The Washington House of Representatives will soon vote on two important gun safety bills. If passed, this legislation would stop the sale and manufacture of assault weapons, the weapon of choice for mass shooters. It would also require people who buy any gun to get a permit and go through vetting, training, and a waiting period—to help prevent a deadly snap decision during a mental health crisis.
Send a message to the House leadership urging them to pass these gun safety bills into law >>
Dear Lawmaker,
I urge you to pass two critical pieces of gun safety legislation from the House before the House of Origin Cutoff. We can't pick one or the other: These bills work together to improve public safety by addressing different types of gun-related injuries and deaths.
HB 1143 would require a permit to purchase a firearm. A 'permit to purchase' law builds on the enhanced background check and safety training requirement for semi-automatic assault rifles that passed in 2018. The applicant must verify that they have completed safety training and go through a 10-day waiting period before receiving a firearm. While assault rifles are often the focus in the wake of high-profile shootings, many gun homicides and assaults in Washington involve handguns, and 74% of gun deaths in Washington are suicides. States that require licenses to purchase or possess firearms have lower rates of both homicides and suicides on average.
HB 1240 would prohibit the sale of assault weapons. Assault weapons, designed to fire more accurately and rapidly than a typical hunting rifle, are far more likely than handguns to be used in mass shootings and to kill law enforcement officers. Nine states have passed similar laws banning assault weapons and those bans have been upheld in court.
We can’t afford to choose one or the other—please take bold action and pass this package of gun safety bills now.