Washington is the 10th state - including California, Hawaii, Illinois and New York - to enact such a law. The measure does not bar the possession of the weapons by people who already have them. Washington’s new law prohibits the future sale, distribution, manufacture and importation of more than 50 types of guns, including AR- and AK-style rifles. All of this year’s mass killings have involved firearms. is setting a record pace for mass killings this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. Inslee and state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, both Democrats, pushed for the Democratic-controlled Washington Legislature to pass the ban on many semi-automatic weapons this session after years of failed attempts. READ MORE: States look to remove legal protections for gun industry amid mass shootings “The State of Washington has criminalized one of the most common and important means by which its citizens can exercise their fundamental right to self-defense,” the plaintiffs said. District Court in Tacoma on Tuesday, saying the law violates the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. The sales ban, which took effect immediately, drew a quick legal challenge from the Second Amendment Foundation, based in Bellevue, Washington and the Firearms Policy Coalition, based in Sacramento, California. President Joe Biden, who has been pushing for additional gun control measures, “commends the leadership of Washington Governor Jay Inslee and legislative leaders as well as the advocates, survivors and elected officials who fought for years to make today a reality,” she said. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre praised state officials for passing the ban on selling specific semi-automatic weapons. READ MORE: Majority of Americans say they or a family member has faced gun violence, survey finds “Inaction against gun violence is unacceptable.” “Just because they don’t solve all the problems does not mean the state of Washington does not take action,” Inslee said. Jay Inslee signed a trio of bills meant to address gun violence Tuesday, one banning the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles, one imposing a 10-day waiting period on firearms purchases and one clearing the way for lawsuits against gun makers or sellers in certain cases.Ī crowd of gun-control activists and Democratic lawmakers broke into cheers as Inslee signed the measures, which he said would not solve all gun violence but would save lives.
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