Is Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) a mole for the National Rifle Association (NRA)? After the recent scandal involving the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), it is worth asking, given a curious turn of events in Virginia. Gun sales have surged after Spanberger and the Democrats passed sweeping gun bans. Spanberger also issued a public statement that could help tank the legislation in court — resulting in the striking down of the law (or parts of the law) after spurring record gun sales.
After July 1st, it will be a misdemeanor to buy, sell, transfer, or make an “assault firearm.”
With a July 1 deadline looming, background checks and sales are surging in Virginia. Stores are reporting that they cannot keep weapons on the shelves as Virginians flood stores to beat the deadline.
State Sen. Saddam Salim, D-Dunn Loring, a Spanberger ally who introduced the bill, further fueled the panic by declaring that the legislation will “gradually” take these guns because these firearms “do not belong on our streets.”
Gun rights groups have long challenged the claims of Democratic leaders on these guns.
As I have previously written, these calls often appear entirely disconnected from the actual crime or the constitutional protections afforded gun owners, including President Biden demanding a ban on assault weapons after a shooting with a handgun. Biden and others often collectively call these guns “assault weapons,” a standard reference to such popular models as the AR-15.
The AR-15 is the most popular gun in America and the number of these guns in private hands is continuing to rise rapidly, with one AR-15 purchased in every five new firearms sales. These AR-15s clearly are not being purchased for armored deer. Many are purchased for personal and home protection; it is also popular for target shooting and hunting. Many gun owners like the AR-15 because it is modular; depending on the model, you can swap out barrels, bolts and high-capacity magazines, or add a variety of accessories. While it does more damage than a typical handgun, it is not the most powerful gun by caliber; many guns have equal or greater calibers.
That is why laws banning or curtailing the sale of the AR-15 would likely run into constitutional barriers.
The challenges to the Virginia law were greatly assisted by Spanberger herself, who admitted that the law would ban commonly used hunting guns. If the law is not amended, she could prove the main witness against her own signed legislation.
We have a Second Amendment protection of gun ownership, with over 490 million guns in private hands, as of 2022. In 2008, the Supreme Court handed down a landmark ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller, recognizing the Second Amendment as encompassing an individual right to bear arms. The Supreme Court further strengthened the right in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen.
So, media reports indicate that, since January, the number of background checks has skyrocketed with 75,376 background checks in May alone, more than double the amount in May 2025.
The peak was reached in March when 79,846 background checks were done compared to only 47,069 last year.
After adding tens of thousands of assault weapons to her state, Spanberger’s comments may then help greatly in striking down all or parts of the law.
If this trend continues, Abigail Spanberger may prove to be the greatest pro-gun influencer since Charlton Heston.
Jonathan Turley is a law professor and the New York Times best-selling author of “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.”
Gun sales surge every time some Leftist like Spanberger attempts to introduce a sweeping gun ban. It may stir up their political base and donations, but it does not go unnoticed by those they are targeting.
Abi proves that you can take the girl out of Jersey but you can’t take the Jersey out of the girl, right Mikie?
Bah haha! Spambarfer is nobody’s stooge or mole as a trained dis and misinformation specialist. She takes radical steps and then has follow up to ensure the radical is the new normal. At the next session she will make POSSESSION of these weapons illegal if not registered with the State and follow up with a task force to track every sale to the registry. Then once the Stalinists take over the FED in 2029 she will run a “voluntary” assault rifle turn-in and track to the registry. Anyone not ‘volunteering’ will get a visit from the State PoPo for a chit chat, etc. until they do volunteer. Takes a bit longer to get to confiscation but NIRVANA will be reached before she leaves office.
I think the statement here from Senator Salim has more damaging potential than Gov. Spanbereger’s about banning hunting guns. From the piece. “Sen. Saddam Salim, D-Dunn Loring, a Spanberger ally who introduced the bill, further fueled the panic by declaring that the legislation will “gradually” take these guns because these firearms “do not belong on our streets.””
