Three Washington State Gun Control Bills are poised to become law, including a ban on Assault style weapons. In past years many gun control laws with less support have withered and died after being sent to the relevant House and Senate committees. Washington has been the scene of a number of mass shootings involving Assault style weapons.
Here are the mass shootings that have taken place in the past 10 years near my location.
by Joseph O'Sullivan
WASHINGTON, USA — A bill that would ban the manufacture and sale of guns defined as assault weapons passed the state Senate Saturday.
The bill bans the sale, manufacture and import of assault weapons in our state. It does not ban the possession of an assault weapon and it allows for ownership by law enforcement and military service members and an exception in cases of inheritance.
House Bill 1240 passed 27-21. Lawmakers debated more than 20 amendments on Saturday, but only two passed.
A floor amendment allows for gun manufacturers to sell inventory already in stock prior to Jan. 1, 2023, and only to out-of-state clientele, for 90 days after the bill goes into effect.
Because the bill was amended in the Senate, it must return to the House for further consideration. The 2023 legislative session is scheduled to adjourn on Sunday, April 23.
“We are the only country in the world that grapples with the horror of mass shootings, and today we took a critical step forward — and took the weapon of choice away from those who would do innocent people harm,” said Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue) sponsor of the Senate companion bill, SB 5265.
If the bill receives final passage, Washington will join nine other states and Washington, D.C., in banning assault weapons.
A bill that would require a 10-day waiting period and gun safety training for anyone buying a firearm also passed off the Senate floor on Friday, April 7.
House Bill 1143 would prevent a gun dealer from transferring any firearm until the purchaser or transferee provides proof of completion of a safety training program, passes a background check and waits 10 days.
In 2018, Washington voters approved Initiative 1639. That set a requirement of a 10-day waiting period and safety training for people purchasing semi-automatic riffles. House Bill 1143 extends similar measures to all firearm purchases.
The NRA’s power over our legislators here in Washington has been diminished, to the point where they no longer hold an effective veto over what gun laws we must live under in Washington State. That is a really gratifying feeling.