In 2019, Virginia gun laws remained relatively permissive, but the year served as a critical turning point following a mass shooting in Virginia Beach in May 2019. While substantial legislative changes were debated in a special session that year, the most significant reforms did not officially pass until 2020 after a shift in the General Assembly's leadership.

: Local governments had limited authority to regulate firearms in public spaces or government buildings. The 2019 Turning Point

: Virginia was a "shall-issue" state, meaning authorities had to issue a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) to any applicant who met the legal criteria.

Following the Virginia Beach shooting, Governor Ralph Northam called for a special session to address gun violence. Although 2019 saw intense debate, the majority of proposed reforms were delayed until the 2020 legislative session, where the following measures were eventually signed into law:

: Law-abiding citizens could legally carry a firearm openly without a permit.

Before the 2020 reforms took place, Virginia was characterized by the following regulations:

: Reinstating the limit on handgun purchases (with exceptions for CHP holders).