Stronger Families. Stronger Communities. Stronger Washington

The Washington State Legislature considered dozens of bills addressing firearms over the past two years. Several bills were debated, passed and became law. Others, were proposed but never considered. Below is a list of some of those bills.

“A very common discussion with constituents in the 20th Legislative District are their concerns over recent legislation impacting their rights under the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 1, Section 24 of the Washington State Constitution. Responsible firearm use is part of the history and tradition in SW Washington. I have consistently opposed legislation that focuses on restricting law-abiding gun owners and infringing on rights, while at the same time ignoring the need to support law enforcement and address the rise in crime (by criminals) throughout Washington state.”

Rep. Peter Abbarno, 20th Legislative District Representative.

Became Law

  • Ammunition, large capacity magazines, definition and prohibitions: SB 5078HB 1164* ESSB 5078, CH 104 (2022)
    • “This law restricts the rights of law abiding citizens and does nothing to prevent criminals from owning, possessing, transporting, or transferring magazines with more than 10 rounds. Under this law, a spouse could transfer a firearm to another spouse at a gun/rifle range, but COULD NOT transfer the magazine if it had over 10 rounds. Under this law, a certified firearms instructor could not teach a self-defense class with a magazine if it had over 10 rounds. I opposed this legislation in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee and I opposed this legislation on the House Floor. This is bad law, bad policy, and bad logic.”
  • Extreme risk protection orders, moving to a single civil protection orders chapter: HB 1320SB 5297SHB 1320* E2SHB 1320, CH 215 (2021)
    • “This law creates confusing, obscure, and subjective new legal tests that impacts a legal gun owners right to possesses a firearm without proper notice and due process. There were some very goods parts to this bill; however there were not enough consideration for the process. Amendments were offered to balance the rights and safety of victims, but were not given just consideration. I opposed this law and hope that we can ‘fix’ it and provide the proper due process.”
  • Firearms/ammunition, when “military equipment,” acquisition/use by law enforcement, prohibiting of: HB 1054* ESHB 1054, CH 320 (2021)“HB 1054 was part of the poorly drafted law enforcement ‘reform’ bills that contributed to the rise in crime because it limited the ability of first responders to adequately respond in a non-lethal way to criminal activity. Some of this bad legislation was improved with the passage of HB 1719.”
  • Firearms/ammunition, when “military equipment,” acquisition/use by law enforcement, clarifying prohibiting of: HB 1634* HB 1719, CH 3 (2022)
    • “Much of the 2022 legislative session was focused on fixing what legislative Democrats and the Governor broke in the 2021 legislative session. This bill passed unanimously to fix HB 1054 passed in 2021 that limited law enforcement use of non-lethal means. This bill removes the prohibition on the use and acquisition of ammunition of .50 caliber or greater by law enforcement agencies and narrows the prohibition on the use and acquisition firearms of .50 caliber by law enforcement agencies to apply only to rifles of .50 caliber or greater.”
  • Open carrying, knowingly, at permitted demonstration or state capitol, prohibiting, when: * ESSB 5038, CH 261 (2021)
    • “This law is not about the State Capitol alone. It impacts ANY PERMITTED EVENT in the State of Washington. Although Democrats took my amendment to better define the perimeter of the event, the law infringes upon the rights of legal and law abiding gun owners. For instance, if you have a permitted birthday party at a city or county park, this law applies and it would be a violation to open carry. If you are on your neighbors property and a permitted 4th of July parade goes by, this law would apply and it would be a violation to open carry on your neighbors property (even with permission). The constitutional violations of this law are numerous which is why I opposed.”
  • Untraceable firearms and unfinished frames/receivers, prohibitions/penalties: HB 1705ESHB 1705 (Governor likely to act)
    • “This new law does not prevent criminals from owning or possessing untraceable firearms. The law impacts the constitutional rights of many gun builders, hobbyists, and the most responsible gun owners among us. Democrats liked to use the phrase “ghost guns” but the reality is that they confused guns that are built by gun smiths with guns that criminals remove identifiable numbers. Ultimately, this bill will not prevent criminals from buildings guns or ‘filing off’ serial numbers.”
  • School district boards of directors, firearms/weapons knowingly in facilities during meetings of, prohibiting: ESHB 1630 (Governor likely to act)
    • “Although House Democrats took my amendment to provide signage and notice of meetings, this legislation is overly broad and forces Washington citizens to choose between their constitutional rights to assemble, vote, and possess a firearm. The ‘meetings’ are not limited school board or election, and encompass many meetings that often move locations regularly. The arguments for this legislation were not based on facts, but assumptions and conjecture.”

