Washington State Aims to Restrict Assault Firearms

February 28, 2023

Washington State HB 1240 bans transfer, sale, importation, and manufacture of assault firearms.

House Bill 1240 is currently in the legislative process. The bill aims to ban the manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any assault weapon, except as authorized in this section.  The intent of this bill is to restrict the sale, distribution (transfer), manufacture or import of assault weapons.  The bill, in its current form, does not restrict possession of these assault weapons. A person can inherit these firearms, but there is a provision that the transferee has to prove the deceased person possessed said firearm legally.  Under current Washington State law, there is no definition of what constitutes an assault weapon. Under HB 1240 an assault weapon is defined as:

  1. Specific type of firearms considered assault weapons by designation:

AK-47 in all forms
AK-74 in all forms
Algimec AGM-1 type semiautomatic
American Arms Spectre da semiautomatic carbine
AR15, M16, or M4 in all forms
AR 180 type semiautomatic
Argentine L.S.R. semiautomatic
Australian Automatic
Auto-Ordnance Thompson M1 and 1927 semiautomatics
Barrett .50 cal light semiautomatic
Barrett .50 cal M87
Barrett .50 cal M107A1
Barrett REC7
Beretta AR70/S70 type semiautomatic
Bushmaster Carbon 15
Bushmaster ACR
Bushmaster XM-15
Bushmaster MOE
Calico models M100 and M900
CETME Sporter
CIS SR 88 type semiautomatic
Colt CAR 15
Daewoo K-1
Daewoo K-2
Dragunov semiautomatic
Fabrique Nationale FAL in all forms
Fabrique Nationale F2000
Fabrique Nationale L1A1 Sporter
Fabrique Nationale M249S
Fabrique Nationale PS90
Fabrique Nationale SCAR
FAMAS .223 semiautomatic
Galil
Heckler & Koch G3 in all forms
Heckler & Koch HK-41/91
Heckler & Koch HK-43/93
Heckler & Koch HK94A2/3
Heckler & Koch MP-5 in all forms
Heckler & Koch PSG-1
Heckler & Koch SL8
Heckler & Koch UMP
Manchester Arms Commando MK-45
Manchester Arms MK-9
SAR-4800
SIG AMT SG510 in all forms
SIG SG550 in all forms
SKS
Spectre M4
Springfield Armory BM-59
Springfield Armory G3
Springfield Armory SAR-8
Springfield Armory SAR-48
Springfield Armory SAR-3
Springfield Armory M-21 sniper
Springfield Armory M1A
Smith & Wesson M&P 15
Sterling Mk 1
Sterling Mk 6/7
Steyr AUG
TNW M230
FAMAS F11
Uzi 9mm carbine/rifle

What is interesting, some firearms listed, such as the Barrett .50 cal M87, Barrett .50 cal M107A1 or Springfield Armory M-21 sniper are considered long guns and not associated in the armalite rifle category.  The Barrett riles are considered anti-materiel due to the size of the round (.50 Cal). The listed rifles are are also heavier and much longer (more than 30 inches) than the rifles associated in the traditional armalite category;

2. A semiautomatic rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches;

 3. A conversion kit, part, or combination of parts, from which an assault weapon can be assembled or from which a firearm can be converted into an assault weapon if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same person;

4. A semiautomatic, center fire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and has one or more of the following:

(A) A grip that is independent or detached from the stock that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon. The addition of a fin attaching the grip to the stock does not exempt the grip if it otherwise resembles the grip found on a pistol;

AR15 Featureless Complete Lower Receiver w/ Magpul Fixed Carbine Stock Black- illegal under HB 1240

(B) Thumbhole stock;

(C) Folding or telescoping stock;

(D) Forward pistol, vertical, angled, or other grip designed for use by the nonfiring hand to improve control;

(E) Flash suppressor, flash guard, flash eliminator, flash hider, sound suppressor, silencer, or any item designed to reduce the visual or audio signature of the firearm;

(F) Muzzle brake, recoil compensator, or any item designed to be affixed to the barrel to reduce recoil or muzzle rise;

(G) Threaded barrel designed to attach a flash suppressor, sound suppressor, muzzle break, or similar item;

(H) Grenade launcher or flare launcher; or

(I) A shroud (hand guard)that encircles either all or part of the barrel designed to shield the bearer’s hand from heat, except a solid forearm of a stock that covers only the bottom of the barrel;

Handguard would be illegal under HB 1240

Per these restrictions a Washington State Compliant rifle would be:

RUGER MINI 14 RIFLE- POSSIBLY LEGAL UNDER HB 1240

 

5. A semiautomatic, center fire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds;

6. A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and has one or more of the following:

(A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer;

(B) A second hand grip;

(C) A shroud that encircles either all or part of the barrel designed to shield the bearer’s hand from heat, except a solid forearm of a stock that covers only the bottom of the barrel; or

(D) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip;

  7. A semiautomatic shotgun that has any of the following:

(A) A folding or telescoping stock;

(B) A grip that is independent or detached from the stock that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon. The addition of a fin attaching the grip to the stock does not exempt the grip if it otherwise resembles the grip found on a pistol;

(C) A thumbhole stock;

(D) A forward pistol, vertical, angled, or other grip designed for use by the nonfiring hand to improve control;

(E) A fixed magazine in excess of seven rounds; or

(F) A revolving cylinder shotgun.

Illegal (Mossberg 930)

Mossberg 930 shotgun illegal under HB 1240.

Legal (Mossberg 930)

MOSSBERG MODEL 930 TACTICAL AUTOLOADING SHOTGUN.

Contact CCD Law for questions regarding firearms and firearm restoration.

Crary, Domanico, & Chuang, P.S. of Spokane provides clients with the absolute highest quality legal representation.

We invite you to contact the law office of Crary, Chuang & Domanico, P.S., today at 509-926-4900, or e-mail us, to schedule a free and confidential consultation.

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