VA AWB thoughts (Page 1 of 11)
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Posted: 3/14/2026 1:13:32 PM EDT
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Two major things to address: 1. Reading through many threads here and elsewhere regarding HB217/SB749, aka the VA AWBs, I’m concerned about the number of people buying stripped lowers to sit on before 7/1/26. Assembling the lowers into AF (assault firearms as defined by the Bills) post 7/1 will likely constitute manufacturing of an AF, which is prohibited. Those stripped lowers will be worthless, unless you are planning on assembling feature-less firearms. 2. The AWB bills prohibit any transfer of hi-cap mags, even upon your death. If you want your children or anyone else significant to you to be able to possess magazines, you have to buy the mags for them now and/or place the mags in a trust and name your children/SO as trustees. If you don’t, the mags must be destroyed, turned over to the SS, or sold out of state. This video is worth watching.  VA Assault weapons bill passes – what next? Act now. |
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And? The firearm is the lower. Its already IN state. Therefore "exempt" if your're "sitting" on it pre 7/1. It's also not an "AW" until it has those features. Lowers don't have "features", which is why stripped lowers are legal in places like NY and CA. Also this nonsense of "no transport" at all can't even take it to the range is a bunch of hogwash. But sure, if you live in NoVA and are going whereever to shoot your whatever and some POS jackboot decides the AR in your trunk in the case or the back of your cab is somehow "on or about your person" I guess? Wring your hands over it. I won't be. The fun part will it will be easy to see who the hand wringers are. They will all be at the range with 10 rounders, or not there at all. Its amazing the hoops people will go through to comply with something that can't be proven, or isn't even part of the actual law. If the item is in state before July 1 its exempt.... for now. Next you will tell us we should somehow date stamp our mags to be in compliance somehow. You comply your way though. Half of my lowers are already on a form 1. Oops. Looks like they are already done innit? There's no registration... Yet... Gosh where did this lower come from? I personally have so many I don't even have a clue any more many were bought FTF when I saw good deals pop up on VGT. |
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Originally Posted By cryo_tech: And? The firearm is the lower. Its already IN state. Therefore "exempt" if your're "sitting" on it pre 7/1. It's also not an "AW" until it has those features. Lowers don't have "features", which is why stripped lowers are legal in places like NY and CA. Also this nonsense of "no transport" at all can't even take it to the range is a bunch of hogwash. But sure, if you live in NoVA and are going whereever to shoot your whatever and some POS jackboot decides the AR in your trunk in the case or the back of your cab is somehow "on or about your person" I guess? Wring your hands over it. I won't be. The fun part will it will be easy to see who the hand wringers are. They will all be at the range with 10 rounders, or not there at all. Its amazing the hoops people will go through to comply with something that can't be proven, or isn't even part of the actual law. If the item is in state before July 1 its exempt.... for now. Next you will tell us we should somehow date stamp our mags to be in compliance somehow. You comply your way though. You may not manufacture an AF post 7/1. Assembling a lower into an AF is considered manufacturing. You may manufacture from a stripped lower a feature-less AF or a rimfire “AF” post 7/1. Hoarding stripped lowers, or expecting to obtain them post 7/1, doesn’t seem to be a great plan. There is an exemption for transporting AFs. It’s referenced in the bill. |
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Originally Posted By wherewildthingsare: You may not manufacture an AF post 7/1. Assembling a lower into an AF is considered manufacturing. You may manufacture from a stripped lower a feature-less AF or a rimfire “AF” post 7/1. Hoarding stripped lowers, or expecting to obtain them post 7/1, doesn’t seem to be a great plan. There is an exemption for transporting AFs. It’s referenced in the bill. Ok. |
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Originally Posted By wherewildthingsare: You may not manufacture an AF post 7/1. Assembling a lower into an AF is considered manufacturing. You may manufacture from a stripped lower a feature-less AF or a rimfire “AF” post 7/1. Hoarding stripped lowers, or expecting to obtain them post 7/1, doesn’t seem to be a great plan. There is an exemption for transporting AFs. It’s referenced in the bill. If you want to bend over backward to comply. All you have to do is put a pistol grip on the lower before 7/1. Voila, it's an AW, according to their definition, and thus, grandfathered. |
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Burden of proof is on the state, no? Prove this AR lower was unassembled before 7/1. Also, since the UBC is still dead, technically any AR lower already in state is fair game to FTF because it is not an AW, and featureless as well. So.. You know.. The point is, just like an FRT, do everything you can to use the wording of their laws meant to strip you of rights, against them. |
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If it really bothers you, hang some parts on the lower and take a photograph. Remove parts and move on to next lower. (ATF says identity is retained even if unassembled.) Preferrably pistol configuration as it gives you more options down the road. That's what I plan on doing. I think my trust is capable of handling non-nfa items, including magazines. John Pierce has promised to let us know more as things get more certain. That would make it a good vehicle for passing magazines on. That said, there are probably more casual means of documenting that my children have magazines prior to July 1. There are so many owners that it seems unlikely that the state would have the manpower to go after individuals. Even then, 2A sanctuary municipalities, the VSP would have to handle it. |