Of Particular Note

  • Sentencing enhancements for firearms, served consecutively, removing requirement that they be: HB 1169ESHB 1169
    • “This legislation passed the House along party lines with Democrats voting in favor. The bill reduces sentencing enhancement for firearm violations by criminals and eliminates sentencing enhancements for certain crimes committed near protected zones, like schools and bus stops. This is an example of House Democrats restricting the rights of citizens to defend themselves while reducing penalties for drug and firearm related crimes.”

Introduced

  • Aiming or discharge of firearm or dangerous weapon, unlawful, provisions: HB 1038
  • Ammunition, firearm magazines/loading devices of any size, constitutional amendment to allow for self-defense: SJR 8205
  • Assault weapon, defining with list of specific firearms: SB 5217HB 1229
  • Assault weapons, requirements and prohibitions: SB 5217HB 1229
  • Clay targets, sales and use tax exemptions: SB 5187
  • Extreme risk protection orders, updating and modifying: HB 1901SB 5845
  • Firearm rights, voluntary waiver of, firearm possession or control after, civil infraction: SB 5491
  • Firearm rights, voluntary waiver of, various provisions, modifying: SB 5491
  • Firearms/ammunition, replacing “military equipment” prohibition for law enforcement with “prohibited equipment” list: SB 5569HB 1737HB 2036
  • Forfeited firearms, destroying of, policies/criteria for when: HB 1134
  • Gun clubs, nonprofit, clay target sales and use tax exemptions for: SB 5187
  • Loss or theft, owner/possessor who suffers, mandatory reporting and failure to report: HB 1133
  • Marketing/advertising to minors via internet/mobile application, prohibitions: HB 1697SHB 1697
  • Murder, first degree, aggravated, eliminating firearm discharge from/near motor vehicle as basis for: HB 1692
  • Open carrying, at meeting/facility/demonstration, municipality authority to restrict: SB 5568
  • Open carrying, at public demonstration or state capitol, prohibiting: SB 5038
  • Open carrying, for certain capitol campus memorial events, when: SB 5690ESSB 5690
  • Openly carrying/displaying in threatening manner, as criminal mischief, class C felony: HB 1283SHB 1283
  • Pistols, license for concealed, public records disclosure exemption, when: SB 5095
  • Possession, by school personnel with valid concealed pistol license: HB 1481
  • Possession, in certain places, local government regulation of, in addition to or more restrictive than state law: HB 1313
  • Possession, in state capitol campus buildings, on west capitol grounds, or in certain other buildings, prohibiting: HB 1234
  • Possession, person suspected of, peace officer use of force to ensure officer/others’ safety when: SB 5577ESB 5919
  • Possession, right to possess, petitioning court to restore, when: HB 1026ESB 5561
  • Possession, unlawful, after aiming/discharging or animal cruelty conviction: HB 1038
  • Possession, unlawful, in second degree, various provisions: HB 1038
  • Possession, unlawful, when voluntary waiver of firearm rights in effect: SB 5491
  • Purchasing a firearm, voter registration at time of: HB 2081
  • Regulation of firearms, local government regulation of, in addition to or more restrictive than state law: HB 1313
  • Regulation of firearms, state preemption of, repealing: HB 1313
  • School districts/educational service districts, information on firearms/ammunition on websites of: HB 1759
  • Sentencing enhancements for firearms, consecutive, resentencing, petition for: HB 1169ESHB 1169
  • Sentencing enhancements for firearms, when convicted of violent offense, prohibiting earned early release credits: HB 2094
  • Suicide, by veterans/military members, firearm temporary storage by dealer to prevent: HB 1181SHB 1181E2SHB 1181
  • Target shooting, on DNR-managed lands: SB 5865
  • Theft of firearm from residence, store, shop, sales outlet, or vehicle, class B felony: SB 5407
  • Transfers, temporary, between owner and museum/historical society, background check requirement exemption for: SB 5856

“The past two years has seen an extensive laundry list of bills aimed and limiting the possession, use, transfer, and transport of firearms. Many are overbroad and infringe on the rights of peaceful and law-abiding citizens. The focus should be keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals and making sure they don’t have the opportunity to keep hurting innocent people, rather than restricting law-abiding gun owners’ ability to protect themselves. There is no doubt we should be providing the support for law enforcement and the judicial system to reduce crime from those who ignore these laws.”

Peter Abbarno, 20th Legislative District Representative.
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