What’s Really Happening in Virginia: Breaking Down HB217 (Helmer’s 2026 “Assault Firearm” Bill)
- Mom At Arms
- 2 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Virginia lawmakers are rolling out their gun‑control proposals in coordinated waves, hoping the public won’t notice the bigger picture. One of the most sweeping is HB217, introduced by Delegate Dan Helmer, a bill that reaches into nearly every corner of Virginia’s firearm laws. If you’ve heard talk about “assault firearm bans,” new age‑based restrictions, or fresh misdemeanors tied to gun ownership, this is the bill behind those headlines.
Before I add my snark, let’s go on ahead and break it down in plain English so every Virginian understands what’s on the table.
1. What HB217 Actually Does
HB217 is not a single‑issue bill. It’s a multi‑section overhaul that:
Bans the import, sale, purchase, transfer, and manufacture of so‑called “assault firearms”
Criminalizes possession of these firearms by adults under 21
Creates new firearm‑related misdemeanors
Expands who is prohibited from owning any firearm
Adds new restrictions to background checks
Expands local gun buyback authority
Redefines “assault firearm” using a long list of cosmetic features
Creates new penalties and new classes of prohibited persons
This is not a “safety tweak.” It’s a full‑scale restructuring of Virginia’s gun laws.
2. The “Assault Firearm” Ban — The Heart of the Bill
HB217 bans the importation, sale, purchase, transfer, and manufacture of “assault firearms.”
But here’s the catch: The definition is so broad it sweeps in the most commonly owned rifles in America, including AR‑15‑style rifles and many standard semi‑automatic firearms.
The bill doesn’t ban them because of how they function — it bans them because of:
Folding or telescoping stocks
Pistol grips
Threaded barrels
Detachable magazines
Standard‑capacity magazines
Cosmetic features that don’t change lethality
This is a feature‑based ban, not a function‑based one.
3. Adults Under 21 Become Criminals Overnight
HB217 makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for anyone under 21 to:
Possess
Purchase
Transport
Sell
Transfer
…an “assault firearm,” even if they already legally own one.
These are legal adults who can:
Vote
Sign contracts
Serve in the military
Be tried as adults
Pay taxes
But under this bill, they cannot own the same rifle they may have trained with in the military.
4. New Misdemeanors = New Prohibited Persons
HB217 creates a new category of prohibited persons: Anyone convicted of the new “assault firearm” misdemeanors loses the right to possess any firearm for three years.
This is unprecedented. Historically, misdemeanors do not strip constitutional rights.
This bill changes that.
5. Background Check Changes & New Restrictions
HB217 modifies Virginia’s background check statute to:
Add new disqualifiers
Require age verification for certain firearms
Expand the list of questions buyers must answer
Add new reporting requirements for dealers
It also ties background checks to the new “assault firearm” definitions, meaning the system must now enforce these new restrictions.
6. Local Gun Buybacks Expanded
The bill allows localities to run buybacks specifically targeting “assault firearms.”
This is symbolic legislation — buybacks have been repeatedly shown to have no measurable impact on violent crime — but it gives local governments a new tool to pressure citizens into surrendering lawfully owned property.
7. Why This Matters for Every Virginian
Even if you don’t own an AR‑15, HB217 affects:
Gun owners — through bans, restrictions, and new penalties
Dealers — through new compliance burdens
Young adults — through criminalization
Law enforcement — through unfunded enforcement mandates
Taxpayers — through expanded buyback programs
Civil liberties — through new classes of prohibited persons
This is not a narrow bill. It’s a structural shift in how Virginia treats firearm ownership.
8. The Constitutional Landscape
HB217 runs head‑first into:
District of Columbia v. Heller — which protects firearms “in common use”
McDonald v. Chicago — which applies the Second Amendment to the states
NYSRPA v. Bruen — which requires historical analogues for modern gun laws
There is no historical tradition of banning commonly owned firearms based on cosmetic features. There is no historical tradition of stripping rights for misdemeanors. There is no historical tradition of age‑based bans on firearm possession for adults.
This bill is on shaky constitutional ground.
9. The Real‑World Impact
HB217 does not:
Address violent crime
Target criminal behavior
Improve mental health services
Strengthen enforcement against prohibited persons
Provide resources to law enforcement
Address root causes of violence
Instead, it:
Criminalizes lawful conduct
Targets the most law‑abiding demographic in the state
Creates new classes of prohibited persons
Bans the most popular rifle platform in America
Punishes Virginians who follow the law, not those who break it
10. The Bottom Line
HB217 is not a public safety bill. It is a political bill that:
Bans commonly owned firearms
Criminalizes young adults
Expands government power
Restricts constitutional rights
Creates new penalties for non‑violent conduct
Virginians deserve legislation that targets criminals, not citizens.
Unfortunately, given the makeup of the incoming Virginia administration, this bill has a very real chance of passing. And as we’ve seen time and time again, these kinds of proposals come with a heavy price tag for Pro‑2A, pro‑freedom Virginians. They know these laws won’t hold up under scrutiny. The goal is to drag us into court, drain resources, and wear people down until resistance fades. I hope Virginians are paying attention, because this pattern isn’t new. Lawmakers like Dan Helmer and Abigail Spanberger fully expect to be sued; that’s part of the political machinery that keeps money and momentum flowing on their side.
The good news is that Bruen remains a powerful counterweight, and we’re going to need it in every single fight ahead. But right now, before this even reaches a courtroom, Virginians need to make their voices heard. If you’re reading this and you live in Virginia, call your legislators immediately and tell them to vote NO on HB217. Use the information in this article to craft a clear, logical message... and make sure they know their constituents are paying attention.