State Gun Law Roundup (June 2026)

Last updated June 2026 · By Nick Hall, tracks state and federal firearms litigation and legislation for USA Gun Shop

Quick take: State capitols don’t slow down in the summer, and June has been busy. Pennsylvania advanced a safe-storage mandate out of committee, a Virginia court knocked the state’s private-sale background checks offline again, and the wave of gun-industry liability laws keeps spreading. Here’s what actually moved this month, what stage each item is at, and what it means if you own or buy guns in these states.

State gun law roundup June 2026, a US state capitol building with flags

Pennsylvania: A safe-storage mandate, HB2244, cleared the House Judiciary Committee on a 14-12 vote and is headed for the House floor.
Virginia: A Lynchburg court blocked the state’s universal background check law again, so private sales need no check for now.
Virginia: A gun-industry liability bill sits on Governor Spanberger’s desk awaiting action.
Connecticut: The state’s firearm-industry liability law is in effect, and it’s the model other states are copying.

Pennsylvania: Safe-Storage Mandate Clears Committee

Pennsylvania’s House Judiciary Committee advanced HB2244, a firearm safe-storage mandate, on a 14-12 vote on June 8, 2026, sending it toward a full House floor vote.

The bill would require gun owners to store firearms in a prescribed manner and would create criminal liability for failing to do so. Supporters frame it as a child-access and theft-prevention measure. Opponents, including the NRA’s lobbying arm, argue it criminalizes ordinary storage choices and does little against criminals who don’t lock anything up.

Two things to keep straight. First, a committee vote is not a law. HB2244 still needs to pass the full House, clear the Senate, and get signed before any of it binds anyone. Second, the 14-12 margin was tight, which tells you the floor vote is far from a sure thing. This one is worth watching, not panicking over.

Virginia: Private-Sale Background Checks Halted Again

A Lynchburg Circuit Court again blocked Virginia from enforcing its universal background check law in early June, so private, person-to-person gun sales in the state currently require no check.

Judge Patrick Yeatts rejected the state’s effort to undo an injunction he had already issued against the 2020 law, and the Virginia State Police posted notice that private-sale checks were no longer required or available. Sales through a licensed dealer are unaffected and still run the federal NICS check. We broke this one down in full in our report on Virginia halting private-sale background checks.

Virginia: Gun-Industry Liability Bill Awaits the Governor

Virginia has passed a gun-industry liability bill that, as of June 2026, is sitting on Governor Abigail Spanberger’s desk awaiting her signature or veto.

The measure would open firearm manufacturers and sellers to certain civil lawsuits, the kind the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act normally shields them from. It’s the same legal theory a handful of other states have already written into law. If Spanberger signs it, Virginia joins that group. If she doesn’t, it dies for this session.

Connecticut: The Industry-Liability Model Spreading State to State

Connecticut’s firearm-industry liability law took effect October 1, 2025, and it’s the template a growing number of states are now copying, including the Virginia bill above.

The Connecticut law, signed by Governor Ned Lamont as Public Act 25-43, lets civil suits proceed against firearm industry members who fail to establish, implement, or enforce “reasonable controls” on how their products are sold and distributed. Backers point it at trafficking up the I-95 corridor. Roughly nine states have now passed some version of this approach, threading the narrow exception the federal PLCAA leaves open for state statutes.

For gun owners, these laws don’t change what you can buy or own. They change the legal exposure of the businesses you buy from, which over time can shape which dealers and makers operate in a given state. For the full state-by-state picture, see our gun laws by state guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Pennsylvania pass a gun storage law?

Not yet. Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee advanced HB2244, a safe-storage mandate, on a 14-12 vote on June 8, 2026. It still needs to pass the full House, clear the Senate, and be signed before it becomes law.

Do private gun sales in Virginia require a background check?

As of early June 2026, no. A Lynchburg Circuit Court blocked the state from enforcing its universal background check law, so private sales currently need no check. Licensed dealer sales still require the federal NICS check.

What is a gun-industry liability law?

It is a state law that lets civil lawsuits proceed against firearm manufacturers and sellers in certain cases, threading a narrow exception in the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. Connecticut version took effect October 1, 2025, and several states have passed similar measures.