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Originally Posted By johnmyster: If it really bothers you, hang some parts on the lower and take a photograph. Remove parts and move on to next lower. (ATF says identity is retained even if unassembled.) Preferrably pistol configuration as it gives you more options down the road. That's what I plan on doing. I think my trust is capable of handling non-nfa items, including magazines. John Pierce has promised to let us know more as things get more certain. That would make it a good vehicle for passing magazines on. That said, there are probably more casual means of documenting that my children have magazines prior to July 1. There are so many owners that it seems unlikely that the state would have the manpower to go after individuals. Even then, 2A sanctuary municipalities, the VSP would have to handle it. VSP will gladly do such bidding. Never forget that. |
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There is the strict letter of what is expected to be the law, and then there is reality. If the state is trying to prove someone assembled a previously-owned stripped lower after 7/1, things have already gone terribly pear-shaped for both the citizen and the Commonwealth. It means the citizen has gotten jammed up for something else, and the state can't prove the other charges, so they're looking something they can make stick. You do see it sometimes where, say, a kid commits a crime with a gun, and a parent is just charged with something related to the equipment because there's no law attaching criminal liability to the parent for the child's crime. Proof of assembly would likely be difficult to obtain. There will always be a disconnect between law and behavior with stuff like this. A lower is a receiver, not a pistol or a rifle, so I believe you can comply by assembling a rifle or pistol before 7/1. Put a grip and short upper on it, drop in a trigger and now it's a pistol. You might not even need the upper, the AR really messes with some of these legal definitions because of its modular nature. Maybe you don't even need the trigger, because the receiver is the rifle or pistol when configured as such. But then what if you take it apart? Maybe ATF says it's now a rifle or pistol, but there's still the "assembly" problem. Once you take the parts off, it may be a rifle or pistol, but it's not an "assault firearm," and now you can't "assemble" it after 7/1. So...leave enough on each so that the lower is an assault firearm, I guess. The grip should do it. Again, most people just aren't going to give a shit about any of this, they just note that owning the lower before 7/1 is likely to protect against what would be clear, documented evidence that they made an assault firearm after 7/1. |
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Originally Posted By cryo_tech: VSP will gladly do such bidding. Never forget that. This video makes that fairly obvious. Paraphrasing, "these gun control bills are bad because they don't have carve outs for law enforcement." Tyrant mentality begins at 15:30.  Episode 7: Collective Bargaining, Budget & Gun Bills | David and Bill From the Hill | 2026 GA Safe storage / biometric bill carves out nearly $600,000 in the general budget for state law enforcement to get new safes for their homes. So, we pay for theirs, then we get to pay for ours. |
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IDGAF about a safe for LEOS. I want them stripped of their right to own / buy /possess the same things we are, because fuck you too. LE exceptions in "ban states" which VA now is, are as bad as the ban itsself. Half the LE I have ever encountered are far worse people than people who have guns I know. |
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Virginia is a commonwealth state meaning that laws are applied based on precedent of the situations applied. In this case manufacturing a stripped lower from an incomplete state into one of the two characteristics ban. Keep in mind that based on my reading of the law it’s about purchase, transfer or selling. The law is designed to prevent you from ever getting rid of your “assault weapon” so in a way if you possess it or parts is not one of the enumerated reason of violation. So you should be safe to assemble it post July since you’re in possession of the parts: you did not buy it, sell it, transport or imported it. However don’t ever think that a DA who is anti gun is not going to attempt to set a precedent. If there is ever a case about transporting a stripped lower or transferring a stripped lower then expect a precedent to be set and one based on a technicality of the law. A good technicality case would be one where you loan the ar15 to a friend who gets pulled over. Or if you drove past state lines with the firearm and came back. Or if you sold a piece but not a complete rifle to a friend who then assembled it into an illegal two characteristic configuration after July. Good luck gents. |
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Originally Posted By Glarus: There is the strict letter of what is expected to be the law, and then there is reality. If the state is trying to prove someone assembled a previously-owned stripped lower after 7/1, things have already gone terribly pear-shaped for both the citizen and the Commonwealth. It means the citizen has gotten jammed up for something else, and the state can't prove the other charges, so they're looking something they can make stick. You do see it sometimes where, say, a kid commits a crime with a gun, and a parent is just charged with something related to the equipment because there's no law attaching criminal liability to the parent for the child's crime. Proof of assembly would likely be difficult to obtain. There will always be a disconnect between law and behavior with stuff like this. A lower is a receiver, not a pistol or a rifle, so I believe you can comply by assembling a rifle or pistol before 7/1. Put a grip and short upper on it, drop in a trigger and now it's a pistol. You might not even need the upper, the AR really messes with some of these legal definitions because of its modular nature. Maybe you don't even need the trigger, because the receiver is the rifle or pistol when configured as such. But then what if you take it apart? Maybe ATF says it's now a rifle or pistol, but there's still the "assembly" problem. Once you take the parts off, it may be a rifle or pistol, but it's not an "assault firearm," and now you can't "assemble" it after 7/1. So...leave enough on each so that the lower is an assault firearm, I guess. The grip should do it. Again, most people just aren't going to give a shit about any of this, they just note that owning the lower before 7/1 is likely to protect against what would be clear, documented evidence that they made an assault firearm after 7/1. Keep in mind the law as written says nothing about possession. The law is about transfer, import, or purchase. So merely possession is not reasonable enough to charge you since nothing in the law states you can’t own it so long as you are not a prohibited person. So in that area I do not believe anyone will be charged. However since there are a lot of technicality of what exactly what constitutes a transfer, purchase, or import. A number of situations could occur where someone could easily get charged. |
