On Saturday (April 8), Washington state lawmakers passed a law banning the sale, manufacture, and importation of assault weapons in the state.
Washington Attorney General, Bob Ferguson, issued a press release shortly after the state’s Senate Democrats pushed through H.B. 1240.
The release explains that “Both chambers of the Washington State Legislature” have passed “a historic ban on the sale of assault weapons in Washington State.”
Ferguson lauded the move as the state Senate placing put public safety ahead of gun lobby interests.
Ferguson added that mass shooting devastation goes “far beyond casualties and injuries,” explaining such devastating events “traumatize entire communities,” adding that the sale of these weapons of war must come to an end in Washington.
The assault weapon ban passed the Senate in a 27-21 vote and will return to the House following a Senate amendment.
From there, the bill will head to the desk of Washington Democratic Governor Jay Inslee, who is expected to sign it.
One of the Senate amendments would allow gun manufacturers to sell stock owned before January 1, 2023, to out-of-state buyers within 90 days of the law taking effect.
Shortly after the Senate vote, Inslee took to Twitter to thank Democrats for passing the bill.
Once the law is signed, Washington joins nine other states and Washington, D.C., that have also passed similar legislation.
According to KNDO-TV, the law will not prohibit Washington state residents from owning assault weapons and provides for exceptions for law enforcement officers and people who have inherited firearms.
