Our Victories

HB 2118 – Strengthens Dealer Responsibility

HB 1903 – Requires Reporting of Lost and Stolen Firearms

HB 2021 – Destruction of Crime Guns 

SB 5444 – Restricts Firearms in Sensitive Places

SB 5985 – Background Check System Updates 

SB 6246 – Information Relating to Firearm Prohibitions 

SB 6227 – Victim Protections through No-Contact Orders

In 2023, we passed EIGHT vital gun violence prevention and community safety bills.

Here’s a breakdown of our legislative victories: 

HB 1240: RESTRICT ACCESS TO ASSAULT WEAPONS

Semi-automatic assault weapons have been used in the deadliest mass shootings in the last 10 years. This bill ensures that Washington becomes the 10th state to ban the sale of these military-grade firearms across all of our communities. This is a victory years in the making and one that will ensure that assault weapons are not sold in Washington State. 

HB 1143: IMPLEMENTING A 10-DAY WAITING PERIOD AND MANDATED SAFETY TRAINING FOR THE PURCHASE OF ALL FIREARMS 

This bill requires safety training and a 10-day waiting period to purchase any firearm in Washington. States with similar precautions have lower rates of firearm-related death, fewer guns diverted to criminals shortly after retail sale, and lower rates of guns exported to other states. 

SB 5078: ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS 

For too long, federal law has prevented gun violence victims and survivors from holding gun dealers and manufacturers accountable for dangerous and irresponsible practices. This means that the gun industry has been able to engage in reckless and dangerous practices without fear of consequences. SB 5078 ensures a pathway for victims and survivors of gun violence to hold industry leaders accountable for wrongful and dangerous business practices, and ensure that victims have a method to seek justice.

SB 5231: ENSURE FIREARMS ARE TEMPORARILY SECURED FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS

Protection orders are available for individuals subjected to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, and vulnerable adult abuse. A person who is subject to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, vulnerable adult, or anti-harassment protection order may be required to surrender their firearms, dangerous weapons, and concealed pistol license (CPL) if the person has used or threatened to use a firearm in the commission of a felony or is otherwise disqualified from possessing a firearm.

SB 5006: CLARIFYING WAIVER OF FIREARM RIGHTS

Washington’s voluntary waiver program is a revolutionary and lifesaving suicide prevention tool. However, expansion of this waiver program was necessary. SB 5006 helps clarify and strengthen the program. Under current law, individuals must file waiver forms in person at the local court, but this bill expands the program to run electronically as well, which eliminates barriers for some of the most vulnerable Washingtonians. 

HB 1230: SAFE STORAGE INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS 

This bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to share information about the secure storage of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and firearms and ammunition. Additionally, it requires school districts to post and have easy access to the delineated DOH information and to ensure the information is accessible through various communication means. 

HB 1562: RESTORATION OF RIGHTS

Reducing the risks of lethality and other harm associated with gun violence, gender-based violence, and other types of violence is the focus of this bill. It creates barriers between those who abuse and potentially wish to drastically harm their loved ones or other possible victims.

HB 1715: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTIONS

This bill enacts comprehensive protections for victims of domestic violence and other violence involving family members or intimate partners. Electronic monitoring with victim notification technology is adopted into the current system thanks to this bill along with additional lifesaving measures. 

$$$: INVESTING IN GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
The legislature allocated $30 million in funding for various gun violence prevention programs this legislative session! Gun violence continues at a record pace in Washington and the nation as a whole, weighing heavily on our communities and highlighting how much work there is left to do to create the safe future we all deserve. But this session proved how much progress is possible.

Working with Washington partners CHOOSE 180 and Peacemaking Institute, the Alliance successfully advocated for $245k and $300k in federal funding for each organization respectively to support efforts to reduce gun violence by diverting offenses from the traditional court process, which focuses on punishment and labeling conduct, to a restorative justice approach that utilizes wrap-around community support.

In the second virtual legislative session, amid the continued challenges posed by the pandemic, Washington lawmakers significantly funded gun violence prevention programs and passed six community safety bills, including ESSB 5078 to restrict high-capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds! The passage of high-capacity magazine restrictions is a victory six years in the making.

The Alliance endorsed 69 candidates across Washington state running for a variety of local races, from mayor to port commissioner to school board.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and a virtual session, the legislature passes 10 significant public safety bills. Highlights include SB 5038, which rejects armed intimidation by prohibiting open carry at the state capitol and public demonstrations and HB 1320, which improves efficiency and accessibility in the civil protection order system. The legislature also takes long-overdue action on police accountability, passing seven bills to strengthen oversight and rebuild community trust.

