virginia citizens defense league

Defending Your Right to Defend Yourself

va-alert

VCDL UPDATE 7/2/26 and action item

Published /2/2026

dOJ STEPS IN!  aNOTHER SHERIFF AND COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY STEP UP! mUCH MORE...

1. Right On Time!  The US Department of Justice Just Filed a Lawsuit Against Virginia's AWB!

As VCDL predicted, the DoJ sued Virginia on July 1, the day the AWB law was enforceable. I have never been prouder of the DoJ!

Coverage:

DoJ’s Announcement

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-commonwealth-virginia-unconstitutional-weapons-bans

DoJ’s Lawsuit

https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1450551/dl?inline

-

DOJ Drops Lawsuits On Both Sides of the Country (Washington Gun Law video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNZXiMdW6ho

The Smith Mountain Lake Pistol Shooting Association (SMLPSA) is having a Defensive Pistol match to benefit VCDL on July 19, starting at 10am for session one and 2pm for session two. Location:

W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center

775 Hermitage Rd
Wirtz, VA 24184

The match is a defensive pistol “IDPA-style” match.  SMLPSA has its own rule book, which is posted online on the registration page. (The rules are very similar to IDPA with a few minor changes: concealment garments are optional; no appendix holsters; all scoring on paper is limited - no make-up shots; and one or two other differences. The goal is to keep the rules simple and keep the stages fun without getting too complicated.)

Match Fee is $30 per shooter with $20 going to VCDL and $10 going to 4H to cover expenses.

There are going to be two sessions, a morning (10am-1pm) and an afternoon (2-5pm).  Self-squadding is available on practiscore with a limit of 15 shooters per squad.  Online registration is strongly encouraged, and a waitlist will be available.  Due to the size of the range and time constraints there will be a limit of 30 shooters per session.

The match will consist of 6 stages.  The total round count has yet to be determined but will be close to 100 rounds (it’s recommended to bring 150, but I’m not taking any chances and will bring 200!).

Sportsman’s Warehouse in Roanoke has kindly offered to sponsor the match and will have prizes to give out.

To register for the match, click here:

SMLPSA Indoor Defensive Pistol VCDL Benefit Match Presented by Sportsman's Warehouse Registration | PractiScore

3. Action Item: Comment in Support of the ATF Rule Change for Transporting Firearms Across State Lines

I suggest you simply say you support this rule change, as it makes it easier to travel interstate. The comment period ends next month:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/06/2026-08916/clarifying-interstate-transportation-of-firearms-under-the-gun-control-act

4. Another Commonwealth Attorney and Sheriff Added to the List of Who Won't Enforce the Unconstitutional AWB and AW Carry Prohibitions

We now have 13 sheriffs and 18 Commonwealth Attorneys upholding their oath of office and refusing to enforce the unconstitutional AWB and AW carry prohibition. Here are the latest two:

Cumberland County Commonwealth Attorney Wendy Deaner Hannah – her statement is here.

Augusta County Sheriff Donald L. Smith – his statement is here.

Here is the current list of eighteen Commonwealth Attorneys who are honoring their oath of office to protect the good people in their jurisdictions from unconstitutional infringements on their right to keep and bear arms.  Remember that they stood up for the Constitution and gun owners when they are up for reelection:

• Amherst County, W. Lyle Carver
• Appomattox County, Leslie M. Fleet
• Campbell County, Paul A. McAndrews
• Charlotte County, Daniel J. Farnsworth Jr.
• Clarke County, Matthew E. Bass
• Cumberland County, Wendy Deaner Hannah
• Floyd County, W. Eric Branscom
• Goochland County, John L. Lumpkins Jr.
• Lynchburg, Bethany Harrison
• Page County, Chapman L. Good, Sr.
• Patrick County, Dayna K. Bobbitt
• Powhatan County, Rob Cerullo
• Pulaski County, Justin L. Griffith
• Scott County Kyle Kilgore
• Shenandoah County, Elizabeth H. Cooper
• Smyth County, Phillip Blevins
• Spotsylvania County, Ryan Mehaffey
• Warren County, John S. Bell

The following thirteen sheriffs have publicly made statements that they are honoring their oath of office, just like the Commonwealth Attorneys above. There could be other sheriffs that I am not aware of.  Remember that they stood up for the Constitution and gun owners when they are up for reelection:

Appomattox County Sheriff, Robert N. Richardson

Augusta County Sheriff, Donald L. Smith

Clarke County Sheriff, Travis M. Sumption

Floyd County Sheriff, Brian Craig

Hanover County Sheriff, Gregory W. Six

Henry County, Sheriff Wayne Davis

Louisa County Sheriff, Donald Lowe

Patrick County, Sheriff Daniel M. Smith

Powhatan County Sheriff, Brad W. Nunnally Jr.

