VA-ALERT: VCDL Update 7/9/26 - Gun salesperson of the year and so much more...

VCDL wants to congratulate Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (who we affectionately call Grabigail Banberger) on being voted the NUMBER ONE gun salesperson of the year by Virginia gun owners! 1,854 votes were taken in the VCDL poll and Governor Spanberger won by an absolute landslide! She shellacked the competition.

Here’s the breakdown of the votes, from highest to lowest:

Governor Abigail Spanberger - 71%

Senator Saddam Salim - 13%

Delegate Dan Helmer - 8%

Attorney General Jay Jones - 4%

Senator Scott Surovell - 1%

Delegate Garrett McGuire - 1%

Abigail did one hell of a job – June’s gun sales were up 241%! There were 123,699 NICS background checks run in June alone! Lots of new gun owners on board and plenty of AWs added to collections. (https://www.guns.com/news/2026/07/06/nics-over-11-million-guns-sold-in-june-nfa-saw-177-percent-jump)

I was surprised not to see Salim, Helmer, and McGuire with higher percentages, since they were the patrons of the “assault firearm” gun bills…

But I think Spanberger knocked them out of the running by being the one who specialized in, and made an artform out of, deceiving voters last November by claiming to be a “moderate” and staying mum on gun control. She did try to make bad gun-bills worse when they got to her desk. Luckily, she got her hand slapped by the General Assembly instead.

2. ACTION ITEM for Powhatan County

Action item for Powhatan County gun owners:

Powhatan County is getting public input on a proposed ordinance that would limit the discharge of firearms and pneumatic guns in certain residential areas in the County. (I haven’t seen the proposed ordinance, but I don’t see how they can restrict discharging pneumatic guns on private property as long as the projectiles don’t exit the property under Virginia law.)

There are going to be three public hearings: July 14, 20, and 21. More information here: https://www.facebook.com/powhatancountyva/posts/pfbid0YBYsJ7CwzpeJTuM9DU7Lxra5CA7w4g8y2FfAvZ4AxfdB6gkqEbhVxwGHvVfSogev

3. VCDL virtual membership meeting delayed until July 26

Due to the current workload, we are moving our monthly virtual membership meeting from this coming Sunday to Sunday, July 26.

Details on that meeting will be in future alerts.

4. VCDL regular membership meeting at XCal on July 16

VCDL will have its monthly membership meeting at XCal, on Thursday, July 16th, at 8pm. We will be discussing what’s happening in the courts in Virginia and in the country; other gun-issues affecting Virginia’s gun owners; and Q&A.

Membership meeting location:

XCal Shooting Sports and Fitness Center
44950 Russell Branch Pkwy
Ashburn, VA 20147

Come early (6pm-7pm) if you want to shoot and/or eat at the XCal Cafe before the meeting. VCDL members get $5 off a lane on meeting night.

The event is open to the public, so bring friends and family! See you there!

5. VCDL 2026 Carry Cards are delayed due to the AWB being in flux

VCDL’s 2026 Carry Cards are not yet being printed as we are waiting for the “assault firearm” situation to stabilize. Once we are comfortable that things are going to be stable, we’ll print the new cards for distribution.

There will be an update to the “2026 Legislative Changes” page on the VCDL website (https://www.vcdl.org/2026-legislative-changes) at the same time.

6. Articles on the Virginia AWB

Virginia Court Blocks Spanberger’s Semi-Auto Rifle and Magazine Ban Statewide (Ammoland)

https://www.ammoland.com/2026/07/virginia-court-blocks-spanberger-semi-auto-rifle-magazine-ban/

Court battles leave Virginia’s new assault weapons ban in legal limbo (Virginia Mercury, VCDL quoted)

https://virginiamercury.com/2026/07/08/court-battles-leave-virginias-new-assault-weapons-ban-in-legal-limbo/

Spanberger’s Backfiring Gun Stance (Daily Signal)

https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/07/07/bare-arms/?_bhlid=43990450d2956259a608e08a3a57b357ce972611

7. Another Commonwealth Attorney and sheriff added to list supporting their oath of office

We now have 14 sheriffs and 19 Commonwealth Attorneys upholding their oath of office and refusing to enforce the unconstitutional AWB and AW carry prohibition. Here are the latest two:

Bedford County Acting Commonwealth Attorney Christopher M. Dolan.

