The Washington state Senate passed a ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines by eight votes Wednesday night. Similar bills introduced in 2020 and 2021 failed to pass out of the Senate.
Senate Bill 5078 reads:
1) Limits the prohibition to the manufacture, distribution, or sale of large capacity magazines.
(2) Defines a large capacity magazine as a device that may accept more than 10 rounds.
(3) Makes violations of this act a violation of the Consumer Protection Act.
(4) Amends the legislative findings and intent.
(5) Amends the definition of “manufacture” to include the fabrication or construction of large capacity magazines.
(6) Adds to the prohibitions of this bill a prohibition against the manufacture of large capacity magazines.
(7) Adds the manufacture of large capacity magazines by a licensed firearms manufacturer, for the purposes of sale to any branch of the armed forces of the U.S. or the State of Washington, or to a law enforcement agency in this state, to the exclusions from the prohibitions of this bill.
(8) Amends the title.
(9) Adds a definition of “import.”
(10) Adds to the prohibitions of this bill a prohibition against
the importation of large capacity magazines.
(11) Adds importation of large capacity magazines by a licensed
firearms manufacturer or dealer to the exclusions from the prohibition of this bill.
(12) Amends the definition of “distribute.”
(13) Amends the exception to prohibitions against the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, or offer for sale of large capacity magazines as it relates to transactions between properly licensed dealers and persons legally authorized to possess or transfer large capacity magazines.
The Washington State Senate chose public safety over the gun lobby tonight. The Senate passed legislation banning the sale of high-capacity magazines. The data is overwhelming. This bill will save lives. Thank you.”Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson applauded. Should the bill become law, large-capacity magazine owners grandfathered in would face restrictions on the sale or transfer of the magazines under the new bill. Anyone found to be violating the law could be charged with a gross misdemeanor.
The ban, if it passes the House and becomes law, would limit not just magazines for rifles that hold 20 or 30 rounds, but for a host of semiautomatic pistols, which often carry more than 10 rounds.Certain government officers, agencies, employees, contractors, law enforcement, and corrections and military officers would be exempt from the bill, alongside registered firearm dealers selling to an exempt party.
In the past, bans on high-capacity magazines have faced legal challenges from gun rights groups. The bill authors wrote they are not attempting to pass an outright ban, but instead they only intend to limit the sale or transfer of large-capacity magazines, allowing those who previously owned or inherit large-capacity magazines to keep them.
