In a 27-21 Saturday afternoon vote, Washington State Senate Democrats rammed through a slightly amended version of House Bill 1240, which bans the future sale, transfer, manufacture or importation of so-called “assault weapons.” It goes back to the House for a concurrence vote.
Lawsuits challenging the new law, which will become effective the moment Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee signs it, are virtually certain.
Senate Democrats are calling it “A monumental step toward gun safety,” but Evergreen State gun owners have a vastly different perspective, as social media confirms. Writing on Facebook, one woman stated, “Thanks to the Democrats who have made this state unsafe, I can’t leave my home without fear my car wouldn’t be stolen, for fact I have to see homeless pooping in the streets, and daily shootings in the city’s that used to be safe…Ya, sure, disarm the law abiding so we cowtow (sic) to the democrat agenda.”
She was followed by a man who bristled at conservatives for not voting: “Folks on the right tend to not take action because they believe that a combination of moral high ground and SCOTUS rulings will prevail. Wake the f–k up and get in the game. 30% (max.) gun owners are actually voting or taking meaningful legislative action, and that is a very (very) generous estimate.”
Anti-gun Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue) declared, “People are sick and tired over the seemingly endless instances of gun violence and are downright incensed at their leaders’ inaction. Enough is enough.”
According to the Daily Olympian, the newspaper serving Washington’s capital city, “Violations of the proposed legislation would be a gross misdemeanor, which can include jail time for up to 364 days and a fine of no more than $5,000.”
During floor debate, which stretched more than two hours, Republicans opposed the legislation. Sen. Ron Muzzall of Oak Harbor reminded his colleagues that since 2015, the Legislature has adopted 37 gun control bills, all with the promise of reducing so-called “gun violence.” He noted that none of these measures has prevented a violent crime, the Olympian noted.
“The one thing that I see that lacks in this legislation today is bipartisanship to solve the problem,” Muzzall observed. “Why? Because we’re focusing on some firearms that we consider to be scary.”
More than 20 amendments were offered, and two were adopted. One will allow firearms dealers to sell or transfer their current stock of the affected firearms to dealers in other states for up to 90 days after the bill becomes law. Another amendment provides exceptions for military retirees moving to Washington or active duty military who are assigned to the state, the Olympian reported.
Democrats also passed House Bill 1143, which mandates proof of training for anyone buying a firearm. There is also a 10-day waiting period for all firearms transfers, and as noted by KING News in Seattle—the local NBC affiliate—this is an extension of the 10-day waiting period on the purchase of semiautomatic rifles that was part of Initiative 1639, passed by voters in 2018.
At the time, opponents predicted passage of the billionaire-backed initiative would be followed eventually by stricter gun control measures, and they were right.
An unscientific online poll by KOMO News in Seattle—the regional ABC affiliate—revealed overwhelming opposition to the gun ban legislation, with 78 percent opposing, 19 percent supporting and 3 percent “not sure.”
In their statement, Democrats are trying to put an “It’s not so bad” face on the bill, noting, “It does not ban possession of an assault weapon and it allows for ownership by law enforcement and military service members and an exception in cases of inheritance.”
But Washington gun owners have watched the piecemeal erosion of gun rights in other states, specifically California and New York, and they are certain the gun prohibition movement will come back for more.
About Dave Workman
Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.
Is it not an admission that; the person not the gun is the problem, if you have state mandated training?
Does the training requirement apply to criminals? We really don’t need to train criminals on these do we? So it’s for the law abiding gun owners.
“Anti-gun Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue) declared, “People are sick and tired over the seemingly endless instances of gun violence and are downright incensed at their leaders’ inaction. Enough is enough.””
I have to agree with her on the FACT that the DA and government agents ARE NOT DOING their —- FIDUCIARY DUTY —- in holding the TERRORISTS, ANARCHISTS, ANTIFA, BLM, KILLERS, ASSAULTERS —- RESPONSIBLE for BREAKING the LAWS-OF-THE-LAND. THEREFORE, these governmental agents MUST be HELD PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for the MAYHEM and SLAUGHTER their “protected civilian armies” are perpetrating against the LAWFUL Citizens!!!!!!!
1240 not only bans the sale of any AR styled rifle (along with many other named semiautomatic rifles and all rifles that have magazines external of their grip as well as other defining characteristics) but it also bans the sale of any parts that can be used to assemble said rifles. LPK’s, uppers, bolts, carriers, foregrips, charging handles, etc will be off the table. Even more egregiously it defines any pistol that has a threaded barrel capable of accepting a suppressor, even though suppressors are legal, an “assault weapon” and therefore is banned. The every 5 year training and licensing… Read more »
that window could be as short as a few days, end of this week.
No question the inn sleaze will put his mark on it.
Thanks Dave for the article. I heard your television interview on the radio yesterday too. Good job. I certainly like this excerpt because it describes the readers of Ammoland to a tee, ”…a man who bristled at conservatives for not voting: “Folks on the right tend to not take action because they believe that a combination of moral high ground and SCOTUS rulings will prevail. Wake the f–k up and get in the game. 30% (max.) gun owners are actually voting or taking meaningful legislative action, and that is a very (very) generous estimate.” To be fair, it’s just not… Read more »
Play it again, Sam…. Politicians with laws never stop bad guys with guns.. They only control the good guys, which is their true agenda. “One of the notable aspects of the democratic process is that one need not know anything about a subject in order to pass laws about it.” – the late COL Jeff Cooper. There is not a Gun Violence problem. There is a Defective Citizen problem. Politicians will never solve the “Violence” issue. Evil is, was, and always will be until Christ returns. I’ve skipped ahead, read the last chapter…GOD WINS!!!! Sorry to spoil the delusion of… Read more »
I’ve said this before almost to the point of ad-nausea: Gun rights activism must stop playing only defense. Expose the antis continuing failure to hold gun perps accountable, instead blaming persons not responsible for gun crimes. Lobby in state legislatures for stiff penalties for crimes committed with firearms, as well for irresponsible gun handling and negligent storage in presence of irresponsible minors. If you shame the antis enough, they’ll see your wisdom. You might possibly own the issue.
If the lefties in power think this bill is something I’m going to comply with, they’re severely deluded. Just like all the other “gun safety laws” they pass here, they fall on my deaf ears. The SAF is headquartered here, and am a life member who gets daily requests for donations, but it seems to me that they are more involved in other states than they are here. Every single “gun law” they pass here is unconstitutional, but I see little action against the tyrants here.