Washington state has taken steps toward stripping citizens of their second amendment right after passing a bill which prohibits the sale, manufacture, and import of assault weapons. The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 27-21 and will now be sent to Washington’s Democratic Governor, Jay Inslee, who expected to sign it.
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson put out a press release shortly after the passing of the bill, which read, “Both chambers of the Washington State Legislature have now approved a historic ban on the sale of assault weapons in Washington state. The Senate today put public safety above the interest of the gun lobby.”
“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,” Ferguson added.
This move puts Washington in line with nine other states and Washington, D.C., which have also enacted similar legislation to curb the proliferation of assault weapons. The bill, however, does not ban possession of assault weapons for Washington state residents, and includes exceptions for law enforcement and those who have inherited such guns..
One of the amendments made in the Senate allows gun manufacturers to sell existing inventory to out-of-state buyers for 90 days after the bill takes effect, providing a transitional period for businesses to comply with the new law.
This development comes in the wake of President Biden’s renewed call for a nationwide assault weapons ban, echoing his previous advocacy for such measures in 1994. With the passage of this bill, Washington state is taking decisive action to address the issue of assault weapons, aligning with the growing national conversation on gun control.
