By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
UPDATED, 3/23 @ 11:30 a.m. — While governors in three other states—Alabama, Indiana and Ohio—have shown their trust toward citizens in their states by signing legislation to allow carrying of firearms for personal protection without permit or license, Washington’s Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday carried through on his promise to sign three gun control measures, one of which will definintely bring a lawsuit, TGM has learned.
Alan Gottlieb, founder and executive vice president of the Second Amendment Foundation, confirmed in a telephone interview his group will be taking legal action on a new law limiting magazine capacity to 10 cartridges. He said SAF is looking at the two other measures for possible future action.
Governors in Alabama, Indiana and Ohio have signed legislation to allow carrying of firearms for personal protection without permit or license. Their actions have previously been reported by TGM.
The primary difference between Inslee and Governors Kay Ivey, Mike DeWine and Eric Holcomb, according to grassroots Second Amendment activists, is that they are Republicans while Inslee is an anti-gun Democrat.
Inslee’s embracement of gun control dates back to 1994 when his vote on then-President Bill Clinton’s ban on so-called “assault weapons” and “high capacity magazines” cost him re-election to Congress representing Central Washington’s 4th Congressional District. This district includes the conservative Tri-Cities area (Richland, Pasco and Kennewick) which is heavily pro-Second Amendment.
Inslee subsequently moved back to Western Washington, where he was raised, spending time in private legal practice and working in Clinton’s administration and then ran in Washington’s more liberal 1st District and won a different seat, where he spent nearly six terms before quitting to run for governor to replace fellow Democrat Christine Gregoire.
Wednesday’s bill signing covers
- Senate Bill 5078: Bans large-capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
- House Bill 1630: Restricts firearms in certain locations, including school board meetings, city council meetings, and election offices.
- House Bill 1705: Requires at-home gunmakers to use components with serial numbers.
As reported by KXLY News, these bills “aim to increase gun safety,” but the Second Amendment community says they will do nothing to prevent or even curb crimes committed with firearms.
“Criminals,” gun owners argue, “do not obey gun control laws.”
Time after time, gun rights advocates have been proven right. A quick perusal of just the Seattle Police Blotter proves it.
According to AmmoLand News, the Second Amendment Foundation was already preparing legal action on the magazine ban, and Brownells—a company serving shooters and home gunsmiths—has started a fund-raising effort donating $2 from the sale of each company brand 30-round magazines (Grey or Tan aluminum models) will be donated to SAF to support the effort.
- #078-000-454 grey aluminum magazine $14.99 retail
- #078-000-595 10-pak grey aluminum magazine $149.99 retail
- #430-100-777 20-pak grey aluminum magazine $243.08 retail
- #078-000-596 100-pak grey aluminum magazine $1,399.99 retail
- #078-000-455W tan aluminum magazine $16.99 retail
- #078-000-597 10-pak tan aluminum magazine $159.99 retail
- #430-100-778 20-pak tan aluminum magazine $269.54 retail
- #078-000-598 100-pak tan aluminum magazine #1,399.99 retail
Ask gun rights activists what the Washington legislation will accomplish, and they will uniformly answer “nothing.”
The magazine ban allows owners of current “large capacity magazines” capable of holding more than 10 cartridges to keep them. There are millions of such magazines in circulation across the country, and more are being sold every day in the Evergreen State, thanks to the prohibition law, which takes effect in July.
The concern among gun owners is that in the future, anti-gun lawmakers will simply ban them outright.
Restricting firearms at public buildings is not likely to prevent someone determined to do harm from committing mayhem. It hasn’t so far, but it has the effect of disarming potential victims.
Prohibiting so-called “ghost guns” is not going to prevent criminals from using such guns.
Gun control has been a failed policy in America since British Regulars marched on Concord in an effort to seize arms and ammunition from the colonial militia, say activists, who are hopeful court challenges of restrictive laws will right a ship of state now tilting dangerously to the left.
