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Washington Bans Assault Weapons as Part of New Gun Control Legislation

HeadlineApr 26, 2023

In Washington state, Democratic Governor Jay Inslee signed into law a trio of bills Tuesday in an effort to prevent gun violence. The legislation bans the new sale of dozens of firearms, including some semiautomatic rifles, imposes a 10-day waiting period for gun purchases and will allow for certain lawsuits against gunmakers and dealers. This is Governor Inslee.

Gov. Jay Inslee: “These weapons of war, of assault weapons, have no reason other than mass murder. Their only purpose is to kill humans as rapidly as possible in large numbers. And I will say this: AR-15s should not be idolized; they should be prohibited. And that’s what we’re doing today.”

The White House praised Washington for the move, but gun groups have already launched legal challenges to the measures, claiming a violation of the constitutional right to bear arms.

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