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Originally Posted By Glarus: There is the strict letter of what is expected to be the law, and then there is reality. If the state is trying to prove someone assembled a previously-owned stripped lower after 7/1, things have already gone terribly pear-shaped for both the citizen and the Commonwealth. It means the citizen has gotten jammed up for something else, and the state can't prove the other charges, so they're looking something they can make stick. You do see it sometimes where, say, a kid commits a crime with a gun, and a parent is just charged with something related to the equipment because there's no law attaching criminal liability to the parent for the child's crime. Proof of assembly would likely be difficult to obtain. There will always be a disconnect between law and behavior with stuff like this. A lower is a receiver, not a pistol or a rifle, so I believe you can comply by assembling a rifle or pistol before 7/1. Put a grip and short upper on it, drop in a trigger and now it's a pistol. You might not even need the upper, the AR really messes with some of these legal definitions because of its modular nature. Maybe you don't even need the trigger, because the receiver is the rifle or pistol when configured as such. But then what if you take it apart? Maybe ATF says it's now a rifle or pistol, but there's still the "assembly" problem. Once you take the parts off, it may be a rifle or pistol, but it's not an "assault firearm," and now you can't "assemble" it after 7/1. So...leave enough on each so that the lower is an assault firearm, I guess. The grip should do it. Again, most people just aren't going to give a shit about any of this, they just note that owning the lower before 7/1 is likely to protect against what would be clear, documented evidence that they made an assault firearm after 7/1. 1. According to ATF, once a rifle always a rifle, and once a pistol, it can remain a pistol or become a rifle. Adding a pistol grip, trigger, and stock to a lower does not make a rifle. You need a barreled (with rifling) upper mounted. ATF definition of rifle: A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder and designed to use the energy of an explosive in a fixed cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifled barrel for each single pull of the trigger. 2. SB749 as passed also prohibits manufacture, ie, assembly. Any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, or transfers an assault firearm is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. |
| Under federal regulations, assembly isn't manufacturing, but states don't necessarily follow federal definitions. I thought I saw the word "assemble" in at least one version of SB749 or HB217, but the version passed says "any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, or transfers an assault firearm is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor." If VA does not define "manufacture" to include "assemble," then that is helpful for those who want to play the technical compliance game. Use one set of parts to make as many lowers as you want into your preferred category before 7/1, and "assemble" to your heart's content at any time thereafter. Again, most people are not going to bother with this. If they have pre-7/1 lowers, they'll put them together when they're ready to. This is all just the left's opening move anyway. Helmer and Saddam want the guns out of Virginia, and Jones wants to shoot you in the head. Twice. |
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Originally Posted By wherewildthingsare: 1. According to ATF, once a rifle always a rifle, and once a pistol, it can remain a pistol or become a rifle. Adding a pistol grip, trigger, and stock to a lower does not make a rifle. You need a barreled (with rifling) upper mounted. ATF definition of rifle: A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder and designed to use the energy of an explosive in a fixed cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifled barrel for each single pull of the trigger. 2. SB749 as passed also prohibits manufacture, ie, assembly. Any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, or transfers an assault firearm is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Again a massive technicality on exactly what manufacturing exactly means or the scope of. Simply taking pieces and assembling it is not really manufacturing in the sense that you would need uncommon tools to build it. Since there is no precedent cases in Va regarding any of this it’s really a matter of which DA brings the charges and set the precedent. If they successfully charge someone for assembling a lower I would say a large segment of gun owners in deep trouble. |
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Originally Posted By Glarus: Under federal regulations, assembly isn't manufacturing, but states don't necessarily follow federal definitions. I thought I saw the word "assemble" in at least one version of SB749 or HB217, but the version passed says "any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, or transfers an assault firearm is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor." If VA does not define "manufacture" to include "assemble," then that is helpful for those who want to play the technical compliance game. Use one set of parts to make as many lowers as you want into your preferred category before 7/1, and "assemble" to your heart's content at any time thereafter. Again, most people are not going to bother with this. If they have pre-7/1 lowers, they'll put them together when they're ready to. This is all just the left's opening move anyway. Helmer and Saddam want the guns out of Virginia, and Jones wants to shoot you in the head. Twice. The technicality works both ways. The da that brings the charge and the defense team. It’s really a matter of a judge believing one side or the other and usually they’ll believe the da more than the defense. This is a misdemeanor offense so usually it’s just going in front of a judge. I would say the technicality would work in favor of the da if someone has multiple unassembled lowers and a lot of lpks to assemble it. The could argue that is uncommon and fits the manufacturing definition. But a person having just one lower? Maybe not. |
