Firearm sales in Virginia and Rhode Island surged in the weeks leading up to new state bans on the sale of many semiautomatic firearms, as gun owners rushed to complete purchases before the restrictions took effect.
According to FBI background check data cited by Bearing Arms, firearm transactions in both states increased by more than 200% compared with the same period last year, making Virginia and Rhode Island two of the nation’s fastest-growing gun markets ahead of the July 1 deadline.
Buyers Race To Beat Deadline
The buying spree accelerated as the effective date for nearly identical “assault weapon” bans approached.
In Virginia, firearm dealers reported being unable to keep many popular rifles and magazines in stock as customers sought to purchase firearms before the law took effect. State background checks had already more than doubled earlier in the spring, and retailers said demand continued climbing through the final days of June.
Rhode Island dealers reported similar scenes.
At one Warwick gun store, customers began lining up before opening in hopes of taking possession of firearms before the midnight deadline. Store owners said any firearms not transferred before the law took effect could no longer legally be delivered to buyers.
Similar Laws, Different Legal Outlook
Although both states enacted comparable restrictions on the sale and transfer of many semiautomatic firearms, their legal situations differ.
Virginia’s law is currently tied up in court after judges issued injunctions delaying enforcement while constitutional challenges proceed. Several commonwealth’s attorneys have also publicly stated they do not intend to enforce the law as litigation continues. (RELATED: Another Sheriff Refuses To Enforce New State Restrictions)
Rhode Island’s ban, by contrast, took effect July 1 without a similar statewide injunction. The law generally prohibits the future sale, manufacture, and transfer of covered firearms while allowing existing owners to retain those they already legally possess.
Familiar Pattern Before Gun Restrictions
The surge mirrors buying patterns seen in other states before new firearm restrictions take effect.
The legal battle is expected to continue. Later this year, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear challenges to assault weapon bans in Illinois and Connecticut, a decision that could shape the future of similar laws across the country, including those enacted in Virginia and Rhode Island.
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