A disagreement between two Virginia Democrats is raising fresh questions about the state’s newly enacted semiautomatic firearm ban, with critics arguing that one of the law’s chief supporters appears to misunderstand how both the legislation and existing federal gun laws actually work.
The controversy centers on Senate Bill 749, which Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed into law on May 14. The measure, scheduled to take effect July 1, prohibits the sale and transfer of certain semiautomatic firearms classified by the state as “assault weapons.” The law immediately drew legal challenges from major gun-rights organizations, including the National Rifle Association, the Second Amendment Foundation, and the Firearms Policy Coalition.
But the latest debate isn’t taking place in a courtroom. It’s unfolding among lawmakers who supported the legislation.
Wait did he actually say this? If so then it wouldn’t be an AWB lol.
I don’t think Everytown will agree! https://t.co/Xe1olBIZ6n
— Kostas Moros (@MorosKostas) June 15, 2026
State Sen. Saddam Salim sparked criticism after comments he made to the Richmond Times-Dispatch suggested Virginia residents might still be able to obtain banned firearms in neighboring states and bring them home without detection.
“If you happen to get (a firearm) from North Carolina, and then you come to Virginia and you don’t commit any crimes, none of us know that you have this,” Salim said. “Law enforcement in Virginia is never going to go knock on your door and ask you, ‘Do you have a gun at your home? When did you get that?’”
The problem, critics quickly pointed out, is that federal firearms laws already restrict such purchases.
Under federal law, a resident generally cannot purchase a handgun from a federally licensed dealer outside his or her home state. Long guns such as rifles and shotguns can sometimes be purchased across state lines, but only if the transaction complies with the laws of both states involved. That means a federally licensed dealer in North Carolina would be required to ensure any firearm sold to a Virginia resident is legal under Virginia law.
In other words, once Virginia’s ban takes effect, a Virginia resident would not simply be able to walk into a gun store in another state and legally purchase a prohibited firearm.
That interpretation prompted a sharp response from Virginia Citizens Defense League President Philip Van Cleave.
“He clearly doesn’t understand firearm laws,” Van Cleave said. “Gun dealers in other states will check Virginia law and will not sell a Virginia resident an ‘assault firearm.’”
Van Cleave also argued that the legislation itself runs headlong into Supreme Court precedent.
“He also doesn’t understand that the U.S. Supreme Court in DC v. Heller said that guns that are in ‘common use’ cannot be banned. But that’s exactly what he’s done,” Van Cleave said.
The criticism wasn’t limited to gun-rights advocates. Konstadinos Moros, Director of Legal Research and Education for the Second Amendment Foundation, reacted incredulously after seeing Salim’s comments.
“Wait did he actually say this? If so then it wouldn’t be an AWB lol,” Moros wrote on X. “I don’t think Everytown will agree!”
Adding to the confusion, Democratic Delegate Dan Helmer publicly contradicted Salim’s interpretation of the law. Helmer told the Times-Dispatch that importing a prohibited firearm into Virginia would still be illegal and could result in criminal penalties.
Under SB 749, violations are classified as misdemeanors, and a conviction carries an additional consequence: the loss of firearm rights for three years.
