SCOOP: 2A Organizations Slap Virginia With Complaint Alleging State Defied Court Order With Gun Law

Gun Owners Foundation and the Virginia Citizens Defense League asked a Virginia court Thursday to hold the state in contempt after it began enforcing a universal background check previously blocked by a permanent injunction.

Democratic Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed HB 1525 into law on April 22 after the General Assembly concurred with her amendments directing the Virginia State Police (VSP) to enforce the law blocked by the injunction and adding an emergency provision. Circuit Court for the City of Lynchburg issued a permanent injunction in October 2025 after declaring the state’s universal background check unconstitutional, leading to Thursday’s contempt motion brought by the pro-Second Amendment organizations.

The office of Democratic Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones confirmed in an email to attorneys representing the gun-rights organizations that “the Virginia State Police has resumed conducting background checks earlier this afternoon, pursuant to the newly enacted statute(s).”

“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 motion states. “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.”