Last year, Washington State voters approved a raft of gun control measures collectively known as I-1639. It was a wide-ranging group of Second Amendment infringements including a minimum age of 21 to purchase semi-automatic long guns, “enhanced” background checks, 10-day waiting periods and more. I-1639 got millions of dollars in support from — surprise! — … Read more
The Seattle Times’s Danny Westneat takes the side of a rural gun dealer and police chief who have decided a new state law increasing the minimum age for purchasing assault rifles from 18 to 21 doesn’t apply to them. “Reckless sheriffs”? You keep saying these words, Lester Black. I do not think they mean what … Read more
We’ve noted that a number of Washington State’s sheriffs have announced that they won’t be enforcing the gun control measures enacted under I-1639. That’s the constitutionally questionable ballot initiative that was approved in November which imposes an age limit on gun purchases, prohibits private gun sales, increases waiting periods and enacts a “safe storage” requirement. … Read more
Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich is out there fighting the good fight, but it seems that, in Washington State, he might as well stand on the shore and command the tide to stop. “Here’s the harsh reality for everyone on I-1639: It’s not about school safety. It didn’t make your schools any safer,” he said. … Read more
Meanwhile, in Washington State, another sheriff has announced he will not enforce I-1639 in its entirety: Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer says he’s not enforcing the state’s new initiative that places stiff requirements on the sale and ownership of semi-automatic rifles such as AR-15s, calling it unconstitutional. “I think it’s a bad law and I … Read more
In Washington State, I-1639 is going into effect in stages and some FFLs are following the letter of the law which is admittedly rather open to interpretation: “To me, it’s clear as day that an 18, 20-year-old can technically buy, purchase a semi-auto rifle because those aren’t semi auto rifles until July 1st,” said [Tiffany … Read more
[reviewadinsert] Here we go, Washingtonians. The NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation have filed a lawsuit in Seattle in U.S. District Court. Plaintiffs involved in the challenge to I-1639 include gun store owners and younger residents of the Evergreen State who will be negatively affected by I-1639. One such resident is competitive shooter Luke Rettmer, … Read more
“To those who believe a weapon of war should be purchased with the same ease as a bottle of aspirin and left loaded where children can readily access it, the new law is a nuisance. But Washingtonians decided that keeping powerful weapons out of the hands of children and the unfit is a priority higher … Read more
From the Seattle Times: “My generation has been defined by gun violence. We have been defined by continued and repeated inaction by our elected officials,” Stephen Paolini, 22-year-old campaign manager for Initiative 1639, said at a gathering at Seattle’s Edgewater Hotel where Tuesday’s results drew cheers. “I hope tonight this victory is a message to our … Read more
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