8 gun laws take effect on 13th anniversary of Seattle's deadly Jewish Federation shooting
SEATTLE – Sunday marks an important day for gun owners in Washington state, with new rules and regulations going into effect.
It’s also the 13th anniversary of the deadly shooting at the Jewish Federation Offices in Seattle.
Cheryl Stumbo is one of the survivors of the tragic shooting 13 years ago.
“Thirteen years later, my body still remembers and hurts when I go back to that day,” Stumbo said. “I was 43 years old when I was shocked to find myself flat on my stomach waiting for the gunshot that would kill me.”
Lawmakers, advocates, and Jewish community leaders came to Temple De Hirsch Sinai to discuss how much has been done to prevent gun violence and how much has changed when it comes to buying and owning guns.
“That awful day 13 years ago propelled the Federation into action, advocating for gun violence prevention," said Nancy Greer, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation Office.
This year, the Washington State legislature passed a record number of gun violence prevention bills:
- HB 1732: Strengthens Washington’s hate crimes statute.
- SHB 1225: Empowers law enforcement to do more to protect victims of domestic violence by allowing officers to remove firearms from the scene of a domestic violence arrest.
- SHB 1786: Streamlines and strengthens our protective order system.
- SSB 5181: Helps prevent firearm suicide by temporarily restricting access to firearms from anyone involuntarily held for 72-hours because they present a risk to themselves or others.
- SHB 1949: Directs the Office of Financial Management to study centralizing our background check system and passed unanimously in both chambers.
- SSB 5027: Clarifies our Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law and establishes a process to issue an ERPO against a juvenile.
- SB 5205: Closes a loophole that allowed people with a history of violence, who had been found incompetent to stand trial, to remain legally eligible to purchase and possess firearms.
- SB 5514: Requires first responders to notify schools of potential threats.
"Eight bills take effect today,” said Meredith Goldstein, who’s with the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. “One new law bans so-called "ghost guns” – they're untraceable or undetectable firearms.”
“These were devices made with new technology,” Rep. Javier Valdez added. “These are devices that could get through metal detectors. So, whether you’re at the airport, courthouse or an arena, these devices can actually slip through detection.”
Another new law is intended to reduce suicides. The law imposes a six-month suspension on a person's right to own a gun when they are detained for 72 hours to prevent them from potentially hurting themselves or others.
“We have to acknowledge that a large majority, 76% of gun deaths, are suicides, Sen. Reuven Carlyle said.
The new law also applies to domestic violence calls.
“Preventing domestic abusers from getting guns is so important, it really is,” Stumbo said. “So much of gun violence in this country starts with domestic abuse.”
The Alliance for Gun Responsibility says all these laws will make a dent in reducing violence in our state.
