Washington State Gun Control: All Semiautomatic Rifles Are 'Assault Rifles'

[CoalTrain49]

Had some other thoughts and questions after going over 1639.

Existing semi-autos are grandfathered in? Assuming you're not otherwise prohibited.

Are there state prohibitions on manufacture? (assembling)

How will dealers handle the sale of AR lowers? It is at the time of sale neither a rifle nor a pistol, NOR is it a semi-auto as it can as easily be built as a straight pull bolt or a conventional bolt. Even built as a shotgun.

What about converting an AR with straight pull bolt to a semi-auto?

I don't think anyone should make a big deal about these questions just yet. If passed and this goes straight in to law then I think there are some major gaps in the rules, from the anti-gun perspective. If passed, but state government bureaucrats can add "regulations" to "clarify" the law then things could get a whole lot worse.

Another one is an AR pistol. If a person buys an AR pistol and gets the stamp, puts a stock on it, it becomes a short barreled rifle. According to ATF it was purchased as a pistol. The purchaser didn't buy a rifle, he bought a pistol and put a stock on it. What exactly is the definition of a rifle in 1639? WTH knows? I didn't see anything in it that defines a rifle by barrel and overall length like the ATF does.

Lots of ambiguous BS in that initiative. You can tell it was written by someone who has no clue what a rifle really is but they made sure they got the terms semi auto and assault in there. So I guess we roll with SBR's can be made from pistols in WA.
and just go around 1639 altogether.

 

[Trey Veston]

It's not the gun definitions that have me the most riled up, it's the rights to privacy that they want to strip away from me. It's the immense power they give to local sheriff's and chiefs of police.

I live in a small town of 1200 people. The local chief is a Barney Fife who throws temper tantrums at council meetings and tries to bully people who disagree with him.

I can't imagine giving him the power to arbitrarily decide who gets to own a rifle and who doesn't.

I thought that was the exact thing the Constitution was supposed to protect us against.

 

[alfsauve]

It's not the gun definitions that have me the most riled up, it's the rights to privacy that they want to strip away from me. It's the immense power they give to local sheriff's and chiefs of police.

And you have every right to be riled up. I agree.

I'm just pointing that there are so many holes in this, as written, maybe it could be used to convince more people to vote against it.

i could see every dealer removing the gas tube and turning the gas block around and selling ARs as a bolt action rifle, not covered by this law.

 

[alfsauve]

i could see every dealer removing the gas tube and turning the gas block around and selling ARs as a bolt action rifle, not covered by this law.

And I should have added, the dealer giving you a $10 gift card to Brownells, where you can buy the gas tube and then convert the bolt action to a semiauto legally under this law.

 

[danez71]

i could see every dealer removing the gas tube and turning the gas block around and selling ARs as a bolt action rifle, not covered by this law.

Once the Regs get written for the law, I wouldnt be surprised if that type of easily reversible mod would be considered not sufficient.

 

[alfsauve]

Once the Regs get written for the law, I wouldn't be surprised if that type of easily reversible mod would be considered not sufficient.

I didn't see anything specific that authorizes bureaucrats to reword these statues. I thought these were the exact wording to amend the existing criminal code. Now not being a law expert, there could be an existing statue that allows bureaucratic "refining" of such things in WA. And it also doesn't mean the bureaucrats won't try it anyway. (How easy to insert the words, "easily convertible" into the statues.

I see only see two areas where bureaucrats have "leeway"" a) the development of the system to check on eligibility in Sec 15 and b)The director of the department of licensing may take the necessary steps to ensure that this act is implemented on its effective date in Sec 18.

 

[alfsauve]

Another thing is the indemnity section, SEC 9. It says, very subjectively, if a state employee (or contractor) is acting in good faith then they can't be held responsible for not doing their job correctly. This is above and beyond the general immunity granted most state and local government employees.

I've run into this at both the state (GA) and Federal level. In both cases I hit a brick wall where the government official says, "by law we can't make a mistake...(therefore) you're responsible for the problem." Figuratively in the VAs case where they wanted to file fraud charges against me, and literally with the state of GA which has an error in their Birth records they won't acknowledge unless I go to court. (I paid off the VA and the state can wallow in its ignorance.)

GOOD FAITH would be as seen through the lens of the persons involved. GOOK LUCK going to court on that.

 

[glaizinman]

I live in WA.

Just like I-594, there will be millions of dollars from out-of-state AG individuals like Bloomberg and people in this state like Gates, Hanauer and Ballmer who will contribute to its passage. 11 million dollars was spent to pass I-594. About 2 million to defeat it.

You can't effectively stop something like I-1639 when that much money is spent to pass it.

I-1639 will pass without any trouble and many people will become felons overnight.

Soon the entire west coast and SW will be blue. Mostly because people from CA are moving.

CoalTrain49
I live in Washington as well. I moved here 27 years ago from Ca to get away from those Liberals. And I have a lot of family here I agree with you Washington now is just as bad as Ca. I believe i-1639 will pass that scares me & makes me angry at the same time. I think it's time to move.

 

[Old Dog]

I agree with you Washington now is just as bad as Ca. I believe i-1639 will pass that scares me & makes me angry at the same time. I think it's time to move.

Oh, for gosh sakes ... I lived in California for 11 years before I came up here; it's nowhere near here as bad as California. We have shall-issue concealed carry statewide, open carry is common-place and we have legal suppressors. We have an outstanding gun culture state-wide, even in our most liberal counties (King, Pierce, Thurston) and above all, we have state pre-emption in our constitution. Get real.

It's almost as though some of you Evergreen State residents are already giving up ...

 

[Trey Veston]

Get real.