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Originally Posted By dalle0001: Again a massive technicality on exactly what manufacturing exactly means or the scope of. Simply taking pieces and assembling it is not really manufacturing in the sense that you would need uncommon tools to build it. Since there is no precedent cases in Va regarding any of this it’s really a matter of which DA brings the charges and set the precedent. If they successfully charge someone for assembling a lower I would say a large segment of gun owners in deep trouble. Originally Posted By dalle0001: Originally Posted By wherewildthingsare: 1. According to ATF, once a rifle always a rifle, and once a pistol, it can remain a pistol or become a rifle. Adding a pistol grip, trigger, and stock to a lower does not make a rifle. You need a barreled (with rifling) upper mounted. ATF definition of rifle: A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder and designed to use the energy of an explosive in a fixed cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifled barrel for each single pull of the trigger. 2. SB749 as passed also prohibits manufacture, ie, assembly. Any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, or transfers an assault firearm is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Again a massive technicality on exactly what manufacturing exactly means or the scope of. Simply taking pieces and assembling it is not really manufacturing in the sense that you would need uncommon tools to build it. Since there is no precedent cases in Va regarding any of this it’s really a matter of which DA brings the charges and set the precedent. If they successfully charge someone for assembling a lower I would say a large segment of gun owners in deep trouble. The lawyer in the video in the first post mentions there being some precedent. |
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Originally Posted By dalle0001: The technicality works both ways. The da that brings the charge and the defense team. It’s really a matter of a judge believing one side or the other and usually they’ll believe the da more than the defense. This is a misdemeanor offense so usually it’s just going in front of a judge. I would say the technicality would work in favor of the da if someone has multiple unassembled lowers and a lot of lpks to assemble it. The could argue that is uncommon and fits the manufacturing definition. But a person having just one lower? Maybe not. I have many LPKs in the form of parts. Same with spare bolts, ETC. The parts are interchangable and spares. Parts are not illegal. An upper is a part. A barrel is a part. None of these parts are Illegal unless assembled into the whole sum of an "AW" and that was done post 7/1. A stripped lower is not an AW. They are still available in NY and CA as examples. Many people have many spare parts. Parts alone are not illegal. Repair is not illegal, replacing parts, is not illegal. Now there will likely be DA's and LE that want to hem you up for years and financially ruin you, despite knowing this. This is called legislation and litigation by spite. and its precisely what this is about. |
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Originally Posted By cryo_tech: I have many LPKs in the form of parts. Same with spare bolts, ETC. The parts are interchangable and spares. Parts are not illegal. An upper is a part. A barrel is a part. None of these parts are Illegal unless assembled into the whole sum of an "AW" and that was done post 7/1. A stripped lower is not an AW. They are still available in NY and CA as examples. Many people have many spare parts. Parts alone are not illegal. Parts are not illegal, and a stripped lower is not an assault firearm. Assuming SB749 becomes law, manufacturing an assault firearm after 7/1 is illegal, regardless when the parts and lower were purchased. I predict not many retailers will ship BCGs, barrels, uppers, LPKs, etc. to Virginia after 7/1 as they don’t want to be complicit in the illegal manufacture of an AF. The definition of an AF as used in § 18.2-287.4:1. of SB749 is as follows, by reference: "Assault firearm" means any semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol which expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock. The definition of an AF as used in § 18.2-308.2:2. Criminal history record information check required for the transfer of certain firearms. is more specific and what is quoted by most, yet applies only to § 18.2-308.2:2, and applies to dealers selling/transferring AFs and firearms generally. Then, § 18.2-308.2:5. Criminal history record information check required to sell firearm; penalties. addresses private party sales of AFs, again referencing definition of AF by reference to § 18.2-308.2:2. E. No person shall sell an assault firearm as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2 for money, goods, services, or anything else of value. Any person who willfully and intentionally (i) sells an assault firearm as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2 to another person or (ii) purchases an assault firearm as defined in § 18.2-308.2:2 from another person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. It is clear as mud. Take a look for yourself. https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB749/text/SB749H2 |
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Originally Posted By wherewildthingsare: Parts are not illegal, and a stripped lower is not an assault firearm. Assuming SB749 becomes law, manufacturing an assault firearm after 7/1 is illegal, regardless when the parts and lower were purchased. I predict not many retailers will ship BCGs, barrels, uppers, LPKs, etc. to Virginia after 7/1 as they don’t want to be complicit in the illegal manufacture of an AF. The definition of an AF as used in § 18.2-287.4:1. of SB749 is as follow, by reference: "Assault firearm" means any semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol which expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock. The definition of an AF as used in § 18.2-308.2:2. Criminal history record information check required for the transfer of certain firearms. is more specific and what is quoted by most, yet applies only to § 18.2-308.2:2. It is clear as mud. Take a look for yourself. https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB749/text/SB749H2 Why would VA be any different than any other ban state with a worse ban where these items are shipped regularly? Go right now to AIM surplus, enter any NY state zip somewhere not NYC (I didnt try NYC) and see if "this item can be shipped to you" Uppers can ship. bolts can ship. LPKs can ship. The only thing AIM wont ship is a lower. but lowers can still be bought in NY from an LGS afaik and I know for a fact Aero shipped to NY when they had stock. |
