Police chiefs call for a state ban

Larry Simoneaux’s Dec. 28 column on assault weapons overlooks a key point. (“Enforce gun laws on books already before passing more.”)

Many semi-automatic assault rifles on the market today can be easily converted to fully automatic operation with minor after-market modifications, and are often purchased with that purpose in mind.

A less obvious point is that, when it comes to taking life, semi-automatic weapons are as lethal as fully automatic weapons, which were banned in the 1930s because police were being gunned down by gangsters. True, a fully automatic weapon can fire far more rounds per second, but the bullet from a semi-automatic weapon is no less deadly.

All told, some 40 police officers across the country were killed by semi-automatic weapons over the last four years. FBI research shows these weapons account for nearly a quarter of police killed in the line of duty. It’s not surprising then that the International Association of Chiefs of Police have called for a ban. Yet, Washington has failed to ban assault weapons.

We have introduced a bill that will ban all future sales of semi-automatic assault weapons. A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding individuals’ rights under the Second Amendment also expressly upheld the rights of states to make reasonable restrictions on dangerous firearms such as assault weapons. This legislation was not introduced to limit the rights of responsible gun owners and is an important step toward ensuring the safety of our police and preventing future large-scale tragedies.

Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles
D-Seattle
Sen. Adam Kline
D-Seattle