The Washington State Legislature passed significant gun responsibility policies but failed to restrict high-capacity magazines

OLYMPIA, WA – The Alliance for Gun Responsibility issued the following statement in recognition of the end of the Washington State Legislature’s 2020 session. 

“We are proud of the significant progress we made during this short session,” said Renée Hopkins, CEO of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. “Lawmakers passed much-needed bills that will centralize Washington’s background check system, protect our youngest kids from gun violence, create a first-in-nation Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention, and keep guns out of dangerous hands. The supplemental budget also includes historic investments in gun violence prevention programs. 

We know that these actions will save lives in Washington state. And we know that more needs to be done to address the gun violence epidemic. The legislature failed to pass a bill to prohibit high-capacity magazines. A strong majority of Washingtonians support this policy. Failing to pass it put our communities at risk and rewarded the obstructionist tactics used to avoid debate on this subject. Washingtonians elect leaders to do everything in their power to keep our communities safe. We will not run another initiative asking the people of Washington to do our lawmakers’ jobs for them.”

Here is more information about the key gun responsibility bills passed this session: 

• 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, administering a grant program to community violence intervention groups, and more. 
• SB 5434 keeps our youngest children safe by prohibiting guns in child care and early learning facilities. 
• HB 2467 centralizes Washington state’s background check system. 
• HB 2555 closes a background check loophole to ensure checks may be performed on firearm components. 
• HB 2622 makes important updates to current law to give law enforcement the ability to better enforce firearm surrender orders. 

The state budget includes more than $14 million in investment in gun violence prevention programs. This funding includes support for implementation of existing gun laws, research into gun violence, centralizing our background check system, and grants for community-based organizations. 

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