Judge rejects attempt to block new Washington state gun restrictions

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In a recent development, a federal judge has dismissed a request to block a newly implemented Washington state law that prohibits the sale of specific semi-automatic rifles. This law, one of three signed by Democratic Governor Jay Inslee, aims to combat gun violence in the region.

Governor Inslee’s law, signed in April and effective immediately, restricts the sale, distribution, manufacture, and importation of over 50 types of firearms, including rifles resembling AR- and AK-style models. It’s important to note that the law does not prevent individuals who already possess such weapons from keeping them.

Various groups, including the Second Amendment Foundation based in Bellevue, the Firearms Policy Coalition based in Sacramento, and individual gun owners and a dealer, swiftly challenged the law in court. They sought an injunction to temporarily block the law while their claim, asserting a violation of their constitutional right to bear arms, underwent a trial.

U.S. District Judge Robert Bryan in Tacoma, ruling on the case, stated, “Considering the exceptional dangerousness of these weapons, the public interest in their regulation by the State outweighs the Plaintiffs’ desire to purchase more assault weapons. In light of recent mass deaths caused by assailants using assault weapons, it is appropriate for governmental bodies to find ways to protect the public from dangerous weapons, within the limits of the Second Amendment.”

This decision comes after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last June, which expanded gun rights and led to debates and uncertainties regarding the remaining legal restrictions. The ruling emphasized the necessity for gun laws to align with the “historical tradition of firearm regulation.”

Judge Bryan concluded that Washington state’s ban aligns with the nation’s longstanding history of regulating dangerous weapons, citing previous bans on “trap guns” that could be fired without the owner present during colonial times. Other historically regulated weapons include long-bladed Bowie knives and the Thompson submachine gun, colloquially known as the Tommy gun, which gained popularity among gangsters in the post-World War I era.

Governor Inslee and State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, both Democrats, advocated for the ban on many semi-automatic firearms in the Democratic-controlled Legislature. After years of unsuccessful attempts, Washington became the 10th state to enact such legislation.

Attorney General Ferguson commented, “This common-sense gun reform will save lives by restricting access to the preferred weapon of mass shooters,” in a news release.

The United States has been witnessing an alarming rate of mass killings this year, according to a database maintained by The Big Big News, USA Today, and Northeastern University.

Cody J. Wisniewski, an attorney with the Firearms Policy Coalition, expressed disappointment with the court’s decision but remained determined to fight for and defend the people’s natural right to self-defense.

The other two laws signed by Governor Inslee establish a mandatory 10-day waiting period for firearms purchases and enable lawsuits against gun manufacturers or sellers in specific cases.

Meanwhile, a federal trial is currently underway in Oregon, challenging a voter-approved measure that mandates safety training and a background check to obtain a gun permit. The legislation, narrowly passed in November, also prohibits the sale, transfer, or import of gun magazines with a capacity exceeding 10 rounds, except for those owned by law enforcement or military personnel or acquired before the measure’s passage.

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More about gun restrictions

• Washington State Gun Laws
• Second Amendment Foundation
• Firearms Policy Coalition
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
• U.S. Supreme Court