Washington Washington State law against muzzle devices on semi automatic firearms?

[Chadaddio]

Is there such a law?

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[bradsteen]

Yes.

From WA's AWB...

(iv) A semiautomatic, center fire rifle that has the capacity to
6 accept a detachable magazine and has one or more of the following:
7 (A) A grip that is independent or detached from the stock that
8 protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon. The
9 addition of a fin attaching the grip to the stock does not exempt the
10 grip if it otherwise resembles the grip found on a pistol;
11 (B) Thumbhole stock;
12 (C) Folding or telescoping stock;
13 (D) Forward pistol, vertical, angled, or other grip designed for
14 use by the nonfiring hand to improve control;
15 (E) Flash suppressor, flash guard, flash eliminator, flash hider,
16 sound suppressor, silencer, or any item designed to reduce the visual
17 or audio signature of the firearm;
18 (F) Muzzle brake, recoil compensator, or any item designed to be
19 affixed to the barrel to reduce recoil or muzzle rise;
20 (G) Threaded barrel designed to attach a flash suppressor, sound
21 suppressor, muzzle break, or similar item;
22 (H) Grenade launcher or flare launcher; or
23 (I) A shroud that encircles either all or part of the barrel
24 designed to shield the bearer's hand from heat, except a solid
25 forearm of a stock that covers only the bottom of the barrel;

(vi) A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a
29 detachable magazine and has one or more of the following:
30 (A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor,
31 forward handgrip, or silencer;

 

[Chadaddio]

Thank you for this info!

 

[Alexx1401]

Is there such a law?

Those of us who have them are (for now) allowed them. Buying new is no more

 

[Chadaddio]

Those of us who have them are (for now) allowed them. Buying new is no more

So it's not illegal to possess them, we just can't buy them? I'm in Oregon and I travel through Washington with a Utah carry permit.

 

[bradsteen]

Also from the AWB ..

(21) "Import" means to move, transport, or receive an
36 item from a place outside the territorial limits of the state of
37 Washington to a place inside the territorial limits of the state of
38 Washington. "Import" does not mean situations where an individual
39 possesses a large capacity magazine or assault weapon when departing
40 from, and returning to, Washington state, so long as the individual
p. 8 SHB 1240.SL 1 is returning to Washington in possession of the same large capacity
2 magazine or assault weapon the individual transported out of state.

Short version, the way I understand it is if you're just passing through, no big deal - you aren't selling it or giving it to a WA resident, and you aren't moving here, therefore importation is not occurring. Then again, I'm not a lawyer, so... Good luck?

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Also from the AWB ..

Short version, the way I understand it is if you're just passing through, no big deal - you aren't selling it or giving it to a WA resident, and you aren't moving here, therefore importation is not occurring. Then again, I'm not a lawyer, so... Good luck?

It says in black and white that bringing a prohibited item from out of the state into the state is importing, and therefore illegal. It's bullsheet, but there it is. There is no exception for "passing through" at all. Intent to move to WA or give to a WA resident is also not mentioned at all.

If a Wa resident leaves and returns with the same item, that is allowed but not the reverse. Someone entering Wa from out of state and leaving with the same item is not an exception in the law at all.

 

[bradsteen]

And this is why I'm not a lawyer.

 

[1911Fanatic]

Screw Washington. Now they are getting a state income tax. I feel for you guys.

 

[Alexx1401]

So it's not illegal to possess them, we just can't buy them? I'm in Oregon and I travel through Washington with a Utah carry permit.

Now you are getting into the kind of area where the net is a poor place to seek answers. Anyone here can say anything. When this law went in those of us who live here and own the stuff they banned can keep it, for now. The law goes into ban on importing it. Now if someone who lives in another state travels here with said items are they importing? Only a lawyer could really give solid advice here.

 

[rurallife]

You gotta be kidding right now.

 

[thorborg]

I'm no lawyer either but it seems If I have a CC permit from Utah that allows the carry gun I have and Utah's license is recognized by Washington then that "should" give me carte blanche for all things Utah CC is licensed for. Ya, I know I'm just dreaming.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Agree with @Alexx1401 that if you want actual legal advice ask a lawyer.

IMO it's helpful to separate the law from the potential risk:

1) Is it legal as written in the law?

I believe #1 is very clear so no need to discuss that for me.

2) What is the real-world risk today, in the places you plan to be?

Re #2, tons of factors are at play. Will you be caught? Will the cop use his discretion not to charge you? Will the prosecutor charge you?

I think a lot depends on the culture of the police or OSP department where you are at at the time. For example in California bringing in a contraband gun can land you in jail for 2 years. Their cops are looking for these guns. So it's pretty darn likely imo you would get charged if they saw it because of their now long-standing anti-gun culture in CA imo. I remember when Frank Clark played for the Seahawks and got charged when a CA cop saw a semi auto uzi in his vehicle.

What about WA? It depends. Here is one example posted yesterday that may be worth reading:

…

My experience when I was in Eastern WA around Spokane; after the ban, shooting may as well been banned anyways. I had landowner permission to shoot on 20 acres and another spot that was 80 acres. All surrounded by a safe backstop and limited population. Didn't really matter, any shooting got the cops called. You could bumpfire, long distance, slow fire, etc. and it didn't matter. Had county mounties run the SN a once. Another one got bent out of shape over NFA stuff. That's a weird anecdote, apparently he thought I was a fed with a binder of NFA paperwork. Another time someone facing 180 degrees away said bullets were raining down on her house from "machine guns." Literally landing at her feet. Despite it being impossible. Got to where I had to drive 1.5 hours North to shoot without harassment. Made it not worth the effort.

