Inslee Signs 3 Gun Bills Into Law

OLYMPIA, WA — Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday signed three gun-related bills into law, placing new restrictions on high-capacity magazines, limitations on "ghost guns," and prohibiting open carry at school board meetings, city council hearings and election facilities.

Senate Bill 5078, approved by the legislature this year, bans the manufacturing, sale, import and transfer of gun magazines with capacity for more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has formally requested the bill during each legislative session since 2016.

Marko Liias (D-Everett), the bill's sponsor, referenced mass shootings in his district where shooters utilized high-capacity magazines, including the 2016 shooting at a Mukilteo party that left three young people dead.

"I am proud of our state for taking action to protect our neighbors from gun violence," Liias said in a statement. "High-capacity magazines enable a shooter to fire more rounds without pausing to reload. With this law, we are allowing more time for folks to get out of dangerous situations and potentially saving lives."

In proposing the legislation earlier this year, Liias also pointed to a 2019 study that found similar restrictions on large magazines effectively reduced the number of mass shootings and the number of people killed. The law does not apply to high-capacity magazines that Washingtonians already own.

The law formally takes effect on July 1, making Washington the 10th state to instate similar restrictions.

Wednesday's bill signing also included House Bill 1705, which places new limits on homemade firearms, and House Bill 1630, which restricts where guns can be carried.

The "ghost guns" bill, sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry (D-Seattle), passed the House by a narrow margin and prohibits the manufacture, assembly and sale of untraceable firearms, and requires unfinished frames and receivers to be registered and have serial numbers.

The third gun bill signed Wednesday, sponsored by Rep. Tana Senn, (D-Mercer Island), bars open carry of firearms at off-campus school board meetings, local government meetings and "election-related sites," and prohibits all firearms at on-campus school board meetings and ballot counting facilities.

"Everyone deserves to participate in our democracy without fear of armed intimidation," Senn said in a statement. "Guns don't belong at school board meetings, local council meetings or election-related facilities. This bill helps ensure all Washingtonians have access to democracy, whether as an elected official, a volunteer or a member of the public. Words and debate, not intimidation and violence, is what makes a democracy successful."