Virginia Senate committee passes bill that would ban magazines holding over 10 rounds

thebesig | January 27, 2026 | 43 Comments

Virginia Democrats have rolled out some bills in their move to “reduce gun violence” in Virginia. If one of those bills becomes law, selling, manufacturing, or purchasing an assault weapon would be criminalized. The bill would also criminalize having magazines that could hold over 10 rounds. There are claims that this bill was amended to remove the grandfather clause for current magazine owners.

From WRIC+ ABC 8 News:

On Monday, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee approved several gun control-related measures.

Along party lines, the committee approved a bill that would make it a crime to sell, manufacture or purchase an assault weapon, as defined in the bill, in Virginia. Plus, per the bill, it would also become illegal to possess a magazine that could hold more than ten rounds of ammunition.

“This approach will gradually take the weapons off the street without retroactively making it a crime to own a weapon that was legally purchased,” the bill’s author, Senator Saddam Salim (D-Fairfax), told the committee.

However, Republicans argued the bill violates Virginians’ Second Amendment rights.

“Every handgun that is not a pistol has the capacity to have a magazine greater than ten. This is a grab to obtain all firearms or prevent Virginians for having them,” said Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover).

Meanwhile, the committee also passed a measure to require anyone with a child in the home to store their guns in a locked container that can only be opened via biometrics, like a person’s fingerprint.

Additional Reading:

Englander, T. (2026, January 26). VA Dems advance bill to ban sale of assault weapons, possession of magazines that can hold 10+ rounds. WRIC+ ABC 8 News. Link.