A coworker was detained for an hour when he took out his Mini-14 with 20/30 round mags. He seemed to get a poorer treatment than myself.

If I were to bring back an Idaho gun that wasn't WA legal I wouldn't risk shooting it personally. Only takes a disgruntled fish cop or Barney Fife to end up costing you 10k in attourney's fees. I'd keep it locked up for hard times and keep quiet.

With how aggressive a certain crowd are thinking WA has completely banned guns, I'm no longer doing any shooting in WA. Luckily my carry gun is just an LCR.

There is really no way to know the cop's take on the law, the cops attitude in general, the prosecutor's position etc. But one can be smart about one's own behavior. For example don't keep things in plain sight, don't volunteer info, don't get in trouble for doing something else and therefore draw police attention, don't make the cop mad, have a cooperative attitude, when shooting don't wear your "I'm from Orygun hat", don't have clothing or bumper stickers that may be seen to promote violence or whatever, etc.

Fwiw I do think 10 years from now, or maybe even 5, anti-gun culture will be much more prominent in WA and cops will be more like current CA cops. Similar to the current anti-smoker culture which took some years to become engrained. I doubt rural sheriffs will give you much guff but OSP? Local police? Who knows. …all IMO

 

[Jedi5150]

Screw Washington. Now they are getting a state income tax. I feel for you guys.

An income tax for those poor, poor folks who make more than $1M annually...
Don't get me wrong, I'm as displeased with silly laws as the next person but describing that as a "state income tax" is a bit misleading.

 

[GWS]

Agree with @Alexx1401 that if you want actual legal advice ask a lawyer.

IMO it's helpful to separate the law from the potential risk:

1) Is it legal as written in the law?

I believe #1 is very clear so no need to discuss that for me.

2) What is the real-world risk today, in the places you plan to be?

Re #2, tons of factors are at play. Will you be caught? Will the cop use his discretion not to charge you? Will the prosecutor charge you?

I think a lot depends on the culture of the police or OSP department where you are at at the time. For example in California bringing in a contraband gun can land you in jail for 2 years. Their cops are looking for these guns. So it's pretty darn likely imo you would get charged if they saw it because of their now long-standing anti-gun culture in CA imo. I remember when Frank Clark played for the Seahawks and got charged when a CA cop saw a semi auto uzi in his vehicle.

What about WA? It depends. Here is one example posted yesterday that may be worth reading:

There is really no way to know the cop's take on the law, the cops attitude in general, the prosecutor's position etc. But one can be smart about one's own behavior. For example don't keep things in plain sight, don't volunteer info, don't get in trouble for doing something else and therefore draw police attention, don't make the cop mad, have a cooperative attitude, when shooting don't wear your "I'm from Orygun hat", don't have clothing or bumper stickers that may be seen to promote violence or whatever, etc.

Fwiw I do think 10 years from now, or maybe even 5, anti-gun culture will be much more prominent in WA and cops will be more like current CA cops. Similar to the current anti-smoker culture which took some years to become engrained. I doubt rural sheriffs will give you much guff but OSP? Local police? Who knows. …all IMO

I would like a citation of a CA police or sheriff busting someone for having an "Assault Weapon" that wasn't committing some other crime, like robbery or DUI or felon in possession, please.
Being from the PRK, I heard/read so many stories about a guy who knew a guy who knew of a guy who got busted for having an AW and there was never any documentation of this actually happening, excluding the exceptions listed above. I do recall of a story about a fellow in Santa Rosa who got pulled over for speeding and had his M1A on the back seat. The problem with the bust was the M1A wasn't an AW by CA law. I don't know if the CalGuns website has an archive to look this story up or not but it was a lengthy thread 20 years ago.
The simple rules for carrying your AW in your car are:

1) Keep your weapons out of sight
2.)Don't be an idiot

Following these rules will keep you out of trouble just about everywhere.

 

[GWS]

An income tax for those poor, poor folks who make more than $1M annually...
Don't get me wrong, I'm as displeased with silly laws as the next person but describing that as a "state income tax" is a bit misleading.

No, calling it an income tax is spot on. If your income is more than $1,000,000.00, (for now) they will tax you for whatever you earn above that amount. But don't kid yourself, if it survives the lawsuits, they'll quickly be lowering that income level.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

I would like a citation of a CA police or sheriff busting someone for having an "Assault Weapon" that wasn't committing some other crime, like robbery or DUI or felon in possession, please.
Being from the PRK, I heard/read so many stories about a guy who knew a guy who knew of a guy who got busted for having an AW and there was never any documentation of this actually happening, excluding the exceptions listed above. I do recall of a story about a fellow in Santa Rosa who got pulled over for speeding and had his M1A on the back seat. The problem with the bust was the M1A wasn't an AW by CA law. I don't know if the CalGuns website has an archive to look this story up or not but it was a lengthy thread 20 years ago.
The simple rules for carrying your AW in your car are:

1) Keep your weapons out of sight
2.)Don't be an idiot

Following these rules will keep you out of trouble just about everywhere.

The Frank Clark one I mentioned was a normal traffic stop. The cop saw the gun in an open bag and he was arrested for possessing an assault weapon.

 

[GWS]

The Frank Clark one I mentioned was a normal traffic stop. The cop saw the gun in an open bag and he was arrested for possessing an assault weapon.

Was there a conviction?

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Was there a conviction?

He was originally gonna get two years bet he plead guilty and got a lesser sentence. He's a pro football player so I doubt he did any jail time.

 

[bcp]

Buy a spare unthreaded barrel, swap barrels for WA travel.

Bruce