Sheriffs Buck Washington State’s Severe New Gun Control Law

11:33 AM 02/11/2019 | Gun Laws & Legislation David Krayden | Ottawa Bureau Chief Saying they don’t believe the legislation is constitutional, some sheriffs in Washington are rebelling against a new state gun law. The law delivers an omnibus assortment of restrictions for gun owners, Fox News[1] reported Monday. Both the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) say it is unconstitutional and have initiated a federal lawsuit against the state. People hold flags as the procession carrying the body of Ventura County Sheriffs Sgt. Ron Helus, who was killed in a mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill, leaves Los Robles Hospital on Nov. 8, 2018 in Thousand Oaks, Cal. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) The sheriffs in a dozen rural counties say they will not recognize the law until the courts rule on its legality. At least one police chief[2] has publicly condemned the legislation and refused to enforce it. Washington voters passed the initiative during last November’s midterm elections. It increases the legal age for purchasing a semi-automatic firearm to 21 from 18, mandates successful completion of a gun safety course before purchasing a gun, and includes a comprehensive and probing background investigation. The NRA and SAF are focusing on the law’s age-limit increase in their legal challenge. (RELATED: SAF, NRA File Federal Lawsuit Challenging Washington’s Initiative 1639)[4][3] The New York chapter of the ACLU is skeptical of the allegations made by the NRA against the Cuomo administration. SHUTTERSTOCK/ Keith Homan According to The Seattle Times[5], Ballot Initiative 1639, or I-1639, received more than 60 percent approval from the state electorate. Supporters of the bill dismiss the opposition as a futile obstruction. “The political grandstanding is disheartening,” Renee Hopkins told the AP. The head of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility suggested “we will have a huge problem”

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