Judge dismisses third attempt to block Washington State’s ‘assault weapons’ ban.
Washington State Judge Rejects Attempt to Block Assault Weapons Ban
A county judge in Washington state has once again ruled against an attempt to block the state’s ban on so-called assault weapons. This marks the third time in less than three months that a judge has rejected such requests.
Thurston County Superior Court Judge Allyson Zipp recently dismissed a request for a preliminary injunction to block the implementation of HB 1240. This bill prohibits the manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of over 50 types of guns, including AK-47 and AR-15 style rifles, which are classified as assault weapons.
The lawsuit challenging the ban was filed by firearms training firm Guardian Arms against Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee.
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The lawsuit argued that the state’s definition of “assault weapon” is too vague and that the firearms targeted by the law have not been widely used in mass shootings in Washington.
Judge Zipp had previously rejected a similar request for a restraining order on June 23 as part of the Guardian Arms v. Inslee case. Another request to block the assault weapons ban was also rejected by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Bryan on June 6 in a separate lawsuit.
The ban on assault weapons was proposed by State Attorney General Bob Ferguson in 2017 following a mass shooting in Mukilteo, Washington, where the shooter used an AR-15 style rifle.
During the 2023 legislative session, both Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Inslee called for a ban on the sale of assault weapons. The bill was signed into law by Mr. Inslee in April.
“These assault weapons have no purpose other than mass murder. Their sole intent is to kill humans as quickly and efficiently as possible,” stated Governor Inslee.
Despite legal challenges, the recent decision by Judge Zipp has been hailed by State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who said, “My legal team remains undefeated against the gun lobby in court. This common-sense gun reform will save lives by restricting access to the preferred weapon of mass shooters.”
The Second Amendment Foundation, however, has criticized the ban, with founder Alan M. Gottlieb calling it “absurd” and accusing the state of prioritizing politics over constitutional rights.
Democrats Continue to Push for Gun Ban
The United States previously had a ban on assault weapons from 1994 to 2004. President Joe Biden claimed in a speech that mass shootings increased after the ban expired.
“Back in 1994, I took on the NRA and passed the assault weapons ban. For 10 years, mass shootings were down. … But in 2004, Republicans let that ban expire, and what happened? Mass shootings tripled,” President Biden stated.
However, a study commissioned by the National Institute of Justice in 2004 (pdf) concluded that “we cannot clearly credit the ban with any of the nation’s recent drop in gun violence. And, indeed, there has been no discernible reduction in the lethality and injuriousness of gun violence.”
In February, then-U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) introduced the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 in the House, but the bill did not advance.
In March, President Biden once again called on Congress to pass his assault weapon ban agenda following a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee.
“I call on Congress again to pass my assault weapon ban. It’s about time we begin to make some progress,” he stated in a March 28 post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Expansive Gun Control Measures Proposed
The Biden administration is also proposing a rule that would classify any American who sells guns as a firearms dealer, thereby tightening gun control measures in the country.
Currently, individuals can sell firearms for profit without being registered firearms dealers. The new rules would change that.
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