Bedford County Sheriff Mike Miller.

The statement for both is here.

Here is the current list of nineteen 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

Bedford County, Christopher M. Dolan

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 fourteen 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, Robert N. Richardson

Augusta County, Donald L. Smith

Bedford County, Mike Miller

Clarke County, Travis M. Sumption

Floyd County, Brian Craig

Hanover County, Gregory W. Six

Henry County, Wayne Davis

Louisa County, Donald Lowe

Patrick County, Daniel M. Smith

Powhatan County, Brad W. Nunnally Jr.

Scott County, Jeff B. Edds

Shenandoah County, Timothy C. Carter

Spotsylvania County, Roger L. Harris

Warren County, Crystal M. Cline

This article stupidly implies that Commonwealth Attorneys don’t have discretion on prosecuting misdemeanor crimes. Sheesh – a little research would have gone a long way. Perhaps that is why the paper is free:

Augusta County: Ways our citizens can hold our law-breaking sheriff accountable (Augusta Free Press)

https://augustafreepress.com/news/augusta-county-ways-our-citizens-can-hold-our-law-breaking-sheriff-accountable/

8. Articles on Trump ATF scrapping dozens of gun rules

Thanks to Ted K. for these links. Soon I’ll have a list of some of these regulations that you can make public comment on.

I love the crocodile tears being shed by the gun grabbers in these articles!

Trump ATF scraps dozens of gun rules in sweeping rollback

Trump administration rolls back dozens of gun regulations nationwide, igniting safety and rights clash – North Denver Tribune.com

Trump Administration Rolls Back Dozens of Gun Regulations - The New York Times

9. Mark your calendars: the annual RRRC’s VCDL benefit match will be on September 26!

Registration and squadding just opened for this excellent match, which is held every year by the Roanoke Rifle and Revolver Club to benefit VCDL. RRRC has been a wonderful supporter of VCDL for many years now, with VCDL membership being one of the options to qualify for RRRC membership.

RRRC September USPSA-VCDL Benefit Match Roanoke Rifle Revolver Club

Match starts: September 26, 2026 @ 10:00 AM · Match ends: September 26, 2026 @ 2:00 PM

Location:
1305 Gun Club Drive
Hardy, VA 24101

Level I USPSA match.

Appendix holsters are NOT permitted for use on RRRC property (per RRRC Board of Directors).

RRRC does NOT accept credit cards for payment, only cash and personal checks.

https://practiscore.com/rrrc-september-uspsa-match-2/register

10. What about “manufacturing” an “assault firearm” during the statewide injunction?

I was asked by a member about the legality of a gun owner manufacturing an “assault firearm”, such as building out a stripped lower and putting on an upper, when the statewide injunction goes into effect on July 21.

My understanding is that it would be legal.

11. Not anymore: Arlington Commonwealth Attorney plans to prosecute AWB violations

With the new statewide injunction, if this tyrant prosecutes someone for violating the unconstitutional AWB, she’s the one (and the police officer who made the arrest) who will be facing contempt of court charges!

Arlington’s top prosecutor plans to back assault weapons ban, despite pending lawsuits

https://www.arlnow.com/2026/07/07/violations-of-assault-weapons-ban-would-be-prosecuted-in-arlington-despite-pending-lawsuits/

12. CMMG standing with gun owners

CMMG has a policy that says if gun owners are prohibited from having certain items in a state, CMMG will not sell those items to law enforcement in that state either. Amen:

https://resources.cmmg.com/cmmg-law-enforcement-statement

13. Reminder: SMLPSA’s VCDL benefit match is coming up on July 19!

NOTE: The SMLPSA rule book has been updated to allow for more types of ammo to be used in the match.

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 and to see the rules, click here:

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