Washington state lawmakers are pushing for new gun regulations to prevent violence and increase safety. The latest efforts include a range of bills aimed at limiting gun access and ensuring safer storage practices.
These proposals come after several tragic incidents, including a heartbreaking story shared by Sandra Ramirez. Ramirez’s son, Joseph Martinez, was killed last year when a gun, left unsecured by its owners, discharged while he was at a friend’s house. She believes that stricter gun storage laws could have prevented this tragedy.
House Bill 1152 is one of the proposed bills in the Washington Legislature, aiming to require gun owners to lock up their weapons safely in homes and vehicles.
The proposed law would impose severe penalties on those who fail to do so, with punishments escalating based on the outcomes of unsafe storage. The goal of this bill is to reduce the risk of accidental shootings, especially among young people.
Lawmakers, mostly from the Democratic Party, are working to pass a set of gun control measures this year. These proposals would also include mandatory permits for gun purchases, restrictions on bulk firearm and ammunition purchases, and a new tax on gun and ammunition sales. Some of these bills have already passed through committees, while others are waiting for votes.
One key measure is House Bill 1163, which would require individuals to get a five-year permit from the Washington State Patrol before purchasing a firearm.
Supporters argue that this would help ensure background checks are completed before firearms are sold, reducing the risk of guns falling into the wrong hands. However, opponents claim that requiring a permit to purchase a gun infringes on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.
Another bill, House Bill 1386, would impose an 11% excise tax on firearms and ammunition sales. The money collected from this tax would be used to fund programs aimed at reducing gun violence.
While some cities, including Seattle, have already implemented similar taxes, this state-level measure would broaden the scope.
Democrats are also aiming to restrict the number of guns and rounds of ammunition a person can buy within a certain period.
House Bill 1132 proposes limiting individual purchases to one firearm per month and a set number of rounds. This measure is part of an effort to reduce the possibility of mass shootings, like the one in Las Vegas in 2017, where the shooter used multiple guns and thousands of rounds in a short amount of time.
Despite support from many in Washington, including those who have lost loved ones to gun violence, these proposed laws have faced strong opposition from groups like the National Rifle Association. Critics argue that the measures go too far and punish law-abiding gun owners.
Washington’s gun laws already have a strong reputation, with an A-minus rating from the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
However, with the increase in gun-related deaths, including a rise in suicides, lawmakers feel the need for additional action. The state saw an 11% increase in the gun death rate in 2022, with children being particularly affected.
In addition to the storage and purchase regulations, lawmakers are also focusing on expanding gun-free zones. Senate Bill 5098 proposes banning guns in public parks, government buildings, and fairgrounds where children are likely to be present. This would add to the list of places where gun owners are already prohibited from carrying firearms.
The push for these new regulations is gaining momentum, with lawmakers hopeful that 2025 could be the year when significant changes to Washington’s gun laws are finally passed. If these proposals pass, they could have a major impact on gun ownership and public safety in the state.
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