A Virginia circuit court has handed gun owners a major victory by striking down the state’s universal background check law. The ruling permanently halts enforcement across the Commonwealth, marking a landmark victory for the Second Amendment and for Gun Owners of America (GOA), Gun Owners of America Foundation (GOF), and the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL).
The decision came in Wilson, et al. v. Colonel Matthew D. Hanley, where the court found Virginia Code §18.2-308.2:5 unconstitutional. The judge ruled that the law discriminated against law-abiding adults aged 18 to 20, effectively denying them their constitutional right to buy and possess firearms.
As a result, the court issued a permanent injunction, immediately blocking the law’s enforcement statewide.
GOA: “A Broken Law From the Start”
Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, praised the ruling and emphasized that the law never aligned with constitutional principles.
“This decision vindicates the rights of all Virginians to engage in lawful private firearm transfers without unconstitutional barriers. The Act’s enforcement mechanism was fatally flawed from the start, criminalizing everyday citizens while ignoring basic constitutional principles. We’re grateful the court recognized that patchwork fixes can’t save a broken law.”
John Velleco, Executive Vice President of Gun Owners Foundation, echoed that sentiment.
“We are thrilled the judge struck down Virginia’s universal background check law because it was unconstitutionally blocking young adults from exercising their Second Amendment rights. This ruling upholds the true meaning of the Constitution by ensuring all law-abiding citizens can acquire firearms without arbitrary government barriers.”
Why This Ruling Matters
The 2020 universal background check law was a centerpiece of former Governor Ralph Northam’s gun control agenda, requiring nearly all firearm transfers, even between private citizens, to go through a licensed dealer. Critics argued that the law criminalized routine transactions between friends, family members, and neighbors, while doing little to stop criminals who already ignore background check laws.
The court’s ruling not only halts that enforcement but could also set precedent for similar challenges in other states that have enacted sweeping background check mandates.
The Bigger Picture
Gun Owners of America and the Gun Owners Foundation have consistently led the charge in challenging restrictive gun laws in both state and federal courts. With over two million members and activists, GOA continues to position itself as one of the most active grassroots defenders of the Second Amendment in the nation.
The Virginia Citizens Defense League, a co-plaintiff in the case, has long fought against the state’s growing list of firearm restrictions. This joint effort demonstrates the power of coordinated legal action between national and local gun rights organizations.
Final Thoughts
For Virginia gun owners, this ruling is more than a procedural victory—it’s a restoration of rights that should never have been infringed in the first place. The court’s decision reaffirms that the Constitution doesn’t come with an age limit, and it puts anti-gun lawmakers on notice: unconstitutional laws will not stand.
More on Universal Background Checks from TTAG:
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