Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed legislation “banning the manufacture, sale, and possession of untraceable firearms without serial numbers that law enforcement cannot track, commonly known as ‘ghost guns.’”
“As a former federal law enforcement officer and someone who comes from a law enforcement family, public safety is personal to me,” Spanberger said.
“We are taking concrete steps to make sure Virginia’s law enforcement has the support they need to keep our communities safe,” she added.
“She has also signed bills that her office says will allow ‘firearm manufacturers and dealers to be held legally accountable when negligent business practices contribute to gun violence,’” Virginia State Capitol reporter Tyler Englander said.
New: @GovernorVA has signed several bills, including ones that ban the sale and possession of so-called “ghost guns.”
She has also signed bills that her office says will allow “firearm manufacturers and dealers to be held legally accountable when negligent business practices… pic.twitter.com/U0EEqEbATm
— Tyler Englander (@TylerEnglander) April 10, 2026
WTKR confirmed:
Four bills recently signed by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger aim to curb gun violence within the commonwealth, her press office said Friday.
The governor has signed hundreds of bills in recent days. Previous batches of bills focused on Spanberger’s agenda to create a more affordable Virginia. The recently-signed gun laws were highlighted in a press release put out by her office addressing public safety across the commonwealth.
The following descriptions for the four bills were taken from the press release sent by Spanberger’s office:
HB19 — “Closing the ‘intimate partner loophole’ by prohibiting intimate partners convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes from possessing a firearm.”
HB21 — “Allowing firearm manufacturers and dealers to be held legally accountable when negligent business practices contribute to gun violence.”
HB40 — “Banning the manufacture, sale, and possession of untraceable firearms without serial numbers that law enforcement cannot track, commonly known as ‘ghost guns.’”
HB93 — “Specifying that a person subject to a protective order or convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm may transfer their firearm to a person who is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, who is 21 years of age or older, and who does not live in their home.”
“Preventing gun violence is an issue of public safety — both for the officers who protect our streets and the children and families they work to keep safe. Whether you’re a first responder or a survivor seeking justice, these laws reflect a simple commitment: the Commonwealth of Virginia will always have your back,” Spanberger said in a statement, according to the outlet.
“@SpanbergerForVA is on notice: 2A rights SHALL NOT BE infringed. We are closely watching—in the event any unlawful legislation is enacted, we will sue. @CivilRights will protect the 2A rights of law-abiding citizens in Virginia. 2A Section Lawyers are standing by,” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said.
🚨@SpanbergerForVA is on notice: 2A rights SHALL NOT BE infringed.
We are closely watching—in the event any unlawful legislation is enacted, we will sue. @CivilRights will protect the 2A rights of law-abiding citizens in Virginia.
2A Section Lawyers are standing by… 🚨 pic.twitter.com/h2DfXwgaKC— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) April 10, 2026
More from Virginia Mercury:
While many of the bills had bipartisan support, some had previously been vetoed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican. Such was the case for a proposal by Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, to ban “ghost guns,” or guns that can’t be traced because they were not made by weapons manufacturers. Often 3-D printed, Ebbin has tried for several years to outlaw them in Virginia.
Still pending, however, are bills to ban assault-style weapons. Such bills have been historically carried by Democrats and opposed by Republicans. Spanberger has until April 13 to take action on those bills and hundreds of bills that advanced the legislature and made it to her desk. Her choices are to sign bills as they are, seek amendments or she can veto them. When lawmakers reconvene in Richmond later this month to finalize the state budget, they can also take up any amendments Spanberger may seek on bills.
In the meantime, she signed a slew of bills Friday to support safety in a variety of ways from gun regulations to support for public responders.
How do you see it?