Washington: Legislature Adjourns Sine Die

Yesterday, at 8:00PM, the Washington Legislature adjourned sine die from the 2019-2020 session, marking the defeat of several anti-gun bills. Unfortunately, a number of gun control bills did pass this session and are awaiting a signature by Governor Inslee.

Thank you to all NRA members and Second Amendment supporters who attended committee hearings, grassroots workshops, and contacted their legislators throughout the session. While the NRA is at the Capitol on a daily basis during the session, it’s your active involvement that makes all the difference. Additionally, thank you to all the legislators who stood strong in defense of Second Amendment rights in Washington.

Some of the more egregious bills that failed to pass this session include:

House Bill 2947 would have banned the manufacture, possession, sale, transfer, etc. of magazines that hold more than fifteen rounds of ammunition. It would have appropriated funds for the State Patrol to conduct a “buy-back.” Such turn-in events serve as nothing more than propaganda for gun control advocates while failing to promote public safety in any measurable way.

House Bill 2240 and Senate Bill 6027 would have banned the manufacture, possession, sale, transfer, etc. of magazines that hold more than fifteen and ten rounds of ammunition respectively. So called “high capacity” magazines are in fact standard equipment for commonly-owned firearms that many Americans legally and effectively use for an entire range of legitimate purposes, such as self-defense or competition. Those who own non-compliant magazines prior to the ban would have only been allowed to possess them on their own property and in other limited instances such as at licensed shooting ranges or while hunting. Restricted magazines would have had to be transported unloaded and locked separately from firearms and stored at home locked, making them unavailable for self-defense.

House Bill 2241 would have banned certain semi-automatic rifles and magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. HB 2241, like its predecessors, would have done nothing to impact crime or keep Washingtonians safer.

House Bill 1315 and Senate Bill 5174 would have required onerous government red tape and further training to obtain a Concealed Pistol License.

House Bill 2519 would have banned online sales of ammunition, and potentially required background checks for all ammunition purchases. This bill came on the heels of California’s failed ammunition background check system and was supported by the Attorney General.

Again, thank you to NRA members and Second Amendment supporters for your active involvement this session. Please stay tuned to your email inbox for further updates as the fight for Second Amendment rights continues in Washington.