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"Governor Gregoire has signed into law HB 1016, by Rep. Brian Blake (D-19) which legalizes the use of lawfully-owned suppressors (silencers) in Washington. It takes effect 90 days after the end of the current session. With some exceptions, to purchase a suppressor under federal law, your Chief Law Enforcement Officer (county sheriff or city police chief) must approve your purchase application (ATF Form 4). Some sheriffs have refused to sign because while there is no law prohibiting OWNERSHIP of a suppressor in Washington, it has been illegal to USE a suppressor. That prohibition goes away in late July (90 days AFTER the end of the regular session).
As an aside, there was no exception in current law for law enforcement agencies to use suppressors (many of which currently possess suppressed weapons, nominally to take down dogs guarding meth labs and other illegal activities). So under HB 1016, now both cops and citizens can possess AND USE suppressed firearms. It will be interesting to see if any sheriffs still have reservations about citizens owning suppressors... (who they like to refer to as "civilians," ignoring the fact that cops are civilians, too)."
Interesting. I wonder if this will bring down the price?
As an aside, there was no exception in current law for law enforcement agencies to use suppressors (many of which currently possess suppressed weapons, nominally to take down dogs guarding meth labs and other illegal activities). So under HB 1016, now both cops and citizens can possess AND USE suppressed firearms. It will be interesting to see if any sheriffs still have reservations about citizens owning suppressors... (who they like to refer to as "civilians," ignoring the fact that cops are civilians, too)."
Interesting. I wonder if this will bring down the price?
