NSSF Funds Fourth Major Lawsuit Against Virginia’s AWB/Mag Ban Legislation
WARRENTON, Va. — On May 15, a group of plaintiffs filed the fourth major lawsuit against Virginia’s recent AWB/high-cap mag ban laws, which were signed by Governor Spanberger on May 14.
Black v. Hook is an NSSF-funded lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of Fauquier County, and includes plaintiffs Erick Black, Britton Condon, Clark’s Gun Shop, Inc., Optimus Arms, LLC, and Hexmag USA, LLC.
NSSF is the firearms industry trade association that also hosts the well-known annual SHOT Show event.
Three other major lawsuits were filed within 24 hours by major gun rights groups, including Gun Owners of America, Second Amendment Foundation, and Firearms Policy Coalition.
Virginia Approves Law Banning Firearms for Those Convicted of Misdemeanor Hate Crime
RICHMOND, Va. — One of many laws signed by Governor Spanberger on April 22, HB1015 creates a new pathway to disarm citizens.
Effective July 1, 2026, anyone convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime – defined as a simple assault or assault and battery where the victim was intentionally selected because of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or ethnic/national origin – faces a three-year ban on purchasing, possessing, or transporting firearms.
Vague “intentional selection” standards (combined with a governing body already keen on disarming law-abiding gun owners) could turn heated political speech, protests, or online disagreements into offenses that result in losing 2A rights.
Virginia County Commonwealth’s Attorney Will Not Enforce State’s Recent ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban
SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. — In a May 15 letter to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff, Commonwealth’s Attorney Ryan Mehaffey stated that the “assault weapon” and “high capacity” magazine bans recently signed into law by the governor are “unconstitutional and cannot be lawfully enforced.”
Attorney Mehaffey cited Supreme Court precedent such as Miller, Heller, and Bruen in his letter, adding that these cases “[secure] the right of Virginians to keep and bear the most popular rifle in America, the AR-15, for the lawful purpose of readiness for service in the Virginia militia, Va. Code Ann. Section 44-1 (2026), as the Founders intended.”
The Spotsylvania County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office (Mr. Mehaffey) is a locally elected, independent constitutional office in Virginia, and serves at the will of the people, rather than by appointment of the governor or any elected body.
ATF Removes Bump Stocks From Machine Gun Definition
WASHINGTON — As part of its massive regulatory reform package announced on April 29 under new Director Robert Cekada, the ATF is making a long-awaited change to the definition of “machine gun.”
The ATF published the Final Rule in the Federal Register on May 6, removing the two sentences from its regulatory definitions of “machine gun” that included bump stocks.
“This directly implements the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Garland v. Cargill, which ruled that semiautomatic rifles with bump stocks are not machine guns under the National Firearms Act. The change aligns ATF’s regulations with the statute and the court’s binding interpretation.”
It’s notable that the Garland v. Cargill Supreme Court case (2024) arose directly from the ATF’s 2018 unconstitutional rule-making.
Supreme Court Declines to Hear the Case of Tate Adamiak – But DOJ Has Spoken With His Attorneys
WASHINGTON — On May 18, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the petition of Mr. Adamiak, whose case is one of the most widely recognized abuses of the administrative state.
The denial leaves a presidential pardon as the only route to commute Mr. Adamiak’s sentence.
In May 14 testimony before Congress, ATF Director Robert Cekada stated that the DOJ has been in contact with Mr. Adamiak’s attorney and resentencing is scheduled in June.
We encourage readers to email U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin at the Justice Department to seek a pardon for Tate Adamiak. (You can use the draft note we published here and adapt it to your own preferences.)
Email your message to: [email protected]
Gun Rights Groups Petition Supreme Court to Hear Case on Maryland’s Public Carry Ban
WASHINGTON — On May 20, a coalition of gun rights groups, including Maryland Shall Issue, Inc., Second Amendment Foundation, and Firearms Policy Coalition, filed a petition for writ of certiorari in Novotny v. Moore, a case challenging Maryland’s comprehensive “sensitive places” ban.
The petition states, “This Court should grant review to provide much-needed guidance to lower courts that have struggled to define the historical limitations on the right to carry firearms in public against a burgeoning trend of location-specific restrictions enacted by states, such as Maryland, that are openly hostile to the exercise of that right.”
Maryland’s ban mimics that of New York, New Jersey, Hawaii, and other blue states, which have defined most places open to the public as “sensitive” and thus subject to bans on carry of firearms.
California Amends Bill That Would Ban 3D Printers, Kill Home Firearms Manufacturing
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Likely sensing its own overreach, the California legislature has amended AB-2047, a bill it introduced in February of this year that would ban 3D printers in an effort to stop individuals from lawfully manufacturing firearms.
The amendments, first reported by Firearms Policy Coalition on May 14, slightly dial back onerous requirements, but overall the bill remains bad and unconstitutional. The amendments would:
- Shift some burden from full DOJ testing/certification to manufacturer “attestations”
- Require DOJ to set clear standards for false positives/negatives and low evasion rates
- Add a “knowingly” intent requirement for criminal charges
- Add exemptions for Hollywood (“entertainment prop studios”)
- Add timelines for guidance, certifications, and the sales ban
The bill is still in the Assembly and has not yet passed.
Florida Attorney General Takes Action When HOA Tries to Ban Firearms
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is aggressively protecting residents’ Second Amendment rights, this week going after a homeowners association that tried to ban firearms.
On May 21, Uthmeier stated, “This is not New York or California. In Florida, the right of the people to keep and bear arms ‘shall not be infringed,'” threatening legal action if the association didn’t certify in writing by June 1 that it will not enforce its ban.
