• Washington state’s proposed ban on the sale of so-called “assault weapons” – which would ban the new sale of many models of semi-automatic sport-utility rifles, pistols and shotguns – will be heard tomorrow in the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee.
• As detailed below and in this bill text, this proposal (SB 6396) is every more sweeping than the now-expired federal “Assault Weapons Ban” and seeks to ban a number of firearms based primarily on cosmetics, including rifles using the increasingly-popular AR-15 platform, which offers hunters and shooters the adaptability and flexibility of using a single rifle for a variety of uses, including long-range target practice, home defense, and some hunting.
• The article below from today’s Seattle Times opines, however, that this ominous bill is “likely to fail;” predicting that it will not make be passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow, due to a lack of political support.
• Although reinstating the expired federal “assault weapons ban” was included in Barack Obama’s official agenda, released last January -- and statements in its support were made last year by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – interest in reviving the 1994, ten-year federal ban on semi-automatic firearms and ammunition magazines continued to lose momentum throughout 2009.
• As you know, Holder’s early comments expressing his support of renewing the ban -- and fear of its renewal – contributed to the post-election firearms buying surge.
• Items addressed in SB 6396 include:
Detachable magazines which can accept over 10 rounds
A pistol grip on a rifle or shotgun
A thumbhole stock
A folding or telescoping stock on a rifle or shotgun
A barrel shroud
A muzzle brake
A grip other than can be held by a hand other than the trigger hand
Any semiautomatic pistol, shotgun or rifle that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds
Any shotgun capable of accepting a detachable magazine
Any shogun with a revolving cylinder
Any conversion kit that can make changes to a firearm to make the above changes possible
• Note that almost any semi-automatic pistol is capable of accepting a magazine that can carry more than 10 rounds. Under this law, virtually all semi-automatic pistols would be rendered illegal.
• For current owners of guns which are covered by this bill, the follow applies:
• The gun must be "safely and securely" stored. (This isn't defined.)
• The sheriff may do an annual inspection of the owner's home to ensure compliance.
• The owner may only have the gun in their house or may only transport it to or from a "licensed firing range".
• The gun must be transported locked, unloaded and out of reach of the driver when in the car going to and from the licensed firing range.
Assault weapons ban likely to fail
By BRIAN EVERSTINE January 25, 2010
After 2009 ended in a hail of high-profile gun violence, Washington state's gun-control advocates are frustrated by an apparent lack of political support for an assault weapons ban, warning that the state will likely face more deadly shootings without it.
The bill comes just weeks after a spate of deadly police shootings, and proponents of the ban say those killings should force politicians to confront gun violence.
"There's more guns, a repressed economy and a lot of angry people," said Ralph Fascitelli, board chairman for state gun control group Washington Ceasefire. "You can't sweep this problem under a rug. Apparently the shooting of eight police isn't enough to confront gun violence in the state."
The bill was named in honor of 18-year-old Aaron Sullivan, who was shot and killed by a SKS 7.62-caliber rifle in Seattle in July. The legislation focuses on "military-style" assault weapons, which can fire rapidly and carry large magazines of ammunition.
Similar bans have not fared well in the state Legislature in the past, and in an election year, supporters face a battle to even get the bill out of committee.
"I will do everything I can to pass this bill this year," said Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, the sponsor of the bill and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. A hearing on the bill is scheduled for Tuesday.
Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, said she is mobilizing with other lawmakers against the bill. Since it was announced, her office has received more than 1,000 e-mails asking the Senate to defeat it, Roach said. "We're going to do everything we can to make sure (Kline) doesn't diminish the Second Amendment right," she said.
The National Rifle Association and the Citizen's Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms are also lobbying against it.
Alan Gottlieb, the director of the Citizen's Committee and the Second Amendment Foundation, said he is confident the bill will fail. Not many Democrats, especially those in more conservative districts, want to come out against gun rights in an election year, he said.
"It's extreme," Gottlieb said. "I am kind of surprised they put it in, because it riles up our people."
The bill could have a tough time getting out of Kline's committee, which has five Democrats and three Republicans. One of the Democrats, Sen. Jim Hargrove of Hoquiam, says he will vote no.
Gov. Chris Gregoire said she has not reviewed the bill or closely followed its process, instead choosing to focus on the group of bills that came in response to recent police shooting, including better communication between law enforcement on jail bookings and releases, a review of the bail bonds system, and enhanced benefits for survivors of officers who die in the line of duty.
Sponsors said the bill is similar to the federal assault weapons ban that expired in 2004. It would cover an array of different pistols, shotguns and rifles, including semiautomatic rifles with large ammunition magazines and pistol-grip stocks.
"We're trying to protect the police, we're trying to protect the youth and this is one step to prevent gun violence," Fascitelli said.
Owners of weapons affected by the bill would be able to keep them if they allow the local sheriff's department to inspect and make sure they are stored "safely and securely." The weapons can still be used at firing ranges.
"We're not going to take away anybody's weapon," Kline said. "There will be zero confiscation of weapons, but there will be no new weapons allowed."
The bill has been endorsed by groups such as Washington Ceasefire, the International Association of Police Chiefs, the Jewish Federation of Seattle and the United African Political Action Committee, among others. Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson said the department has not taken a position on the bill.
Supporters also have referenced the murder of Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton, who was shot to death in his patrol car on Halloween. Police have said they found an assault rifle at the apartment of Christopher Monfort, the man charged with killing Brenton.
Four Lakewood police officers slain in November were shot with handguns, as were two Pierce County deputies who were ambushed in December. One of the deputies later died from his injuries.
Roach, however, said such high-profile gun crimes are not about the weapons that were used, but the people using them. The crimes show the need for people to defend themselves with firearms, she said.
"Trying to pull in sympathies of the tragedies that occurred recently does not address the underlying issue, which is someone being able to protect themselves in those situations," Roach said.