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Originally Posted By cryo_tech: Why would VA be any different than any other ban state with a worse ban where these items are shipped regularly? Go right now to AIM surplus, enter any NY state zip somewhere not NYC (I didnt try NYC) and see if "this item can be shipped to you" Uppers can ship. bolts can ship. LPKs can ship. The only thing AIM wont ship is a lower. but lowers can still be bought in NY from an LGS afaik and I know for a fact Aero shipped to NY when they had stock. Originally Posted By cryo_tech: Originally Posted By wherewildthingsare: Parts are not illegal, and a stripped lower is not an assault firearm. Assuming SB749 becomes law, manufacturing an assault firearm after 7/1 is illegal, regardless when the parts and lower were purchased. I predict not many retailers will ship BCGs, barrels, uppers, LPKs, etc. to Virginia after 7/1 as they don’t want to be complicit in the illegal manufacture of an AF. The definition of an AF as used in § 18.2-287.4:1. of SB749 is as follow, by reference: "Assault firearm" means any semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol which expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock. The definition of an AF as used in § 18.2-308.2:2. Criminal history record information check required for the transfer of certain firearms. is more specific and what is quoted by most, yet applies only to § 18.2-308.2:2. It is clear as mud. Take a look for yourself. https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB749/text/SB749H2 Why would VA be any different than any other ban state with a worse ban where these items are shipped regularly? Go right now to AIM surplus, enter any NY state zip somewhere not NYC (I didnt try NYC) and see if "this item can be shipped to you" Uppers can ship. bolts can ship. LPKs can ship. The only thing AIM wont ship is a lower. but lowers can still be bought in NY from an LGS afaik and I know for a fact Aero shipped to NY when they had stock. I’m sure some will still ship parts, at least initially, but have you heard of SB27, another passed bill awaiting Spanberger’s action? California-like parts restrictions will be in place next, for those retailers that are not dissuaded by SB27. SB27 Status: Awaiting Governor's Action Firearm industry members; definitions, standards of responsible conduct, civil liability. Patrons All PatronsMore info Introduced by: Jennifer D. Carroll Foy (Chief Patron) Summary As Passed All SummariesMore info Firearm industry members; standards of responsible conduct; civil liability. Creates standards of responsible conduct for firearm industry members and requires such members to establish and implement reasonable controls regarding the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, and marketing of the firearm industry member's firearm-related products, as those terms are defined in the bill. Such reasonable controls include reasonable procedures, safeguards, and business practices that are designed to (i) prevent the sale or distribution of a firearm-related product to a straw purchaser, a firearm trafficker, a person prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, or a person who the firearm industry member has reasonable cause to believe is at substantial risk of using a firearm-related product to harm themselves or unlawfully harm another or of unlawfully possessing or using a firearm-related product; (ii) prevent the loss of a firearm-related product or theft of a firearm-related product from a firearm industry member; (iii) ensure that the firearm industry member complies with all provisions of state and federal law and does not otherwise promote the unlawful manufacture, sale, possession, marketing, or use of a firearm-related product; (iv) prevent the installation and use of an auto sear on firearm-related products; and (v) ensure that the firearm industry member does not engage in an act or practice in violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill also provides that a firearm industry member may not knowingly or recklessly create, maintain, or contribute to a public nuisance, as defined in the bill, through the sale, manufacturing, importing, or marketing of a firearm-related product. The bill creates a civil cause of action for the Attorney General or a local county, city, or town attorney to enforce the provisions of the bill or for any person who has been injured as a result of a firearm industry member's violation to seek an injunction and to recover costs and damages. The bill also allows the Attorney General to issue a civil investigative demand if he has reasonable cause to believe that any person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any violation of such standards. |
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Originally Posted By wherewildthingsare: I’m sure some will still ship parts, at least initially, but have you heard of SB27, another passed bill awaiting Spanberger’s action? California-like parts restrictions will be in place next, for those retailers that are not dissuaded by SB27. SB27 Status: Awaiting Governor's Action Firearm industry members; definitions, standards of responsible conduct, civil liability. Patrons All PatronsMore info Introduced by: Jennifer D. Carroll Foy (Chief Patron) Summary As Passed All SummariesMore info Firearm industry members; standards of responsible conduct; civil liability. Creates standards of responsible conduct for firearm industry members and requires such members to establish and implement reasonable controls regarding the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, and marketing of the firearm industry member's firearm-related products, as those terms are defined in the bill. Such reasonable controls include reasonable procedures, safeguards, and business practices that are designed to (i) prevent the sale or distribution of a firearm-related product to a straw purchaser, a firearm trafficker, a person prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, or a person who the firearm industry member has reasonable cause to believe is at substantial risk of using a firearm-related product to harm themselves or unlawfully harm another or of unlawfully possessing or using a firearm-related product; (ii) prevent