Washington governor signs even more gun laws

On Tuesday, Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, signed five anti-gun bills into law that were passed by the Democrats in the Washington State Legislature, further eroding constitutional protections. The bills include:

House Bill 1903 makes gun owners the victims. If they don’t report a theft of a gun or that a gun is missing within 24 hours, they can be fined $1,000.

House Bill 2021 expands destruction requirements of firearms purchased by the state or local governments during gun buyback events.

House Bill 2118, adds financial burdens to Washington-based federal firearms license holder businesses and will put many out of business. A FFL that does more than $1,000 of sales per year must run annual background checks on all of their employees, as well as carry $1 million liability insurance, and must install steel doors or bars at the business where firearms are sold. There are also extensive requirements for other 24-hour security systems.

Senate Bill 5444, expands the meaning of “sensitive places” where citizens may no longer open carry a firearm. They include all public transportation areas, libraries, and zoos or aquariums. The NRA points out that there’s nothing in the bill that requires these “sensitive places” have any measures to protect citizens from becoming sitting ducks for those who would enter to commit a violent crime. The law applies toped cary only; concealed pistol license holders may have their firearms in these locations.

Senate Bill 5985 codifies the unconstitutional provisions of Washington’s recent ban on commonly owned firearms into the section of state code on background checks. Some of the definitions pertain to antique firearms and others to “assault” firearms.

These bills add to those already signed into law by Inslee during 2023, including HB 1240, which banned the manufacture, purchase, or sale of “assault weapons” including the AK 47 military rifle; HB 1443, which required a 10-day waiting period and safety training for all new purchases of firearms as of Jan. 1, 2024; and SB 5708, which outlined the types of people who should not have guns and made firearm manufacturers and dealers liable for selling certain people guns.

In 2022, Inslee signed three firearm bills – HB 1705 banned the possession, purchase or sale of so-called “ghost guns;” HB 1630 banned open carry of firearms in places like elections offices or government buildings where local elected or school boards meet; and SB 5078 banned the sale of high capacity firearm magazines.

In 2021, Inslee signed SB 5038, prohibiting the open carry of firearms at the state Capitol and at permitted demonstrations.

In 2019, he signed nearly a dozen bills relating to firearms.