Virginians are 'buying the living daylights' out of AR-15s and other soon-to-be illegal guns

[AverageOldGuy]

Source: Roanoke VA Times

The countdown to Virginia's new assault weapons ban is playing out at gun counters across the commonwealth.

Customers are snapping up AR-15s, gun manufacturers are rushing shipments to Virginia retailers and store owners say firearms are flying off shelves ahead of a July 1 deadline that will dramatically restrict what guns can be legally sold in the state.

Recent FBI data suggests Virginia gun stores are seeing a huge surge in demand. In May, Virginia recorded 75,376 background checks — more than double the total from the same month last year. While background checks are not a direct measure of gun sales, they’re widely used as an industry indicator.


Read more: https://roanoke.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_6de4b33b-d0f0-52aa-8f50-411f8c111753.html

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I expect to see a surge in shootings and suicides by gun starting in about six months.

[chowder66]

1. What a broken society (if you can call it that).

[OC375]

2. Happens when pretty much anything is going to become hard to get.

In this instance, I'd imagine there are a lot of "Have and not need vs need and not have" purchases going on that will get shot once (if that), and spend the rest of time in the closet.

[The Grand Illuminist]

3. We might need it ourselves.

If the worst come to wear.

[sop]

4. These bans should take effect 24 hours after their passage, so gun sellers can't flood the state with their weapons.

[maxsolomon]

5. It's unlikely to cause a homicide surge

I'd wager 99% of these weapons are going into a hoarder's arsenal to gather dust.

[jmowreader]

20. Either that...

...or to people who wouldn't have bought one before, don't shoot but "needed" one just because Governor Spanberger said they couldn't have one.

[Jacson6]

6. I don't know what people in suburbia will do with a AR-15 long gun.

For the city you need a handgun. There is no need for a long gun unless you plan on assaulting a machine gun position. I trained with a lot of weapons in the US Army and there is no need for a long gun in your home for self defense.

IMHO. IME. YMMV.

[Angrybob2001]

10. Shotgun

I always tell ppl they are going to be panicking and adrenaline spiking. They won't have trained for the one situation they insist they need a gun for. Get a shotgun; it's less likely to go through the entire house and a better chance of hitting a target.

[Bayard]

7. Hasn't any gun curbs been getting shot down in courts?

I'm suprised to see this.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

8. Lawsuits have already been filed i think

It will take a bit of time to work their way through court though. There is a chance SCOTUS takes an already pending challenge on another states law before much happens on the Virginia law specifically.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

13. Supreme Court denies challenges to bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines

Last edited Wed Jun 3, 2026, 07:05 PM - Edit history (1)

Edited: it has been pointed out to me that this story is from 2025.

Supreme Court denies challenges to bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines

[Martin68]

9. Good sign. It means they think Democrats will get a majority in both houses.

[slightlv]

12. I tend to agree with you...

it seems this kind of thing spikes whenever a strong democrat is in line for the oval office! And yet, never... not once that I can remember... has a democratic president ever completely repealed our gun laws (let alone, correctly interpret that piece of a line in our constitution! But R's run scared on everything... wink at them differently and you scare them! They're the biggest snowflakes I've ever seen!

[jmowreader]

21. The worst part is...

The guy who they claim is going to "protect my gun rights!" executed the biggest gun grab in history when he unconstitutionally banned bump stocks in his last administration.

Trump not only violated the Sacred Second Amendment Right To Arm Yourself To The Teeth, he also violated the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment by ordering bump stock owners to just hand them over.

[Skittles]

11. gun humping cowards

dime a dozen zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[IronLionZion]

14. There were "Obama's going to take your guns" sales all through his presidency

Yet somehow he never took anyone's guns.

[Polybius]

15. This is classic FOMO - Fear of Missing Out

Many people naturally want something that they know they won't be able to buy soon.

[kimbutgar]

16. Preparing for a new civil war ?

[bobalew]

17. I suggest a lot sooner than that.

Depending on the mental state of some of the buyers...

[sarisataka]

18. All that gun bans do is cause a surge in gun sales

which seems counterproductive.

OTOH the predictions of blood in the streets fails to appear with notable regularity.

[intelpug]

19. Blood in the streets

Yes, Very notable regularity