The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Virginia and Virginia State Police saying that the state law banning the purchase and sale of some firearms is unconstitutional. The law as signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger includes semi-automatic center-fire rifles or pistols with a magazine capacity of more than 15 rounds in its definition. “The Constitution is not a suggestion, and the ...

The seal of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on March 21, 2024.

Mandel Ngan/AFP/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/TNS

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Virginia and Virginia State Police saying that the state law banning the purchase and sale of some firearms is unconstitutional.

The law as signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger includes semi-automatic center-fire rifles or pistols with a magazine capacity of more than 15 rounds in its definition.

“The Constitution is not a suggestion, and the Second Amendment is not a second-class right,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in a news release.

The law prohibiting the sale of some firearms classified as assault weapons went into effect Wednesday.

“On April 10, I promised Governor Spanberger that we would sue Virginia if she signed this unconstitutional weapons ban into law. I keep my promises,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in a news release.

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