It's almost as though some of you Evergreen State residents are already giving up ...

The reality is that liberalism is a cancer that is spreading and can't be stopped.

Ironic that you come from California and don't recognize that.

Please tell me how much more conservative California is now than it was 20 years ago. Please show me ANY US state that has gotten more conservative over the last 20 years.

I was born and raised in Idaho and that's where I'll make my stand.

 

[glaizinman]

Oh, for gosh sakes ... I lived in California for 11 years before I came up here; it's nowhere near here as bad as California. We have shall-issue concealed carry statewide, open carry is common-place and we have legal suppressors. We have an outstanding gun culture state-wide, even in our most liberal counties (King, Pierce, Thurston) and above all, we have state pre-emption in our constitution. Get real.

It's almost as though some of you Evergreen State residents are already giving up ...

Old Dog
Not if I 1639 passes have you read the full 30 pages? If you haven't i suggest you do I hope all gun owners do and get out and VOTE NO ON I 1639 !!!

 

[tcj]

Everyone in our state needs to talk to non-gun people and explain why this is such a bad initiative.

In addition, we need every gun owner to vote so we don't screw it up like with I-594.

 

[theotherwaldo]

Please show me ANY US state that has gotten more conservative over the last 20 years.

Texas is much more conservative than it was when I moved here twenty years ago. Down here on the deep blue borderlands, the Democrats are mostly more conservative than most Republicans up north.
Only in Austin and the big northern cities has the disease of liberalism/socialism taken hold.

 

[Old Dog]

The reality is that liberalism is a cancer that is spreading and can't be stopped.

Ironic that you come from California and don't recognize that.

Please tell me how much more conservative California is now than it was 20 years ago. Please show me ANY US state that has gotten more conservative over the last 20 years.

I was born and raised in Idaho and that's where I'll make my stand.

Please don't patronize me about not recognizing the cancer that is liberalism, sonny. I'm sure I've been around for a lot longer than you have, and for the record, I don't "come from California," I simply happened to have been stationed there in the military for many years; I certainly don't claim the place as my home state.

Some cancers can be cured. My post was a reflection of my feelings that many in our movement are giving up and conceding ground to the liberals, i.e., I-1639. Several posts here indicate I'm correct.

Since this wasn't my point, I certainly don't need to show you how any state has gotten more conservative over the last 20 years, though I'm pretty sure there are some good examples.

 

[Old Dog]

Old Dog
Not if I 1639 passes have you read the full 30 pages? If you haven't i suggest you do I hope all gun owners do and get out and VOTE NO ON I 1639 !!!

I rest my case.

 

[Trey Veston]

Texas is much more conservative than it was when I moved here twenty years ago. Down here on the deep blue borderlands, the Democrats are mostly more conservative than most Republicans up north.
Only in Austin and the big northern cities has the disease of liberalism/socialism taken hold.

Not according to the experts...

https://medium.com/jackcraver/texas...-what-will-the-gop-be-without-it-2fa46182750d

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ro...t-the-future-of-american-politics-630563/amp/

 

[bikemutt]

I'm already planning an exit if 1639 passes in WA. If it does, they won't stop, they'll steamroll the state until they have their gun-free utopia.

 

[theotherwaldo]

Not according to the experts...

You call the Rolling Stone experts on politics?

 

[Trey Veston]

I'm fully aware that Texans prefer to remain ignorant regarding the reality that their state is far from a gun lover's paradise (not even in the top ten states for per capital gun ownership) and is slowly but surely becoming liberal.

If you care to learn facts, you might want to read what the people who study political trends for a living are saying.

Or remain ignorant. I don't care.

 

[mgresh]

Texas is the most popular destination for the millions moving out of California. I guess Texas is just lucky that they are getting all of the conservative Californians....

Texas should be very concerned. Those not in the cities don't see it, but the state is being infested.

 

[Texas10mm]

I'm fully aware that Texans prefer to remain ignorant regarding the reality that their state is far from a gun lover's paradise (not even in the top ten states for per capital gun ownership) and is slowly but surely becoming liberal.

If you care to learn facts, you might want to read what the people who study political trends for a living are saying.

Or remain ignorant. I don't care.

How does one know? There's no registration. Everything I've seen that tracks gun ownership per capita is based on REGISTERED firearms. Which would have to mean NFA stuff.

 

[mgresh]

Texas is much more conservative than it was when I moved here twenty years ago. Down here on the deep blue borderlands, the Democrats are mostly more conservative than most Republicans up north.
Only in Austin and the big northern cities has the disease of liberalism/socialism taken hold.

Well, it looks like Texas is still conservative - 50.9%. Texas better wake up.

 

[alsaqr]

Washington I 1639 passed with 60 percent of the vote.

https://www.northwestfirearms.com/threads/wa-i-1639-passes-with-60-approval.283061/page-2

 

[GEM]

I know folks want to vent but let's discuss the initiative and what will happen with it being passed.

Some suggestions:

1. Specifically what messaging made the proposition convincing?
2. What messaging could have or perhaps will be useful in mitigating the pro initiative message? Obviously, the socialists are coming isn't that useful.
3. What court strategies might be useful, given the tendency of the Lower courts lately to support all sorts of state bans? Will SCOTUS actually do anything given its past history? Will the new kid on the block actually change SCOTUS behavior.

Generic rants about liberals and why this state or that is Hell or Paradise are off topic and will be deleted from now on.

 

[Texas10mm]

Plainly put it passed based on the ignorance of the voters. I'll bet there are going to be a lot of people who voted for it who are going to be surprised that their Ruger 10/22 or Marlin 60 are now considered "assault rifles".