The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington today heard arguments in a case challenging two provisions of Initiative 1639

SEATTLE, WA — Today, Judge Ronald B. Leighton of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington heard arguments in a gun lobby-backed lawsuit challenging two provisions included in Initiative 1639: raising the purchase age for semi-automatic assault rifles to 21 and allowing the sale of semi-automatic assault rifles across state lines. No decision has been issued yet, but one is expected by the end of the month.

“Today’s hearing made clear that the commonsense safeguards included in Initiative 1639 should be upheld,” said Renée Hopkins, CEO of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. “The gun lobby lost in the court of public opinion two years ago and this lawsuit is a last-ditch effort to stop these lifesaving measures. We are cautiously optimistic that Initiative 1639 will withstand this lawsuit as it has withstood the gun lobby’s previous challenges.”

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