From high-profile police shootings to the insurrection, 2020 brought constant, painful reminders that gun violence and white supremacy are inextricably linked. This summit, White Supremacy and Guns: Exploring the History, is designed to start a conversation about how white supremacy, both past and present, contributes to the current gun violence epidemic.

This is our fourth summit on protection orders and firearms, but the first held virtually and first with a national audience. Designed specifically for practitioners, the program goes in-depth on firearm surrender orders, domestic violence protection orders, and Extreme Risk Protection Orders. It also features a panel on centering equity in the protection order outreach and implementation process.

The Victory Fund issues more endorsements than ever at the state and federal level, including our first presidential endorsement!

The supplemental budget includes more than $14 million in GVP funding. The legislature passes SB 6288, SB 5434, HB 2467, HB 2555, and HB 2622. Most notably, SB 6288 creates a first-in-the-nation Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention, which will be tasked with gathering data, supporting victims of gun violence, and administering a grant program to community violence intervention groups. This is a crucial first step toward addressing the gun violence that impacts our communities – especially Black and brown communities – every day.

The tax is modeled after Seattle’s 2015 tax.

For the first time ever, they include school board candidates.

The Pierce County Summit looks at King County’s successful model of addressing the intersection of gun violence and domestic violence. The King County Summit addresses the intersection of hate and gun violence.

The Alliance works closely with the Governor to develop the plan.

Harborview Injury and Prevention Research Center (HIPRC) will study risk factors for gun-related injuries and deaths, analyze the impact of gun laws, and develop strategies to reduce the devastating toll of gun violence in the state.

The 10 bills are: SHB 1225, EHB 1465, SHB 1739, SHB 1786, SHB 1949, SSB 5027, SSB 5181, SB 5205, SB 5508, and SSB 5954.

Along with our national partners, we produce an Extreme Risk Protection Order toolkit, GunProtectionOrder.org and DisarmDV.org.

The Alliance for Gun Responsibility Victory Fund helped elect 67 candidates at every level of government.

For the first time, one is held in Eastern Washington.

The Alliance’s third ballot initiative passes with nearly 60 percent of the vote statewide. It is the most comprehensive gun violence prevention measure in state history, strengthening rules for purchasing semi-automatic assault rifles and establishing a safe storage incentive.

Parkland students inspire a new generation of gvp advocates to join the movement.

They include domestic violence protections (SB 6298), a first-in-the-nation suicide prevention bill (SB 5553), a bill to prohibit bump stocks (ESSB 5992) and changes to concealed pistol licenses (HB 2519).

This free workshop and toolkit is designed for impacted communities to advocate for change.

One focuses on mental health, the other on guns in a civil society.

HB 1501, also known as “Lie and Try,” requires Washington gun dealers to report when someone tries to buy a firearm and fails a background check, and SB 5522, clarifies existing provisions of Washington’s background check law.

The Chapter Team program empowers volunteers and advocates across Washington State to take action on gun violence prevention in their communities.

This first-of-its-kind unit takes a multi-disciplinary, regionalized, and dedicated approach to gun violence prevention and is a direct result of the implementation work that began in 2016.

The Alliance’s second ballot initiative passes with almost 70 percent of the vote statewide, establishing Extreme Risk Protection Orders in Washington.

We convene work groups to analyze the impact of HB 1840 and firearms surrender in protection order cases.

SHB 2410 restricts firearms for certain felonies, HB 1448 establishes procedures for threatened or attempted suicide, and HB 2793 establishes a Safer Homes Task Force to address suicide.

The Summits bring together experts and other stakeholders to address the intersectionality of gun violence with other issues. One focuses on suicide prevention, the other on disarming hate.

The Scorecard serves as a counter to the NRA’s Scorecard.

The tax, passed by the Seattle City Council, will fund gun violence prevention research.

SB 5381 allows family members to request notification when a confiscated gun is returned.

The Alliance’s first ballot initiative passes with nearly 60 percent of the vote statewide, expanding background checks in Washington State.

The Alliance for Gun Victory Fund helps elect gun violence prevention champions.

The law helps ensure firearm surrender as a part of domestic violence and other protection orders.

The fundraiser tops $1 million in contributions, setting a record in the space and an expectation for big successes.

It is the first city in the country to do so.

A group of concerned citizens, parents, and faith leaders, fed up with the inaction after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, comes together to bring a background check bill to the WA State Legislature.