Why do people need guns?
Because bad people have them.
Because the bad guys have guns.
Because people engage in hunting.
Because people engage in sports that use guns.
Because the government has guns.
Look no further than Iran as an example of what happens when the government has guns, the bad guys have guns and hunting/sports are deemed irrelevant reasons to own guns.
Spanberger will go down in history as the greatest Gun sales person and the WORSE Governor in the history of Virginia. A growing list of County Sheriffs, County DA’s etc. state they will not enforce the Dem new gun laws etc. They will abide by the US Constitution, 2nd Amendment. Spanberger ran as a Middle of the Road Fake Candidate but governs, along with the VA DEM’s extreme Left Wing policies. Come elections the people of VA will vote against these left wing policies, tax increases, restrictive policies, infringe on the rights of individuals and elect Republicans into the majority in the state house/senate and overturn the Left Wing policies and laws.
Scalpels are more efficient instruments to entertain abortive ideation, are reusable, and sustainable arms to relieve “burdens” h/t Obama of evidence for Sim-ulated justice.
She is somewhat like Mr Obama who spurred firearms sales to Olympian heights every time he started talking gun control. Being a firearm user myself it was always apparent that if Mr Obama talked, sales of AR 15’s went up and the price of it’s ammunition would also go through the roof and/or become difficult to find. I would suggest waiting until the initial hysteria starts to wane and then buy in bulk.
I note multiple Sheriffs in Virginia have already said they will not enforce the law.
Of course a good bolt action Springfield 1903 firing 30.06 is deadlier at an event greater distance that an AR 15.
Two different tools. A good toolchest has many tools.
Remember Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) is a moderate Democrat even though she is far left and woke. There are much worse Democrat from her, and they are also lying and hiding their true agenda.
One of our 2 major parties is working diligently to achieve a single party authoritarian, socialist government. The Supreme Court is the final barrier remaining to stop them which is why they promise to pack the court if they ever achieve power again. Venezuelan elected Hugo Chavez. We can make the same choice with a similar outcome.
All of the guns should be melted down and turned into a huge statue of America’s best president ever: Obama.
I sincerely hope that is sarcasm.
No need to do that with guns! They already created one of the ugliest ‘statues’ on the face of the earth and, fittingly, put it in Chicago. They call it Obama’s presidential library. Fitting in every aspect.
Virginia elected her. They knew who and what she was prior to the election. The people of Virginia had a choice, they chose and now they suffer as a result. It’s Virginia’s problem. Let Virginia deal with her.
Exactly what are Virginians suffering?
In terms of this article, a loss of freedom.
Virginians are suffering from incompetence that has threatened their very right to representative government, squandering of taxpayer monies on unconstitutional activities, increase in taxes in a state that previously had a balanced budget and a governor who is at best a poor deceiver and possibly an outright liar with fool for an AG. And all while Virginia waits for the ‘affordability’ that Gov. Abi promised.
Still she lied during the campaign by what she both said and what she didn’t say. Many people are easily fooled.
@Clarke
The point being, the regime she represents is relentless, funded, and covered for, and if it continues unabated it will metastasize like any other socialist/communist cancer. The time for the type of reticence in your comment is long, long gone. This could very easily be anywhere and everywhere in no time if we do not stand firm.
Pay attention to EVERYTHING, things like this, the lockdown – they were and are but a preview.
You yourself may very well be able to handle a hot civil war; an awful lot of innocent people of all stripes unequivocally could not, we do not want things to go that far.
Remember Patriots, one is none and you can never have too much ammunition🤣
Refuse to comply. Make them kick doors. Never voluntarily surrender your guns. According to ATF 700 million guns in circulation. The numbers are against them. Molon labe
It was about 15 years ago that the ATF estimate was 400-700M. Conclusion: no idea how many.
AMMO AMMO AMMO