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AverageOldGuy

(4,264 posts)
Wed Jun 3, 2026, 03:28 PM Wednesday

Virginians are 'buying the living daylights' out of AR-15s and other soon-to-be illegal guns

Source: Roanoke VA Times

The countdown to Virginia's new assault weapons ban is playing out at gun counters across the commonwealth.

Customers are snapping up AR-15s, gun manufacturers are rushing shipments to Virginia retailers and store owners say firearms are flying off shelves ahead of a July 1 deadline that will dramatically restrict what guns can be legally sold in the state.

Recent FBI data suggests Virginia gun stores are seeing a huge surge in demand. In May, Virginia recorded 75,376 background checks — more than double the total from the same month last year. While background checks are not a direct measure of gun sales, they’re widely used as an industry indicator.


Read more: https://roanoke.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_6de4b33b-d0f0-52aa-8f50-411f8c111753.html



I expect to see a surge in shootings and suicides by gun starting in about six months.
36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Virginians are 'buying the living daylights' out of AR-15s and other soon-to-be illegal guns (Original Post) AverageOldGuy Wednesday OP
What a broken society (if you can call it that). chowder66 Wednesday #1
Happens when pretty much anything is going to become hard to get. OC375 Wednesday #2
We might need it ourselves. The Grand Illuminist Wednesday #3
These bans should take effect 24 hours after their passage, so gun sellers can't flood the state with their weapons. sop Wednesday #4
It's unlikely to cause a homicide surge maxsolomon Wednesday #5
Either that... jmowreader Thursday #20
I don't know what people in suburbia will do with a AR-15 long gun. Jacson6 Wednesday #6
Shotgun Angrybob2001 Wednesday #10
Pump action... El Mimbreno 9 hrs ago #36
I live in a Florida suburb PCB66 Friday #23
Fix your 2nd to last paragraph, I am sure you meant not going to use them in a crime lol questionseverything 23 hrs ago #26
Hasn't any gun curbs been getting shot down in courts? Bayard Wednesday #7
Lawsuits have already been filed i think DetroitLegalBeagle Wednesday #8
Supreme Court denies challenges to bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines mahatmakanejeeves Wednesday #13
Good sign. It means they think Democrats will get a majority in both houses. Martin68 Wednesday #9
I tend to agree with you... slightlv Wednesday #12
The worst part is... jmowreader Thursday #21
gun humping cowards Skittles Wednesday #11
There were "Obama's going to take your guns" sales all through his presidency IronLionZion Wednesday #14
This is classic FOMO - Fear of Missing Out Polybius Wednesday #15
More like classic Being Led by the Nose nt GenThePerservering Yesterday #24
Preparing for a new civil war ? kimbutgar Wednesday #16
I suggest a lot sooner than that. bobalew Wednesday #17
All that gun bans do is cause a surge in gun sales sarisataka Wednesday #18
Blood in the streets intelpug Wednesday #19
And cost us votes in the elections DenaliDemocrat 16 hrs ago #29
Wonderful! Let's have more guns in circulation....I won't be visiting Virginia any time soon... CTyankee Friday #22
They buy a ton of guns and ammo GenThePerservering 23 hrs ago #25
"buying the living daylights"??? What in the fucking hell does that title niyad 22 hrs ago #27
To understand rural Virginia, consider this: no_hypocrisy 18 hrs ago #28
Dear Goddess. Yet if she kills him, even if he was an abusive monster, she niyad 16 hrs ago #30
Hey, it's Virginia, the state that started the SCOTUS ruling that all states no_hypocrisy 16 hrs ago #31
SMDH niyad 16 hrs ago #32
Matter of fact, I'm going to visit the grave in Charlottesville of no_hypocrisy 15 hrs ago #33
Thank you for this information. I have only read the wiki entry so far, niyad 15 hrs ago #34
They are really scaredy-cats who think having guns make them seem like manly men. Meanwhile they Raftergirl 10 hrs ago #35

OC375

(1,147 posts)
2. Happens when pretty much anything is going to become hard to get.
Wed Jun 3, 2026, 03:32 PM
Wednesday

In this instance, I'd imagine there are a lot of "Have and not need vs need and not have" purchases going on that will get shot once (if that), and spend the rest of time in the closet.

sop

(19,601 posts)
4. These bans should take effect 24 hours after their passage, so gun sellers can't flood the state with their weapons.
Wed Jun 3, 2026, 03:43 PM
Wednesday

maxsolomon

(39,229 posts)
5. It's unlikely to cause a homicide surge
Wed Jun 3, 2026, 03:43 PM
Wednesday

I'd wager 99% of these weapons are going into a hoarder's arsenal to gather dust.

jmowreader

(53,464 posts)
20. Either that...
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 01:51 PM
Thursday

...or to people who wouldn't have bought one before, don't shoot but "needed" one just because Governor Spanberger said they couldn't have one.

Jacson6

(2,261 posts)
6. I don't know what people in suburbia will do with a AR-15 long gun.
Wed Jun 3, 2026, 03:51 PM
Wednesday

For the city you need a handgun. There is no need for a long gun unless you plan on assaulting a machine gun position. I trained with a lot of weapons in the US Army and there is no need for a long gun in your home for self defense.

IMHO. IME. YMMV.

