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.

[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!

[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