Washington lawmakers today heard conflicting testimony on a bill to raise the age to buy an assault-style weapon.
Allen Ivanov was just 19 when he legally purchased an assault-style rifle, and killed three people in Mukilteo.
Under state law, he wasn't old enough to buy a pistol.
would require anyone who buys, sells, or owns an assault weapon to be licensed.
“In short, it is easier. Much easier to buy an assault weapon in our state than it is to buy a pistol that doesn't make sense, said Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
Attorney General Ferguson's proposal would raise the age to buy an assault rifle to 21, require a license, and a waiting period.
Paul Kramer's son was wounded in the Mukilteo attack.
“Even if he were over 21, the waiting period likely would have led (Ivanov) to act out in some other way, probably less violent way,” he said.
would mandate gun sellers have to offer the option to buyers of buying a lockbox or gun safety mechanism.
But gun rights advocates see the licensing requirement as unconstitutional and unnecessary.
“This is worse than a gun ban, it actually requires really good citizens to be licensed to exercise their state constitutional right,” said Phil Shave, executive director of Washington Arms Collectors.
The National Rifle Association also opposes the change.
“During the most recent five years of data there were five times as many murders with knives blunt objects and hands and feet as there were with rifles of any type,” said Northwest State Liaison Keely Hopkins.
Cox Media Group
