DOJ sues Virginia over “assault firearm” purchase ban—relief sought in court

On July 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a federal civil lawsuit challenging a newly enacted Virginia law that, DOJ alleges, makes the commercial purchase and sale of certain AR-15-style semi-automatic rifles illegal. DOJ’s complaint asks a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Richmond Division) to issue declaratory rulings and preliminary and permanent injunctions to block enforcement while the case proceeds.

What Virginia’s SB 749 is targeting (as DOJ describes it)

In DOJ’s framing, Virginia’s SB 749 targets transactions involving “assault firearms,” using a definition that DOJ says covers AR-15-style rifles. DOJ’s case focuses on whether Virginia can prohibit those purchase-and-sale activities as enforced through the state’s weapons-law system.

Important context: a complaint is one side’s legal claims. Virginia will respond through the normal court process.

Where the case is filed, and who is sued

The lawsuit is captioned United States of America v. the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Virginia Department of State Police and is filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Richmond Division). The complaint cover page lists the case number as 3:26-cv-00610.

What DOJ is asking the court to do

DOJ requests two categories of court relief:

• Declaratory relief—court declarations tied to DOJ’s constitutional and statutory arguments.
• Injunctive relief—a request for preliminary (early, during the case) and permanent injunctions to prevent enforcement of the challenged provisions.

Why readers should watch the next court order

The fastest real-world question is whether the judge grants DOJ’s request for temporary, preliminary relief. If the court grants an injunction, it could change what licensed sellers, buyers, and enforcement officials can do in the short term while the lawsuit continues.

After filing, the next development to look for is a signed order addressing the timeline for briefing and any hearing tied to the preliminary-injunction request.

Bottom line

This is a federal challenge aimed at stopping enforcement of Virginia’s newly enacted “assault firearm” purchase-and-sale ban while the case is litigated. The next procedural order—especially anything granting or denying preliminary injunctive relief—will likely determine what changes immediately for transactions covered by SB 749.

Sources

• DOJ Office of Public Affairs (July 1, 2026) — press release