VICTORY FOR GUN SAFETY: Governor Spanberger Signs Historic Assault Weapons Ban and Comprehensive Gun Safety Package Into Law

RICHMOND, VA — Today, the Virginia chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statements after Governor Abigail Spanberger signed into law a landmark ban on the sale of assault weapons, alongside a comprehensive package of additional gun safety legislation. Governor Spanberger’s action – alongside 20 other gun safety bills she signed this legislative session – makes Virginia the 11th state in the nation to enact an assault weapons ban. This milestone marks the crowning achievement of the legislative session and a fulfillment of the mandate delivered by voters in 2025.

With this signing, Virginia also becomes the 16th state to enact regulations around assault weapons more generally, solidifying an encouraging trend of state-level action across the country. Notably, Virginia is the third state to enact regulations around assault weapons—and the second to enact an all-out ban—since President Trump retook office, proving that state leadership remains a powerful engine for progress in the current national landscape.

“The fact that a former Moms Demand Action volunteer just signed an assault weapons ban in the home state of the NRA speaks volumes about how dramatically the political calculus around gun safety has shifted,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Weapons of war belong only in the hands of soldiers, and I applaud Governor Spanberger and the legislature for taking action to regulate these weapons of war.”

“Today, Virginia is showing the nation what’s possible when we elect gun sense champions. It is deeply meaningful that Governor Spanberger, who started this work as a volunteer in our movement, is the one to make Virginia the 11th state in the nation to ban the sale of weapons of war,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “By putting the will of Virginia families over the interests of the gun lobby, Governor Spanberger is delivering the life-saving progress our communities have fought for years to achieve.”

“For years, we stood outside this Capitol in our red shirts, demanding real, concrete action on gun safety. To see this bill signed into law by Governor Spanberger is a moment I’ll never forget,” said Shantell Rock, a volunteer with the Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action. “This isn’t just a policy win. It’s proof that the pipeline we’ve built from grassroots advocacy to public office is exactly what Virginia needs to stay safe.”

“My generation has grown up in the shadow of mass shootings, and today Virginia took a massive step toward making sure we don’t have to live in fear anymore,” said Hattie Friedman, leader of the First Colonial High School Students Demand Action Group. “By banning the sale of assault weapons and finalizing this package of gun safety bills, Governor Spanberger is protecting our futures. We fought for this, we voted for this, and today, we won.”

This historic moment in Virginia didn’t happen by chance, and is the direct result of years of tireless advocacy. Not only is Virginia led by Governor Spanberger, a former Moms Demand Action volunteer, but the legislative process was championed by a General Assembly where Moms Demand Action volunteers now make up 20% of the House Democratic Majority. Of the gun safety bills passed this session, five were led by former Moms Demand Action volunteers.

These legislative victories are a direct reflection of the will of Virginia voters. Recent polling shows a growing consensus in favor of gun violence prevention measures: a majority of Virginia voters want gun laws to be made stronger, and 74% support banning assault weapons. While the gun lobby’s “guns everywhere” agenda fails to resonate with the public, the General Assembly and Governor Spanberger have acted on the clear mandate from their constituents to prioritize public safety.

In an average year in Virginia, 1,226 people die by guns and 1,624 people are wounded. Gun violence costs Virginia $14.2 billion each year, of which $288.3 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in Virginia is available here.