Virginia prosecutors refuse to enforce state assault‑weapons ban

A growing number of Commonwealth Attorneys in Virginia have announced they will not enforce the state's assault‑weapons ban that was signed into law by Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger. Prosecutor Ryan Mehaffey of Spotsylvania County, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, sent a letter to the county sheriff declaring the ban "unconstitutional and cannot be legally enforced." He argued that the measure must be linked to a regulated militia to satisfy constitutional standards. Attorneys in Pulaski and Powhatan counties, including Justin Griffith of Pulaski, issued similar letters, stating that criminal law enforcement is at each local prosecutor's discretion and they will not criminalize law‑abiding citizens under the new rule. The refusals, reported by WAVY10 and highlighted by Breitbart News, reflect a coordinated local opposition to the gun‑control legislation.