A Lynchburg Circuit Court judge has once again halted background checks for private firearm sales in Virginia, a decision that comes as the commonwealth experiences a significant surge in gun purchases ahead of a new state law banning certain "assault firearms" on July 1.
Lynchburg Circuit Judge Patrick Yeatts on Wednesday denied a motion to dissolve an injunction, ordering Virginia State Police to cease background checks for private firearm sales. This ruling reverses a week-long resumption of checks that had been implemented to comply with a new state law, marking the second time in seven months that such checks have been stopped by judicial order. Judge Yeatts has called for the parties to return to court later this month to continue the ongoing case.
The judicial ruling coincides with a dramatic increase in firearm sales across Virginia. Customers are snapping up AR-15s and similar weapons, with store owners saying firearms are "flying off shelves" ahead of the July 1 deadline that will significantly restrict what guns can be legally sold in the state. Recent FBI data suggests a huge surge in demand, with Virginia State Police reporting 72,956 background checks for firearm transactions in May, more than double the 35,571 checks conducted in May 2025.
Meanwhile, Virginia officials are urging residents to prepare for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and typically sees its busiest stretch from late summer into early fall. Governor Abigail Spanberger encouraged Virginians to prepare now, emphasizing the importance of having a plan and being aware of wireless emergency alerts. "We know that storms that start in the Atlantic or Gulf can come north and cause severe damage in Virginia," Governor Spanberger said, referencing the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Separately, U.S. Secretaries of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Brooke Rollins met with central Virginia farmers to discuss federal support for the tobacco sector and challenges in meat production, including questions like "where’s the beef?"