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Governor Spanberger Signs Virginia AR-15 Assault-Weapon Ban

5/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Virginia’s assault-weapon ban, stating firearms designed for maximum casualties do not belong on streets.
She voiced anger after Virginia failed to win any Supreme Court justice support for her contested gerrymandering effort.
The ban targets AR-15-type rifles, owned by an estimated 32 million Americans and linked to about 3 % of homicides.
Spanberger said she will work with legislators to add a hunting-model exemption missing from the bill.

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Story summary

Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Virginia’s assault-weapon ban, stating firearms designed for maximum casualties do not belong on streets.
She voiced anger after Virginia failed to win any Supreme Court justice support for her contested gerrymandering effort.
The ban targets AR-15-type rifles, owned by an estimated 32 million Americans and linked to about 3 % of homicides.
Spanberger said she will work with legislators to add a hunting-model exemption missing from the bill.