Opponents sue over WA assault weapons ban

By Terry Murry on Thursday, April 27th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

OLYMPIA – Moments after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law a bill that bans the sale of so-called assault weapons Tuesday, opponents including the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation acted.

SAF filed a federal lawsuit challenging the new statute on second and 14th amendment grounds and is asking the court for preliminary and permanent injunctions.

“The state has put politics ahead of constitutional rights and is penalizing law-abiding citizens while this legislation does nothing to arrest and prosecute criminals who misuse firearms in defiance of all existing gun control laws,” SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb said. “It is absurd.”

Named as defendants are Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste, Kitsap County Sheriff John Gese and County Prosecutor Chad M. Enright, Kittitas County Sheriff Clayton Myers and County Prosecutor Greg Zempel, Clark County Sheriff John Horch and County Prosecutor Tony Golik, and Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortnoy and County Prosecutor Jason Cummings, all in their official capacities.

Washington Attorney Bob Ferguson said his office is ready for the challenge.