On February 27th at 8:30AM, the Washington state Senate Ways & Means Committee is scheduled to hear Senate Bill 6620, which includes provisions that would raise the minimum age to purchase many common semi-automatic rifles and shotguns to 21 years of age and would also establish a 10 day waiting period. In addition, anti-gun legislators in Olympia also submitted House Bill 3004 on February 24th, a companion to SB 6620. This comes just two weeks before the end of the current legislative session, as they rush to accomplish their agenda.
NRA Members and Second Amendment supporters are strongly encouraged to attend the committee hearing tomorrow morning to voice their opposition. Also, please use the “Take Action” button below to contact Senate committee members as well as your state Senator and Representative and urge them to remove all anti-gun provisions in SB 6620 and HB 3004! Click the “Take Action” button below to contact senate committee members and your state Senator and Representative.
Senate Bill 6620, sponsored by Senator David Frockt (D-46), and House Bill 3004, sponsored by Representative Laurie Jinkins (D-27), would raise the minimum purchasing age for semi-automatic rifles and shotguns in the State of Washington from 18 to 21 years of age based on cosmetic features. Federal law already prohibits adults under the age of 21 from purchasing a handgun from a licensed firearm dealer. Legislative proposals to prevent law-abiding adults aged 18-20 years old from acquiring modern semi-automatic rifles or shotguns would deny them access to the most modern and effective rifles for self-defense, thus depriving them of their constitutional rights.
This legislation attempts to brand these firearms as having “tactical features” to drum up unnecessary fear of their ownership. In reality, these firearms are only being defined by aesthetic features that in no way affect the functionality of the rifle. Semi-automatic firearms only fire one shot per action of the trigger, and such technology has been available to American consumers for over a century. Semi-automatic firearms are commonly owned by law-abiding citizens for various purposes such as self-defense, recreation, competition, and hunting.
SB 6620 and HB 3004 would also establish what amounts to a 10-day waiting period for transfers of these firearms by requiring that they go through the state background check like handguns rather than the federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) that is currently used for all long gun transactions. While federal law allows for such transactions to be completed if three days have elapsed from the time of the "delayed" response, the state check requires a wait of ten days in such a scenario.
We need serious proposals to prevent violent criminals and the dangerously mentally ill from acquiring firearms. Passing a law such as this punishes law-abiding citizens for the evil acts of criminals. The NRA supports efforts to prevent those who are a danger to themselves or others from getting access to firearms. At the same time, we will continue to oppose gun control measures that only serve to punish law-abiding citizens. These are not mutually exclusive or unachievable goals.
Again, please contact Senate committee members and your Senator and Representative urging them to remove all anti-gun provisions in these bills!
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