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Washington State AWB

Ranb

Penultimate Amazing
Ranb
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Jul 25, 2003
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WA USA
Washington state legislature passed an assault weapons ban on April 20th. It is expected to be signed by the governor soon. The bill passed the legislature by a margin of under 60%.

It is similar to the Federal AWB94 that sunset in 2004. But instead of two undesirable features on the list to make it banned, only one listed feature makes it an assault weapon.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1240&Year=2023

Bill text. https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/bien...ed Legislature/1240-S.PL.pdf?q=20230422184933

Bill summary. https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/bien...enate/1240-S SBR APS2 23.pdf?q=20230422184933

It has the usual list of semi-auto firearms banned by name as well as assault weapon designations for semi-auto rifles, handguns and shotguns equipped with detachable magazines that have one of the following features.

A. Grip protruding below the stock.
B. Thumb hole stock.
C. Folding/telescoping stock.
D. Forward pistol grip.
E. Flash hider, silencer.
F. Muzzle brake.
G. Threaded barrel for silencer etc. Silencers are still legal to use. :)
H. Grenade or flare launcher.
I. Barrel shroud.

Also bans semi-auto rifles <30 inches in length and conversion kits to to convert firearms into assault weapons and semi-auto rifles with a fixed mag of >10 rounds. There are similar feature lists that make shotguns and pistol assault weapons also.

The bill also bans short barreled rifles (made legal again in 2012) even though they require registration and a bkgd check by the ATF. Since SBR's are <26" in general, they run afoul of the <30" rule now.

There are the usual exceptions for FFL's, police, military and those who currently possess assault weapons.

Unlike AWB94, it is not an extensive crime bill, just an AWB, so I don't expect to see any reductions in violent crime associated with it.

I'm fairly certain that some manufacturers will make post ban version of various rifles available. The M-1A can be modified to have an unthreaded muzzle and no barrel shroud for example. I don't think anyone will extensively modify the AR-15 platform to make it legal in WA.
 
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smartcooky said:
The countdown to SCOTUS overturning begins soon :mad:
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Of course. And there will be a prominent reference to a well regulated militia in their published decision.

(The US constitution has amazing similarities to the christian bible. You can cherry pick and/or leave bits out to make it say whatever you want it to.) /off-topic rant.
 
smartcooky said:
The countdown to SCOTUS overturning begins soon :mad:
Click to expand...

This is a state law, the supreme court is not going to be as interested in this law as they would a federal one. As far as I know, nine states have an AWB of one type or another and the court has let them stand for the most part.

Hawaii's AWB is limited to assault pistols. I've never heard of any assault handgun in Hawaii being associated with a violent crime.

Ranb
 
When I see AWB I immediately, as a photographer, interpret it as 'Auto White Balance', which probably means something different in certain of your states...
 
Ranb said:
This is a state law, the supreme court is not going to be as interested in this law as they would a federal one. As far as I know, nine states have an AWB of one type or another and the court has let them stand for the most part.

Hawaii's AWB is limited to assault pistols. I've never heard of any assault handgun in Hawaii being associated with a violent crime.

Ranb
Click to expand...

What is an example of an assault handgun?
 
Ranb said:
This is a state law, the supreme court is not going to be as interested in this law as they would a federal one. As far as I know, nine states have an AWB of one type or another and the court has let them stand for the most part.

Hawaii's AWB is limited to assault pistols. I've never heard of any assault handgun in Hawaii being associated with a violent crime.

Ranb
Click to expand...

That is good news. And it is always useful to learn a little more about your legal and political systems. Thanks.
 
Ranb said:
This is a state law, the supreme court is not going to be as interested in this law as they would a federal one. As far as I know, nine states have an AWB of one type or another and the court has let them stand for the most part.

Hawaii's AWB is limited to assault pistols. I've never heard of any assault handgun in Hawaii being associated with a violent crime.

Ranb
Click to expand...

smartcooky said:
The countdown to SCOTUS overturning begins soon :mad:
Click to expand...

Ranb, wrong wrong wrong. NYSRPA vs Breun last year was all about state laws. Most SCOTUS decisions are re: state laws.

Pundits figure that Judge Roger Benitez will announce the 9th circuit decisions an hour after the WA gov signs his law. Instant reversal of WA's ban. And this time Benitez will will make it immediate and full, not a temporary restraint from enforcement.
 
Steve said:
That is good news. And it is always useful to learn a little more about your legal and political systems. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Many of the SCOTUS’s most impactful 2nd amendment decisions have dealt with state and local laws. Heller, McDonald, NYSRPA v Bruen, Caetano v Mass, are all cases of challenges to state or local laws taken up by the court.

It is true that this law is not likely to make it to the Supremes though. 75 recent federal court 2nd Amendment cases were appealed to the SCOTUS but not taken up by the court. Should this one survive in a federal court (and it obviously should) then it is likely to be declined for review by the supremes.
 
I'm surprised the supreme Court hasn't taken on an assault weapons ban already. They are more than likely to strike it down and make assault weapons legal in all 50 states. But that doesn't mean that states requiring special licenses to buy them would also be deemed illegal, and I think that's the route that New York California and other liberal states will take if they are once again required to let people possess assault weapons. And honestly I think it's a good idea I think if you're going to own extra dangerous weapons training and a license is simply due diligence.
 
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sarge said:
Possession of such things should be based solely on need, not desire, and police have zero actual need for such weapons.
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On the contrary, police do need semi-auto weapons that fire 223 Winchester rounds. Especially because many criminals have these and often full auto handguns or rifles. Police also need to be able to deal with heavily armed bank robbers, terrorists, mass shooters, etc. Arming them with 6-shooter revolvers is absurd.
 
Skeptical Greg said:
What is an example of an assault handgun?
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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol03_Ch0121-0200D/HRS0134/HRS_0134-0001.htm
In Hawaii an assault pistol has;
A mag outside of the pistol grip (Tec-9).
Threaded barrel (almost any pistol).
Barrel shroud (Buckmark Silhouette).
>50 ounces (some Desert Eagles).
>12" overall length (some Desert Eagles).
Semi-auto version of machine pistol (Uzi pistols).

In WA they will be semi-auto pistols with fixed mags >10 rounds. Also a semi-auto pistol with a detachable mag and one of the following; threaded barrel, 2nd hand grip, barrel shroud, detachable mag outside of hand grip.
 
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casebro said:
Ranb, wrong wrong wrong. NYSRPA vs Breun last year was all about state laws. Most SCOTUS decisions are re: state laws.
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Yes, thanks. I was mistaken.

casebro said:
Pundits figure that Judge Roger Benitez will announce the 9th circuit decisions an hour after the WA gov signs his law. Instant reversal of WA's ban. And this time Benitez will will make it immediate and full, not a temporary restraint from enforcement.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Will not affect me much as I'm about to move to Minnesota. :)
 
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