Brady Applauds Gov. Spanberger for Signing Slate of Gun Violence Prevention Bills, Including Banning Untraceable “Ghost Guns”

New legislation also ensures gun violence victims and survivors can hold the gun industry accountable in court, promotes safe firearm storage, and bans the future sale of assault weapons.

RICHMOND, VA, May 15, 2026 — Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a life-saving slate of gun violence prevention bills into law, including legislation to ban ghost guns, to provide a pathway for survivors and victims of gun violence to hold the gun industry accountable for harm, and to ban the future sale of assault weapons. Virginia also becomes the sixth state to pass a “school notification” law, requiring schools to send information home to educate parents and guardians on the risks of “family fire” and child access to unsecured firearms. Brady has spent decades advocating for these measures.

Brady President Kris Brown, a native Virginian and Virginia Tech alum, said:

This is a historic day for Virginians. I grew up here and raised my daughters here, and in all my years of leading Brady, I have never been more hopeful than I am today. In a Commonwealth where someone is killed with a firearm every seven hours, these monumental laws represent countless families spared from unspeakable heartbreak. Under Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s leadership, Virginia is fighting on behalf of families and survivors of gun violence, ensuring that the Commonwealth can be a place where we can all live free from fear of being shot. These transformative gun laws have been championed by Brady, our grassroots advocates, and our state partners for years, and we are proud to help usher in a new day in Virginia. 

Virginians voted last November to put an end to years of deadly vetoes on gun safety legislation. The Commonwealth deserves elected officials who side with our children and families, not gun lobby profits.

The package of life-saving slate of new gun violence prevention laws includes: 

• School Notification (SB 109 / HB 201); sponsored by Sen. Pekarsky, Del. Cohen
• Industry Accountability/Civil Liability Standards (SB 27 / HB 21); sponsored by Sens. Ebbin & Carroll-Foy, Del. Helmer
• Ban on Ghost Guns (SB 323 / HB 40); sponsored by Sen. Ebbin, Del. Simon
• Domestic Firearms Relinquishment (SB 38 / HB 93); sponsored by Sen. Favola, Del. Bennett-Parker
• Broadening Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence (SB 160) / HB 19); sponsored by Sen. Perry, Del. McClure
• Ban on Firearms on College Campuses (SB 272 / HB 626); sponsored by Sen. Deeds, Del. Callsen
• Expansion of Risk Orders to Include Family/Household Members & Licensed Mental Health Practitioners (HB 901 / SB 495); sponsored by Del. Sullivan, Sen. Deeds
• Education & Training for K-12 and University Threat Assessment Teams on Risk Orders (HB 1071); sponsored by Del. Laufer
• Secure Storage in Vehicles (HB 110 / SB 496); sponsored by Sen. Marsden, Del. Laufer
• Concealed Carry Reciprocity Fix (SB 115); sponsored by Sen. Pekarsky
• Law Enforcement Risk Order Training Requirement (HB 896); sponsored by Del. Sullivan
• Updating Concealed Handgun Permit Competency Requirements (HB 916); sponsored by Del. Lopez
• SRO Reporting Requirements (HB 1096); sponsored by Del. Singh
• Ban on Firearms in Hospitals (SB 173 /  HB 229); sponsored by Sen. Williams-Graves, Del. Hernandez
• Child Access Prevention Expansion (SB 348 /  HB 871); sponsored by Sen. Boysko, Del. Downey
• Expansion of No-Firearm Zone Around Polling Locations  (HB 909); sponsored by Del. Shin
• Firearm Give-Back Program (HB 702); sponsored by Del. Cole
• Violence Intervention & Prevention Research  (SB 364 / HB 969); sponsored by Sen. Carroll Foy
• Hate Crimes Misdemeanor Prohibition (HB 1015); sponsored by Del. Tran
• Age Limits on Firearm Purchases (SB 643 /  HB 1525); sponsored by Sen. Surovell, Del. McGuire
• Assault Weapons Sale Ban (SB 749 / HB 217); sponsored by Sen. Salim, Del. Helmer
• Prohibition on Carrying Loaded Firearms (SB 727 / HB 1524); sponsored by Sen. Jones, Del. McGuire