the loss of a firearm-related product or theft of a firearm-related product from a firearm industry member; (iii) ensure that the firearm industry member complies with all provisions of state and federal law and does not otherwise promote the unlawful manufacture, sale, possession, marketing, or use of a firearm-related product; (iv) prevent the installation and use of an auto sear on firearm-related products; and (v) ensure that the firearm industry member does not engage in an act or practice in violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill also provides that a firearm industry member may not knowingly or recklessly create, maintain, or contribute to a public nuisance, as defined in the bill, through the sale, manufacturing, importing, or marketing of a firearm-related product. The bill creates a civil cause of action for the Attorney General or a local county, city, or town attorney to enforce the provisions of the bill or for any person who has been injured as a result of a firearm industry member's violation to seek an injunction and to recover costs and damages. The bill also allows the Attorney General to issue a civil investigative demand if he has reasonable cause to believe that any person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any violation of such standards. Yes some places online are not shipping to CA since the implementation of the new law there. I believe the law is new for 2025 over there that makes it illegal to buy spare parts unless you go through a background check. Seriously lol. So yeah as said it’s a technicality. The bill itself doesn’t mention parts but believe me they’ll find a way to narrate it as manufacturing. I could have also swore there was something about repairing in the bill but I could be wrong. Like you can’t let a gunsmith repair it or something like that. |
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Originally Posted By dalle0001: Yes some places online are not shipping to CA since the implementation of the new law there. I believe the law is new for 2025 over there that makes it illegal to buy spare parts unless you go through a background check. Seriously lol. So yeah as said it’s a technicality. The bill itself doesn’t mention parts but believe me they’ll find a way to narrate it as manufacturing. I could have also swore there was something about repairing in the bill but I could be wrong. Like you can’t let a gunsmith repair it or something like that. I think they fixed the bill so you can take your assault firearm to a gunsmith, and get it back. In my opinion, it is only a matter of time before all pressure-bearing components are regulated and serialized, such as is the case in most Western countries. Now is the time to purchase them. |
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Originally Posted By bad2006z71: So the Mac 1014 or whatever number it is Benelli m4 clone is going to be banned due to the pistol grip? Damn, I don't have enough money to get the things I may possibly want in the future because of these assholes. Yes it will be banned because of PG. They’re narcissistic tyrants. |
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Originally Posted By Glarus: Under federal regulations, assembly isn't manufacturing, but states don't necessarily follow federal definitions. I thought I saw the word "assemble" in at least one version of SB749 or HB217, but the version passed says "any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, or transfers an assault firearm is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor." If VA does not define "manufacture" to include "assemble," then that is helpful for those who want to play the technical compliance game. Use one set of parts to make as many lowers as you want into your preferred category before 7/1, and "assemble" to your heart's content at any time thereafter. Again, most people are not going to bother with this. If they have pre-7/1 lowers, they'll put them together when they're ready to. This is all just the left's opening move anyway. Helmer and Saddam want the guns out of Virginia, and Jones wants to shoot you in the head. Twice. As for assembling after July 1, what consenting adults do is none of my business. |
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Originally Posted By HansohnBrothers: It's complicated. Under Dept of State (ITAR regualtions) assembly isn't manufacturing. But under ATF, assembly is manufacturing (FFL) or making (non-FFL). I don't think Virginia makes a distinction between making (non-FFL) and manufacturing (FFL) as the ATF does. As for assembling after July 1, what consenting adults do is none of my business. Its a matter of time until someone gets hemmed up. It will also probably be broken somehow the first time on July 2. What boggles the mind is how much mental gymnastics people are doing to somehow go far out of their way to "comply" - "Ive had this lower and all these parts for this project sitting around since 2014, but gosh, I better not assemble it, that would be breaking the law!" As if a state trooper has a camera in your house and is waiting for the moment you swap uppers, or some how meet some random definintion of manufacture, make, or assemble or whatever term you want to use. |
| The amount of defeatists out there is astounding. What ever happened to "shall not be infringed"? Has anyone looked at our state flag lately? How about fuck off with your unconstitutional laws. Yeah its a risk, yeah its scary, but sometimes free men need to make those decisions to remain free. If as much effort was put into figuring out how to fight against this instead of figuring out how to comply we might actually have a chance. |
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Originally Posted By Eaglerare: The amount of defeatists out there is astounding. What ever happened to "shall not be infringed"? Has anyone looked at our state flag lately? How about fuck off with your unconstitutional laws. Yeah its a risk, yeah its scary, but sometimes free men need to make those decisions to remain free. If as much effort was put into figuring out how to fight against this instead of figuring out how to comply we might actually have a chance. I can be called a defeatist, but I prefer to be called a Realist. In reality, what blue state since 2000 has gotten better? FL was really probably purple. Texas kinda turned red in the 90's. We have Heller, we have Bruen, that get completely ignored and while they helped, the left doubled and tripled down. Our state courts were stacked under C*onman and the Va State Supreme court is kinda feckless. We live in one of if not the most anti gun federal circuit courts, that has never met a gun control law they didn't think was legal. SCOTUS, outside of Thomas and Alito, doesn't give a shit about AW and mag bans. Most of us don't have a hundred acres with no neighbors around to go shooting on. Yeah, I know, move, that isn't an option for most. Also, Va right and right leaning voters are lazy as fuck, Va gun owners are lazy as fuck, the Va GOP is lazy and incompitent. |
