵

Virginia law defines “assault firearm” as a:

Semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol with fixed magazine larger than 15 rounds;

Semi-automatic center-fire rifle with the ability to accept a detachable magazine and at least one of a list of military-style features;
Semi-automatic center-fire pistol that has at least two of a list of military-style features;
Semi-automatic shotgun that expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and has at least one of a list of military-style features, or a shotgun with a revolving cylinder;
Firearm capable of accepting a belt ammunition feeding device; or
Firearm that has been modified to be operable as an assault firearm as described above.⁶

Virginia law also prohibits the carrying of certain loaded high-powered firearms in public places in certain cities. See the Other Location Restrictions section for further information.

MEDIA REQUESTS

Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.

Contact

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.2:01.[↩]
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.2:2(B)(1).[↩]
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.8.[↩]
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-287.4:1(B).[↩]
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.7(B).[↩]
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.2:2(F).[↩]