By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
The Second Amendment Foundation has confirmed it is preparing to challenge a new law in Washington that bans the future manufacture and sale of so-called “large capacity magazines” capable of holding more than 10 cartridges.
The legislation passed several days ago, igniting a furor among Evergreen State gun owners, many of whom wondered how SAF was going to respond. They now have the answer.
SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb confirmed to TGM the organization is reaching out to gun rights activists for help to fight the legislation—passed as Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5078, but not yet signed by Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee—to prevent anti-gunners from passing similar bans “in every jurisdiction across the United States.”
SAF has some heavy-duty support. Brownells, the renowned Iowa-based gun parts and accessories company, this week launched what it calls “The Mag Dump for Washington” campaign. Between now and June 24, Brownells will donate $2 from each sale of its company-brand 30 round magazines for AR-15 rifles.
Makes perfect sense, since such magazines will be banned from future distribution and sale if the law is allowed to stand.
In a prepared statement appearing at The Tactical Wire, Brownells Chairman of the Board Pete Brownell explained, “Brownells provides the products Americans need to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights and freedoms. We’re proud to partner with groups like the Second Amendment Foundation to help fight for those rights and freedoms.”
Gottlieb is vowing that SAF will fight the magazine ban “with every resource we can muster.”
“Brownells has always been a leader in the firearms community,” Gottlieb said. “Maybe others will follow their lead and help us stop this anti-gun crusade cold with a court victory.”
A similar ban in California is already being challenged in federal court. A federal district court judge initially threw out the law, ruling it unconstitutional. His opinion was upheld by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco, but as invariably happens with Second Amendment cases in the 9th Circuit, the appeal was re-heard by a full court panel en banc, and overturned. Plaintiffs in that case are now seeking Supreme Court review.
The magazine ban was pushed through by Democrats in the Washington Legislature with no Republican support. Gottlieb told TGM that upwards of 17,000 calls and messages opposing the ban came from Evergreen State residents in the days leading up to a hearing and floor vote in the House.
But Democrats—who have come to be known as the “party of gun prohibition” in the state—ignored those voters.
Writing to a constituent, one Democrat senator explained, “I voted for SB 5078 as it is a common sense reform that will save lives while preserving the rights of law abiding citizens. It was important to me that those who own a high-capacity magazine are exempt from any penalty for possession, whether in Washington state or returning from another state. This bill accomplishes that and instead focuses on manufacturers and sellers of high-capacity magazines, making it difficult for those who wish to do harm to others to come into possession of these magazines.”
But veteran gun rights activists are fearful anti-gunners will come back in a year or two and make the law more restrictive with an outright ban on possession of all such magazines. Preventing further restrictions is why the magazine ban must be challenged now, Gottlieb said.
