On Saturday, the state Senate voted to pass a bill that would ban the manufacture, sale and import of “assault weapons” in Washington state.
The bill would not ban the possession of such weapons. The bill, House Bill 1240, was requested by Gov. Jay Inslee and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and sponsored by state Rep. Strom Peterson, D-Edmonds, in the House and state Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue, in the Senate. The bill first passed the state House on March 8 and will be sent back to the House for approval after being passed by the Senate with amendments.
In a statement released by Ferguson on Saturday, the attorney general said he first proposed the assault weapons ban after a 2016 mass shooting at a Mukilteo house party in which the shooter used a military-style assault rifle and a high-capacity magazine. This year marks the second time Inslee has joined Ferguson in requesting such a bill.
“The Senate today put public safety above the interest of the gun lobby,” Ferguson said. “The devastation of mass shootings extends far beyond the casualties and injuries. Mass shootings traumatize entire communities. We must stop selling these weapons of war in Washington.”
Inslee referred to the bill’s passage out of the state Senate as a “momentous step forward” for Washington state.
“Time and again we’ve seen the carnage these weapons allow people to unleash on communities. Time and again we’ve watched the NRA and politicians defend, normalize and even celebrate these weapons. But now the time is here when the majority’s will prevails and we put the lives of our children first,” Inslee said.
Peterson argued data showed the U.S. experiences more than one mass shooting every day, adding gun violence cuts short lives while leaving survivors with trauma and forces children to live in fear on a daily basis.
“We need to do more to slow gun violence and with today’s vote, we are taking that next important step to protect the people we love,” Peterson said.
Kuderer claimed firearms have become the leading cause of death among American children, above traffic accidents and other health issues.
“To ignore the seemingly endless instances of gun violence in our country would put us on the wrong side of history. These weapons of war have no place in our schools, places of worship, our streets or in our communities. Banning assault weapons marks a victory for common sense and will help us move toward a safer future for Washingtonians,” Kuderer said.
Should the bill be signed into law by Inslee, Washington would become the tenth state to adopt legislation limiting assault weapons.
According to Ferguson, similar laws have been upheld as constitutional by multiple federal courts.
Ferguson pointed to past ballot results for initiative measures as evidence Washington residents are supportive of laws restricting the use of firearms. As well as polling from the past year he said showed “overwhelming” majorities of Washington residents support banning assault weapons.
According to a July poll by The Seattle Times, KING 5, the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public and Washington State University’s Murrow College of Communication Ferguson cited, 61% of Washington residents support a ban on assault weapons. Ferguson also cited a June poll by Public Policy Polling showing 56% of Washington voters support an assault weapons ban.
