A Virginia judge dealt another blow to the state’s controversial gun control efforts Wednesday, reaffirming an injunction blocking the enforcement of a so-called “universal background check” law just days after pro-Second Amendment groups accused state officials of defying the court order.
Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed HB 1525 into law on April 22 after lawmakers approved amendments she proposed that included an emergency provision directing Virginia State Police to enforce the measure. But the law had already been halted by a permanent injunction issued in October 2025.
Virginia Citizens Defense League President Philip Van Cleave celebrated the latest court victory Wednesday while updating supporters on the group’s push to hold state officials in contempt.
“Major breaking news! VCDL, GOA, the Constitution, and Virginia gun-owners had a huge victory in court today!” Van Cleave posted. “A judge has kept the permanent injunction against Universal Background Checks in place! R.I.P. Universal Background Checks!”
Van Cleave later said the judge stopped short of finding any state officials in contempt.
“The General Assembly, the Governor, Defendant and now the Attorney General all believe they are free to enforce Section 18.2-308.2:5 irrespective of this Court’s permanent injunction, simply because they passed a new law saying they could,” the May 28 motion filed by VCDL said. “Beyond the immediate and irreparable harm to countless Virginians caused by these actions, the Commonwealth ceases to have a functional system of government if Defendant and those directing him from above are permitted to simply ignore a court’s clear directive.”
The filing also argued that lawmakers failed to meet the threshold needed to put the legislation into immediate effect.
“Even if HB1525 somehow ‘overruled by statute’ this Court’s injunction in a self-executing manner (it did not), the purported emergency effective date is a nullity because the enacted bill was not passed by a four-fifths majority in the General Assembly,” the motion added.
According to the Virginia Legislature’s website, the state Senate approved Spanberger’s amended bill by a 21-18 vote, while the House of Delegates signed off on it by a 63-36 margin. Both totals fell well short of the four-fifths majority required for emergency legislation to take effect immediately.
Gun-rights advocates argued that state leaders attempted to bypass the existing court order through legislation, prompting the request for contempt sanctions. While the judge declined to punish officials, Wednesday’s ruling left the injunction in place and dealt a setback to efforts to revive the law.
Spanberger did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>
