Semi-automatic rifle sales banned in Washington state
Eden Villalovas
Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) signed a bill calling for an immediate halting of the importation, sale, distribution, and manufacture of dozens of semi-automatic rifles in Washington state Tuesday morning. The law affects about 60 types of assault weapons, including AR-15s, AK-47s, M16s, and M4s in all kinds.
On Wednesday, the Democratic-controlled Washington state legislature passed House Bill 1240. It contained language banning dozens of semi-automatic rifles and passed in a 55-42 vote.
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SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE BAN PASSES WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS
The bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Strom Peterson and 25 other Democratic lawmakers, passed after a long push for the ban to go into effect. Inslee has advocated such a ban since 1994 when he voted as a member of Congress in favor of similar legislation outlawing certain assault weapons.
“Today, we’re standing on the right side of history by taking action on gun violence to improve the health, safety and lives of Washingtonians,” Inslee wrote on Twitter.
Washington state will join nine other states, along with the District of Columbia, that have parallel restrictions.
Inslee also signed two similar pieces of gun reform legislation at the signing ceremony. House Bill 1143, passed on April 7, implements a ten-day waiting period and requires training to purchase any firearms. Senate Bill 5078, passed on April 10, establishes duties firearm manufacturers and sellers must take to ensure public safety.
The three bills passed with almost all Republicans opposed and nearly all Democrats in support. Many against the ban have stated House Bill 1240 is among the most restrictive legislation from the state.
“This is the worst of the three new laws made by our state’s majority Democrats this year that infringe on the right to bear arms – a right that is even more clearly expressed in Washington’s constitution than in the Second Amendment,” Republican state Sen. Lynda Wilson told the Washington Examiner.
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Some House Democrats crossed party lines and voted against the ban, including Reps. Alicia Rule and Clyde Shavers.
“It will end up in court immediately. In the meantime, this law is so extreme that active military who move here under orders will be prohibited from bringing their modern sporting rifles into our state. That’s so disrespectful to the people who would lay down their lives for our country,” Wilson said.