LANCASTER—Just days before a new law was set to go into effect on July 1, Lancaster County Circuit Court Judge John S. Martin on Thursday, June 25, sided with guns rights groups and Loudon County resident John Crump, barring Virginia State Police from enforcing an assault weapons ban.
The preliminary injunction was issued after Judge Martin found the state would likely not succeed in arguing the constitutionality of the new law, which would make it a Class 1 misdemeanor to import, sell, purchase manufacture or transfer firearms with defined characteristics and magazines holding more than 15 rounds.
According to Courthouse News Service, Judge Martin said the characteristics listed in the bill lacked any rational basis….