Angrybob2001

(64 posts)
10. Shotgun
Wed Jun 3, 2026, 05:38 PM
Wednesday

I always tell ppl they are going to be panicking and adrenaline spiking. They won't have trained for the one situation they insist they need a gun for. Get a shotgun; it's less likely to go through the entire house and a better chance of hitting a target.

PCB66

(197 posts)
23. I live in a Florida suburb
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 02:15 PM
Friday

I have a few ARs.

They are not self defense weapons. In the unlikely event I would ever use a firearm for self defense it would probably be a shotgun or a pistol.

However, I do enjoy going to the range and shooting the ARs. It is a fun thing to do occasionally.

I keep them locked up and they are not a danger to anybody else. I have intentions of using them in a crime.

Besides, they would be great to have if 90% of the population turns into brain eating zombies, right?

DetroitLegalBeagle

(2,535 posts)
8. Lawsuits have already been filed i think
Wed Jun 3, 2026, 04:14 PM
Wednesday

It will take a bit of time to work their way through court though. There is a chance SCOTUS takes an already pending challenge on another states law before much happens on the Virginia law specifically.

mahatmakanejeeves

(71,190 posts)
13. Supreme Court denies challenges to bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines
Wed Jun 3, 2026, 06:31 PM
Wednesday

Last edited Wed Jun 3, 2026, 07:05 PM - Edit history (1)

Edited: it has been pointed out to me that this story is from 2025.

Supreme Court denies challenges to bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines

slightlv

(8,094 posts)
12. I tend to agree with you...
Wed Jun 3, 2026, 06:17 PM
Wednesday

it seems this kind of thing spikes whenever a strong democrat is in line for the oval office! And yet, never... not once that I can remember... has a democratic president ever completely repealed our gun laws (let alone, correctly interpret that piece of a line in our constitution! But R's run scared on everything... wink at them differently and you scare them! They're the biggest snowflakes I've ever seen!

jmowreader

(53,464 posts)
21. The worst part is...
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 01:54 PM
Thursday

The guy who they claim is going to "protect my gun rights!" executed the biggest gun grab in history when he unconstitutionally banned bump stocks in his last administration.

Trump not only violated the Sacred Second Amendment Right To Arm Yourself To The Teeth, he also violated the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment by ordering bump stock owners to just hand them over.

IronLionZion

(51,627 posts)
14. There were "Obama's going to take your guns" sales all through his presidency
Wed Jun 3, 2026, 07:47 PM
Wednesday

Yet somehow he never took anyone's guns.

Polybius

(22,196 posts)
15. This is classic FOMO - Fear of Missing Out
Wed Jun 3, 2026, 08:24 PM
Wednesday

Many people naturally want something that they know they won't be able to buy soon.

sarisataka

(22,937 posts)
18. All that gun bans do is cause a surge in gun sales
Wed Jun 3, 2026, 11:41 PM
Wednesday

which seems counterproductive.

OTOH the predictions of blood in the streets fails to appear with notable regularity.

DenaliDemocrat

(1,814 posts)
29. And cost us votes in the elections
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 07:27 AM
16 hrs ago

Colorado’s new law goes into effect in August. It literally bans the Browning Auto 5 - along with the Remington 870 its one of America’s most iconic shotguns. My dad, uncles, and myself all had one.

Guns are a losing agenda for Democrats.

CTyankee

(68,556 posts)
22. Wonderful! Let's have more guns in circulation....I won't be visiting Virginia any time soon...
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 01:55 PM
Friday

GenThePerservering

(3,864 posts)
25. They buy a ton of guns and ammo
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 12:13 AM
23 hrs ago

and then sit their fat asses on it waiting for a tyrant to appear...then vote for him.

niyad

(134,569 posts)
27. "buying the living daylights"??? What in the fucking hell does that title
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 01:17 AM
22 hrs ago

even mean, roanoke news???

no_hypocrisy

(55,551 posts)
28. To understand rural Virginia, consider this:
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 05:42 AM
18 hrs ago

When there are cases of a husband shooting his wife dead, that's called a "Virginian Divorce".

niyad

(134,569 posts)
30. Dear Goddess. Yet if she kills him, even if he was an abusive monster, she
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 07:39 AM
16 hrs ago

goes to prison.

no_hypocrisy

(55,551 posts)
31. Hey, it's Virginia, the state that started the SCOTUS ruling that all states
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 08:02 AM
16 hrs ago

can sterilize you involuntarily. It hasn't been overturned.

no_hypocrisy

(55,551 posts)
33. Matter of fact, I'm going to visit the grave in Charlottesville of
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 08:22 AM
15 hrs ago

Carrie Buck, on the 100th anniversary of this heinous SCOTUS decision, to place flowers.

She can't be forgotten.

Do a google search. One of the most horrifying cases in American jurisprudence.

niyad

(134,569 posts)
34. Thank you for this information. I have only read the wiki entry so far,
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 08:56 AM
15 hrs ago

out of consideration for my neighbors. Justice Holmes' written opinion was a shocker. And Mark Warner's apology for"Virginia's FORCED (emphasis mine) participation in eugenics.

Raftergirl

(1,873 posts)
35. They are really scaredy-cats who think having guns make them seem like manly men. Meanwhile they
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 01:54 PM
10 hrs ago

are petrified of people of color, LBGTQ+, women and cities.

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