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Originally Posted By bad2006z71: I can be called a defeatist, but I prefer to be called a Realist. In reality, what blue state since 2000 has gotten better? FL was really probably purple. Texas kinda turned red in the 90's. We have Heller, we have Bruen, that get completely ignored and while they helped, the left doubled and tripled down. Our state courts were stacked under C*onman and the Va State Supreme court is kinda feckless. We live in one of if not the most anti gun federal circuit courts, that has never met a gun control law they didn't think was legal. SCOTUS, outside of Thomas and Alito, doesn't give a shit about AW and mag bans. Most of us don't have a hundred acres with no neighbors around to go shooting on. Yeah, I know, move, that isn't an option for most. Also, Va right and right leaning voters are lazy as fuck, Va gun owners are lazy as fuck, the Va GOP is lazy and incompitent. While all this is true, it doesn't mean you should be performing a bunch of mental gymnastics on how to comply. Go about your buisness. Take your AR to the range. If you have a lower pre 7/1, DO the math. If you want a new upper for your already owned AR, buy it and run it. None of this is hard. Extra LPKs and parts laying around don't make you some kind of manufacturing scheme. All this running scared bullshit is exactly what makes them smirk and grin. Go about your business and do what people do. I hardly ever shoot any more but I would have no issue riding to the range with my AR and shooting it with the standard 30. Yeah you wont be able to get a new mp5 shipped, etc without doing a bunch of compliance gymnastics now, but this whole thing of OMG I can no longer even take my AR to the range is such cuckery its staggering. |
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Originally Posted By cryo_tech: While all this is true, it doesn't mean you should be performing a bunch of mental gymnastics on how to comply. Go about your buisness. Take your AR to the range. If you have a lower pre 7/1, DO the math. If you want a new upper for your already owned AR, buy it and run it. None of this is hard. Extra LPKs and parts laying around don't make you some kind of manufacturing scheme. All this running scared bullshit is exactly what makes them smirk and grin. Go about your business and do what people do. I hardly ever shoot any more but I would have no issue riding to the range with my AR and shooting it with the standard 30. Yeah you wont be able to get a new mp5 shipped, etc without doing a bunch of compliance gymnastics now, but this whole thing of OMG I can no longer even take my AR to the range is such cuckery its staggering. Thank you sir. At least someone gets it. It's almost funny how everyone has gone from come and take them, will not comply, and don't tread on me to OMG I must comply harder. I thought we were built different in VA. |
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my thoughts in regard to building stripped lowers after 7/1... Considering all of the states that have AWB's now, when has this ever been an actual issue. If anybody can articulate an example, please do so, otherwise this is like not leaving the house when there are dark rain clouds out because you are worried about getting struck by lightning. its not worth the energy to think about. in regard to mags, most mags don't have date codes and are readily available at out of state gun shops and big box sports stores. unless you are need some oddball designs, most common stuff is easily sourced. I am not telling anybody to break the law only that nobody really cares about any of this stuff that say people driving around smoking weed all day. the area in which is it will have impact is the ability to get new stuff post 7/11. |
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Originally Posted By ShaggyNuckles: my thoughts in regard to building stripped lowers after 7/1... Considering all of the states that have AWB's now, when has this ever been an actual issue. If anybody can articulate an example, please do so, otherwise this is like not leaving the house when there are dark rain clouds out because you are worried about getting struck by lightning. its not worth the energy to think about. in regard to mags, most mags don't have date codes and are readily available at out of state gun shops and big box sports stores. unless you are need some oddball designs, most common stuff is easily sourced. I am not telling anybody to break the law only that nobody really cares about any of this stuff that say people driving around smoking weed all day. the area in which is it will have impact is the ability to get new stuff post 7/11. Actually given this is such a fuzzy area of the AWB that it has cause CA and other states to drop charges on manufacturing of AW. I do remember a case of a man in CA who had assembled complete rifles at his own. He was arrested on other charges but the manufacturing one made it all the way through and was going to scotus if I remember right and something that could overturn the AWB bill in total. They were so scared they dropped it. A similar case happened in NY as well. So thinking about it more I don’t think you have to worry about it but keep in mind these are usually a slew of charges dropped on a criminal so you’re already screwed. They’re not going to come after folks at a range or knock on your door. I would say the import or purchase are the fuzzy areas of the bill especially if you like traveling out of state. A good example is like if you went to OBX, bring your rifles then you come back home get pulled over and as you say some magazines don’t have dates and they could argue you bought it out of state abd tried to import it. |
