Washington State Bans AR-15 Sales

Washington State Bans AR-15 Sales – Washington’s decision to ban sales of AR-15s and other semi-automatic rifles is a disappointing move. Despite Governor Jay Inslee’s assertion that these weapons have no purpose other than mass murder, many gun owners use them for self-defense, hunting, and recreational shooting.

Furthermore, the ban is unlikely to have a significant impact on reducing gun violence. Criminals and those with malicious intent will still find ways to obtain firearms illegally, while law-abiding citizens will be deprived of their Second Amendment rights.

The additional measures signed into law, such as the 10-day waiting period for firearm purchases and holding gunmakers liable for negligent sales, also infringe on the rights of responsible gun owners without addressing the root causes of gun violence.

Overall, Washington’s decision to implement these gun restrictions is misguided and likely to be ineffective in achieving its intended goals. Criminals and other people wanting to shoot others will still find the means to get the firearms necessary. This law does little to change that.

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Opponents called the ban an unconstitutional infringement of the rights of law-abiding gun owners and immediately filed a lawsuit seeking to have it struck down.

The federal lawsuit, filed by the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation and other opponents, contends the law signed by Inslee “has criminalized one of the most common and important means by which its citizens can exercise their fundamental right to self-defense.”

The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of the ban.

The national Firearm Industry Trade Association also condemned Inslee for signing the law banning what it called “Modern Sporting Rifles” and vowed to sue to overturn it.

“Governor Inslee and Washington’s Attorney General Bob Ferguson put politics ahead of their duty to defend the Constitution and protect the rights of their citizens,” Lawrence Keane, the trade group’s senior vice president and general counsel, said in a statement.

The measure signed by Inslee, House Bill 1240, bans the sale, transfer, distribution, manufacture and importation of 62 gun models the law defines as “assault weapons,” including AR-15s, AK-47s and similar rifles.