So-called ‘assault weapons’ banned in Washington
OLYMPLIA – The sale, import, distribution and manufacture of so-called “assault weapons” and related parts was immediately banned Tuesday morning, April 25, across the state.
With a large crowd of Democrats standing behind him at the Capitol, Gov. Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1240 into law.
It was the most sweeping of three gun-control measures he signed into law just before 11 a.m. with a large crowd of West Side Democrats standing behind him.
House Bill 1240 included an emergency clause allowing it to take effect immediately.
The bill essentially makes several specific semi-automatic rifles and their parts illegal to buy, sell, trade or distribute in the state. In addition to specific firearms named, the measure also outlaws all firearms with similar traits.
The bill bans common rifles, such as the AR-15, as well as common plinking rifles like the Ruger 10-22.
“There is no reason for their use in the state of Washington,” Gov. Jay Inslee said during the bill signing ceremony Tuesday. “No one needs an AR-15.”
According to Inslee, “you only need it to kill other people.”
Other anti-firearms bills signed into law Tuesday included House Bill 1143 and Senate Bill 5078.
House Bill 1143 mandates a 10-day waiting period on the purchase of all firearms as well as requires all purchasers to have completed firearms safety training in the five years immediately prior to buying a gun.
“This cooling off period is critical,” Rep. Jamie Pederson, D-Seattle, said during the ceremony. Pederson is one of the bill’s sponsors.
Senate Bill 5078 puts new rules on firearms manufacturers and retailers on selling, distribution and marketing of their products.
Both House Bill 1143 and Senate Bill 5078 go into effect Jan. 1.
State Attorney General Robert “Bob” Ferguson said he’s ready to defend the new laws.
“We understand there will be lawsuits,” he said. “That’s to be expected.”
Ferguson said firearms advocates have the right to sue to try to overturn the laws. But he cautioned them to consider his record first.
“Our record, so far, is pretty good (defending firearms laws),” he said. Against the 2nd Amendment Foundation, we are undefeated.”
It didn’t take long for the 2nd Amendment Foundation to file a lawsuit.
Gov. Inslee signed House Bill 1240 into law about 10:50 a.m. And by 11:10 a.m., the organization announced it had filed a federal lawsuit to prevent its implementation.
The gun-advocacy group challenged the measure based on the 2nd and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
The group is asking the court for an immediate and permanent injunction in Hartford V. Ferguson, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Other groups joining the lawsuit include Firearms Policy Coalition, Sporting Systems, a Hazel Dell retailer and state residents Brett Bass, Douglas Mitchell and Lawrence Hartford, for whom the case is named.
They are represented by Seattle attorney Joel Ard.
The lawsuit names Ferguson, State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste, Kitsap County Sheriff John Gese and County Prosecuting Attorney Chad M. Enright; Kittitas County Sheriff Clayton Myers and County Prosecuting Attorney Greg Zempel; Clark County Sheriff John Horch and County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Golik, and Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortnoy and County Prosecuting Attorney Jason Cummings as defendants.
“The State has enacted a flat prohibition on the manufacture, sale, import and distribution of many types of firearms, inaccurately labeled as ‘assault weapons,’ which are owned by millions of ordinary citizens across the country,” Foundation Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb said. “In the process, the state has criminalized a common and important means of self-defense, the modern semiautomatic rifle.
“The state has put politics ahead of constitutional rights, and is penalizing law-abiding citizens while this legislation does nothing to arrest and prosecute criminals who misuse firearms in defiance of all existing gun control laws. It is absurd.”
The Second Amendment Foundation also has lawsuits already filed challenging the man of semiautomatic rifles to adults ages 18-20 and the ban on high-capacity magazines.
“As we note in our complaint, the firearms that Washington bans as ‘assault weapons’ are, in all respects, ordinary semiautomatic rifles,” Foundation Executive Director Adam Kraut added. “We will take this case to the highest court in the land, if necessary.
“This sort of legislative demagoguery cannot be allowed to stand.”
During the bill-signing ceremony, however, Gov. Inslee said the laws are necessary to save lives.
“While we celebrate them, they are not the only thing we need to do. They are not a total panacea,” he said, noting lawmakers are also making mental health care more accessible, as well as other prevention programs.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, columnist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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