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Originally Posted By ShaggyNuckles: in regard to mags, most mags don't have date codes and are readily available at out of state gun shops and big box sports stores. unless you are need some oddball designs, most common stuff is easily sourced. While that seems to be the case for most pistol magazines, the two most popular AR magazines, PMAGs and Lancers, both have manufacturing dates molded into them. With regards to manufacturing vs. assembling ARs, I suspect that most of the lawmakers involved with this legislature don't understand or won't make the distinction. There may be a lot of them that don't even realize that people build their own at home and think that it's something that someone has to go to a store and buy. That seems to be the norm with elected officials who push for these kinds of restrictions, without really understanding the technical aspects of firearms. They may not have any concept of whether a lower has a pistol grip attached to it or not, because "all ARs have pistol grips." I'm reminded of the woman in the Colorado legislature who thought that once everyone had shot their "high capacity" magazines, they would be gone, and no one would have any left. I just mention that to suggest that whether an AR was assembled before or after July 1 may go right over most people's heads and not be something they even considered when drafting the law. |
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Originally Posted By Glarus: Under federal regulations, assembly isn't manufacturing, but states don't necessarily follow federal definitions. I thought I saw the word "assemble" in at least one version of SB749 or HB217, but the version passed says "any person who imports, sells, manufactures, purchases, or transfers an assault firearm is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor." If VA does not define "manufacture" to include "assemble," then that is helpful for those who want to play the technical compliance game. Use one set of parts to make as many lowers as you want into your preferred category before 7/1, and "assemble" to your heart's content at any time thereafter. Again, most people are not going to bother with this. If they have pre-7/1 lowers, they'll put them together when they're ready to. This is all just the left's opening move anyway. Helmer and Saddam want the guns out of Virginia, and Jones wants to shoot you in the head. Twice. Yup - as I read the law I see nothing to stop gun dealers from selling lower receivers after the "ban" and people assembling AR-15s as they see fit. Pretty hard to prove someone went into WV and bought magazines with cash unless they brag about it. Pretty much another law that will only deter the ultra-paranoid law abiding types. |
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Originally Posted By nvcdl: Yup - as I read the law I see nothing to stop gun dealers from selling lower receivers after the "ban" and people assembling AR-15s as they see fit. Pretty hard to prove someone went into WV and bought magazines with cash unless they brag about it. Pretty much another law that will only deter the ultra-paranoid law abiding types. I've said this a dozen times. NY and CA can still buy AR lowers. A lower is "featureless", as it is not an AW. You will still be able to get lowers. Meanwhile we have people in this thread talking about how thats not complinant and "comply harder". Meanwhile, as I said, the snackbar who wants an AR to shoot up some church or ROTC classroom will happily assemble and not give a fuck about what date the lower is bought on, while many poeople here will. Working EXACTLY as intended |
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Buying a stripped lower, if you can find one post-7/1, may be legally possible. “Modifying” a firearm (Virginia treats serialized frames as firearms) into an assault firearm is statutorily prohibited after 7/1. Please see: § 18.2-308.2:2. Criminal history record information check required for the transfer of certain firearms. F. 4. 7. A firearm that has been modified to be operable as an assault firearm as described in subdivisions 1 through 6 Lowers have serials. Serials correspond to a specific date(s) of manufacture. Assemble a post-7/1 date of manufacture stripped lower into an assault firearm, and you violate the law. Assemble a pre-7/1 virgin stripped lower into an assault firearm after 7/1 and you may possibly violate the law too. Buy all your lowers now, assemble them into assault firearms, document their status, and then strip them back down. I’d like to believe that once an assault firearm, always an assault firearm. But DOCUMENT. ETA: the foregoing is what VCDL lawyer advices. |
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Originally Posted By Eaglerare: The amount of defeatists out there is astounding. What ever happened to "shall not be infringed"? Has anyone looked at our state flag lately? How about fuck off with your unconstitutional laws. Since January, I've bought triple digit magazines, double digit guns, stripped lowers, and have 4 NFA applications in que that are stalled because of the gov shutdown. I even went deep on handgun platforms I was interested in thinking the limit would be 10 rounds. There are platforms I won't be able to add to my inventory going forward. It is what it is. I'm positioning myself to be minimally impacted by infringements. I don't plan to be silent over the coming years, politically, supporting the 2a court challenges where I can, and teaching my kids to be politically aware. Squaring myself away means I'll pick my battles. My FFL is squared away and trying to get the NFA trust aligned. If that looks like comply harder than it is what it is. If their goal is to have less scary inventory in Virginia, I'm doing what I can to scuttle their objectives. When this follows California or presently Rhode Island (grandfather turns to registration turns to ban) then we will have different choices to make. |
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It will be the same as when you had like 90 days to register your braced pistols or whatever that was back then. Zero. None. Nada. even now some of those braced pistols are now SBR's after Jan 1 of this year and the stamp went away. I don't play that game of "you will now register this because we changed our minds". I will never forced - register a single firearm I own. Ever. I am not stupid. But I did want all my MP5's as SBRs because the spongy stupid thin shoulder braces on them suck, and like three of my 6 or 7 or 10 or how ever many AR's I have now, are. I have no idea how many lowers I even own these days withotu sitting down to count or looking in my book with all the stuff I have logged, and even that's not up to date because I am lazy. Mags? AR mags I might have a hundred by now? No idea. I know I have probably 25 or 30 unopened pmags alone. I have a whole ammo crate of G3 mags I bought for a dollar years ago. Who the hell even knows lol |