Scott County Sheriff, Jeff B. Edds

Shenandoah County Sheriff, Timothy C. Carter

Spotsylvania County Sheriff, Roger L. Harris

Warren County Sheriff, Crystal M. Cline

5. Misc. Items on Virginia's AWB and AW Carry Prohibition

VCDL mentioned in this one:

12 Sheriffs, 17 Prosecutors Who Will Not Enforce Virginia AR-15 Ban (Breitbart)

https://www.breitbart.com/2nd-amendment/2026/06/28/12-sheriffs-17-prosecutors-who-will-not-enforce-virginia-ar-15-ban/

-

Four States, One Rifle: Second Amendment Legal Fights On Multiple Fronts

https://www.cato.org/blog/four-states-one-rifle-second-amendment-legal-fights-multiple-fronts

-

Supreme Court takes up challenges to AR-15 bans

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-ar-15-bans/#x 

-

Did Virginia Gun Owners Just Get a Last Minute Reprieve From Gun, Magazine Ban? [Cam & Company video]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP9gq1DfqeI

-

Two U.S. Supreme Court cases on AWB. First is Viramontes vs. Cook County

https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-238.html

Second is a Connecticut AWB case Grant v. Higgins, which is part of the hearing for Viramontes:

https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-566.html

-

New Va. open carry law delayed for 1 year due to 'unintended consequences' (Richmond Times Dispatch)

https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_4b27e416-4c22-4968-82fb-187f90b6d3c8.html

-

Confusion ensues after assault weapons ban ruling (WXFR News video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=j1IE4ywoF6I

-

BREAKING NEWS! JUSTICE BROWN JACKSON ACCIDENTALLY CREATES MAJOR 2A WIN! (The Four Boxes Diner video)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=QD3Jv8hxTas&is=YWFQrCrJNs2aF3qe

-

Injunction Granted In Virginia (Washington Gun Law video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=e4Uy9vtU_dQ&ra=m

-

After Hemani, Bruen’s History and Tradition Test Has a New Target

https://www.ammoland.com/2026/06/bruen-history-tradition-gun-laws/

6. Consider Being an Election Officer to Protect Our Elections

Election Officers are the eyes and ears of the public during elections. Can you spare a few hours during this critical election to help work the polls? You can earn some extra cash as you support election integrity (Contact your local registrar for hourly pay rate).

Virginia law requires parity between the parties, but there is currently a dramatic imbalance between Republican and Democrat Election Officers throughout Virginia.

The local Electoral Board appoints the Election Officers and provides required training. Also, step-by-step training is available by Zoom through Virginia Fair Elections (vafairelections.org).

Contact your local Registrar to apply to be an Election Officer. Be sure to register your political party affiliation.

7. Gun Talk Radio Interview with VCDL President

Tom Gresham and I had a great conversation on what’s going on with AWBs in Virginia [audio]. Click here.

https://tinyurl.com/3v5y336p

8. Reminder: UBC's are Back In Force

Because the Lynchburg judge removed his permanent injunction against enforcing Universal Background Checks, they are once more in force as of July 1.

VCDL will be back on this issue in the future.

https://bearingarms.com/tomknighton/2026/06/27/how-to-stay-calm-in-an-armed-encounter-n1232994

10. SCOTUS Strikes Down Hawaii's 'Vampire Rule'

This ruling could be useful for us in Virginia with things like the new hospital gun ban.

Supreme Court Strikes Down Hawaii’s ‘Vampire Rule’ in Major Second Amendment Win (Ammoland)

https://www.ammoland.com/2026/06/supreme-court-strikes-down-hawaii-vampire-rule-wolford-lopez/

-

Supreme Court Strikes Down Hawaii ‘Vampire Rule’ (The Reload)

https://thereload.com/supreme-court-strikes-down-hawaii-vampire-rule/

11. Uh, Oh: Comer Demands ATF Records on Biden White House's Secret Meetings with Bloomberg's Gun Group

Heading to the kitchen to get some popcorn.

Comer Demands ATF Records on Biden White House's Secret Meetings With Bloomberg's Gun Group

12. More Bad News for Gun Grabbers: Murder Rate Near Record Low

Gun control is about civilian disarmament using crime as the excuse for ever tightening gun-control laws. America’s low crime rate is not good for that fake excuse! And gun sales are up, to boot!

U.S. murder rate approaches a record low

https://www.npr.org/2026/06/30/nx-s1-5866810/us-murder-rate-record-low-crime-homicide