2024 Legislative Session Done
2024 Post Legislative Session Update
Status of New LAWS
SB 5444 – restricts the possession of weapons, excluding carrying a pistol by a person licensed to carry a concealed pistol, on the premises of libraries, zoos, aquariums, and transit facilities.
Effective date: 6/6/2024
HB 1903 – requires gun owners to report lost or stolen guns to law enforcement within 24 hours of when they discover the theft or loss.
Effective date: 6/6/2024
HB 2021 - Allows the Washington State Patrol to destroy firearms it has seized because they were used in crimes or otherwise illegally possessed.
Effective date: 6/6/2024
HB 2118 - Outlines comprehensive requirements for firearm dealer licensing. This bill requires gun dealers to run annual background checks on employees, maintain alarm systems and 24-hour surveillance and other security measures.
Effective date: 7/1/2025
Challenge to Ban on High-Capacity Magazines
In 2022, a ban on high-capacity magazines which hold more than 10 rounds was passed by the Washington State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Inslee. This legislation was sponsored at the request of Attorney General Bob Ferguson which was first proposed in 2016.
On April 8, 2024, Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Gary Bashor ruled that Washington’s ban on high-capacity magazines violated both the Washington state and U.S. constitutions. Minutes later, AG Bob Ferguson filed an emergency appeal to the state Supreme Court, seeking to get the law back on the books. Michael Johnston, the Washington State Supreme Court commissioner, granted an emergency stay which keeps the ban in effect as the legal fight moves on to a higher court.
Bob Ferguson replied to Judge Bashor’s decision by saying this law is constitutional. “Every court in Washington and across the country to consider challenges to a ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines under the U.S. or Washington Constitution has either rejected that challenge or been overruled.”
The decision comes in a dispute between the state and a firearms retailer – Gator’s Custom Guns in Kelso, along with the business’ owner Walter Wentz, after Gator’s challenged the ban on high-capacity magazines in 2022. Ferguson followed up with an enforcement action, alleging the shop had violated state law by continuing to sell the prohibited magazines. Peter Serrano is the attorney representing Wentz. Serrano is Director General Counsel for the ultra-conservative Silent Majority Foundation.
Pete Serrano announced in January of 2024 that he is running for Attorney General, the position being vacated by Bob Ferguson as Bob runs for Governor. Fortunately, there are two very qualified candidates running against Serrano. State Senator Manka Dhingra, who has been a Gun Violence Prevention Champion during her time in the Senate, is running as well as former US Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Nick Brown.
Looking to 2025 Session
State Rep. Liz Berry, the chief sponsor of the stalled gun Permit-to-Purchase bill (HB 1902) has stated concerning the bill, “That is the next big thing that we want to do, and I am going to get it done next year”. Representatives Lekanoff and Ramel from the LD 40 are co-sponsors. On the Senate side, the chief sponsor of the companion bill (SB 6004) is Senator Liias.
Looking to 2024 Elections
Watch for information on Gun Violence Prevention candidates once The Alliance for Gun Responsibility (AGR) makes its official endorsements, probably at the end of May.
January 16, 2024 in Olympia
It was a pleasure to be with all of you today, lobbying for gun violence prevention. Thank you to our very capable drivers Paula and Wim. We made a good showing wearing our orange. I believe the 8 of us may have outnumbered the NRA. Hearings were interesting, as always. Liz did a great job of testifying, as usual. While it's hard to imagine opposition to passing bills that make our communities safer, it is fascinating to hear other points of view.
2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION DONE
Historic victories for gun violence prevention laws in Washington state. Governor Inslee signed the BIG three bills into law on Tuesday, April 25. The assault weapons ban went into effect immediately. We know gun violence is a public health emergency.
HB 1240 - Assault Weapons Ban
HB 1143 – 10 day waiting period and proof of gun safety training
SB 5078 – Access to Justice for victims
To see even more gun violence prevention bills that were supported by the Alliance, follow this link:
2022 Legislative Victories
Washington’s 2022 legislative session was one for the books! The second virtual session brought its fair share of obstacles. In just a short 60 days, lawmakers had to address the continued challenges of the pandemic, craft a budget, and more. Thankfully, lawmakers prioritized gun responsibility this year, passing SIX vital gun violence prevention bills, including (finally!) ESSB 5078 to restrict high-capacity magazines! Legislators also invested substantial funding in gun violence prevention efforts through the newly-formed Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention.
Here’s a breakdown of our legislative victories:
ESSB 5078: RESTRICTING HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES
This bill reduces the scope of gun violence in Washington by restricting high-capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. It targets the supply of these extraordinarily deadly magazines by prohibiting their manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale. It does not prohibit possession of high-capacity magazines. This is a victory six years in the making!
HB 1630: REJECTING ARMED INTIMIDATION
In 2021, the legislature took action to reject armed intimidation by prohibiting open carry at the Capitol, protests, and demonstrations. HB 1630 extends this safeguard by prohibiting open carry at public local government meetings and prohibiting the knowing carry and possession of firearms at school board meetings and election-related offices and facilities.
HB 1705: CLOSING THE GHOST GUN LOOPHOLE
Ghost guns are unserialized and untraceable firearms that anyone—including prohibited purchasers, children, domestic abusers, and gun traffickers—can buy online, at gun shows, or from local dealers. They are often sold through kits including all of the parts, equipment, and instructions necessary to build these weapons at home. HB 1705 restricts the manufacture, assembly, sale, transfer, purchase, possession, transport, and receipt of ghost guns.
HB 1735: UPDATING USE OF FORCE STANDARDS
In 2021, legislators passed an historic package of police accountability bills that made a series of changes to standards of police conduct. HB 1735 clarifies when police can use physical force, including to help transport people to mental health treatment.
HB 1941: PROHIBITING LIVE-SHOOTER DRILLS
This bill prohibits schools from conducting lockdown drills that include live simulations of or reenactments of active shooter scenarios that are not trauma-informed and age and developmentally appropriate.
HB 1901: UPDATING CIVIL PROTECTION ORDERS
This bill makes updates to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Washington’s civil protection order system. Notably, it expands the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control, a common and dangerous form of intimate partner violence. Coercive control often escalates into physical, even deadly, violence. And guns are often used as a tool of coercive control, adding weight to manipulative or threatening behavior.
$$$: INVESTING IN GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
The legislature allocated $8.41 million in funding for various gun violence prevention programs through the Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention! Those dollars will be used to issue grants to community-based violence prevention groups, establish a Healthy Youth & Violence Prevention Initiative in the Office, improve firearm removal in domestic violence situations, establish community reinvestment grants, and more.
Gun violence continues at a record pace in Washington, weighing heavily on our communities and highlighting how much work there is left to do to create the safe, just future we deserve. But this session proved how much progress is possible.
None of these victories would have been possible without the dedication of our legislative champions and our tireless supporters. We are so grateful for everyone who worked with us to help make Washington a safer state.
