A Washington County Circuit Court judge has issued a major clarification in the pending challenge to Virginia’s new “assault firearm” and “large capacity magazine” restrictions, commonly referred to as SB 749.
In a July 7, 2026 letter opinion in Santolla, et al. v. Katz, et al., Judge Jeffrey L. Campbell announced that the preliminary injunction previously entered in the case will not merely protect the named plaintiffs or apply only to the named defendants. Instead, the injunction will be extended to apply statewide.
The injunction is now set to take effect on July 21, 2026.
What Changed?
The parties disagreed over the language of the proposed order following the court’s prior ruling. The plaintiffs sought an order with universal, statewide application. The Commonwealth argued that the injunction should be limited only to the named defendants in the case.
Judge Campbell recognized that Virginia courts generally disfavor injunctions against non-parties. However, the court also noted that the facts of this case created a unique problem: a limited injunction could create a dangerous and confusing patchwork of enforcement across Virginia.
The court gave a practical example. A person might be able to lawfully transport an AR-15 through Washington County under the protection of the injunction, but then face potential prosecution the moment he crossed into another county, such as Grayson County, if the injunction did not follow him statewide.
The court described this as a “treacherous patchwork of enforcement” that could create uncertainty for both gun owners and law enforcement.
The Injunction Will Apply Across Virginia
Judge Campbell concluded that partial relief would not be enough to protect the plaintiffs from irreparable harm. As a result, the court found that the injunction should be expanded to statewide application.
According to the letter opinion, the injunction will apply to:
- Law enforcement agencies of the Commonwealth;
- Local law enforcement agencies;
- Law enforcement officers as defined in Virginia Code § 9.1-101; and
- Commonwealth’s Attorneys throughout Virginia.
In plain English, this means that, beginning July 21, the injunction is intended to prevent enforcement of the challenged SB 749 restrictions across the entire Commonwealth, not just in Washington County and not just against the named defendants.
Why July 21?
The court did not make the statewide injunction immediate. Instead, Judge Campbell amended the effective date to July 21, 2026 so that notice can be delivered to law enforcement and Commonwealth’s Attorneys throughout Virginia.
The court directed the Clerk to provide a certified copy of the order granting the injunction to law enforcement officers and Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Offices across the Commonwealth.
In one of the more memorable lines from the letter, the court observed that one would think a person would have to be “living under a rock” not to be aware of these proceedings, but still recognized that reasonable notice should be given before the injunction takes effect statewide.
Why This Matters for Virginia Gun Owners
This is a significant development for Virginia gun owners, firearms dealers, and anyone attempting to understand the rapidly changing legal landscape surrounding SB 749.
The court’s ruling addresses one of the biggest unresolved concerns after the initial injunction: whether a person could still face prosecution outside the limited territory or parties covered by the original order.
The July 7 letter strongly suggests that the court intends to prevent exactly that kind of county-by-county legal minefield.
Once the statewide injunction takes effect, the challenged restrictions should not be enforced anywhere in Virginia while the injunction remains in place, unless an appellate court stays, modifies, or reverses the order.
Important Caution
This does not mean the case is over. The injunction is preliminary, and the litigation will continue. The Commonwealth may seek appellate review, request a stay, or otherwise challenge the scope of the injunction.
Gun owners and dealers should also remember that the injunction applies only to the challenged Virginia restrictions. Federal law still applies, including all NFA, ATF, background check, prohibited person, interstate transfer, and dealer requirements.
Bottom Line
The Washington County Circuit Court has now made clear that the SB 749 injunction is intended to go truly statewide.
Unless changed by a higher court, the injunction will take effect across Virginia on July 21, 2026, barring enforcement of the challenged “assault firearm” and “large capacity magazine” bans by Virginia law enforcement and Commonwealth’s Attorneys statewide.
This is one of the most important developments yet in the SB 749 litigation, and it should prevent the kind of confusing, county-by-county enforcement nightmare that many Virginia gun owners feared.
