(The Center Square) – The last pending state court challenge to Virginia’s new assault weapons restrictions has been put on hold as courts await guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court.
A Lancaster County judge Friday granted a stay in John Crump, et al. v. Jeffrey S. Katz, a challenge to Virginia’s restrictions on certain semiautomatic firearms and large-capacity magazines.
The decision means the Lancaster County case now joins three other state court challenges and a federal case that have been paused while the Supreme Court considers challenges to similar firearm restrictions.
Attorney General Jay Jones said the decision puts Virginia’s cases on a consistent legal path.
“With the United States Supreme Court now reviewing major challenges to assault weapons bans, this stay ensures Virginia’s cases move forward on solid, consistent footing,” Jones said in a statement.
The stay does not determine whether Virginia’s law is constitutional and does not lift the statewide injunction currently blocking enforcement of the challenged restrictions.
Senate Bill 749 and House Bill 217 were scheduled to take effect July 1. The laws would restrict the future manufacture, import, sale, purchase and transfer of certain semiautomatic firearms and magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds. Virginians who legally possessed affected firearms and magazines before the restrictions were set to take effect may continue possessing them.
The Lancaster County lawsuit is one of four challenges filed in Virginia circuit courts. A three-judge panel appointed by the Supreme Court of Virginia previously denied the state’s request to consolidate the cases, allowing them to continue separately.
In a separate Washington County case, Circuit Judge Jeffrey L. Campbell expanded a preliminary injunction statewide before later staying that litigation while the Supreme Court considers challenges to similar restrictions.
A separate federal lawsuit has also been stayed.
The Supreme Court agreed June 30 to hear Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins. The rulings could shape how lower courts evaluate Virginia’s law and similar firearm restrictions.
This post was originally published on The Center Square.
