Washington legislature approves sweeping ban on semi-automatic rifles

The Washington legislature on Wednesday approved a broad ban on semi-automatic rifles, including AR and AK variants, sending it to the governor's desk.

The measure would bar the sale, manufacture, importation, and distribution of a range of firearms that discharge one round per pull of the trigger, the Associated Press reported. The measure provides exceptions for law enforcement and the military.

Upon receiving Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee's signature, the ban would take effect immediately. The governor has expressed support for the measure, saying "[w]e refuse to accept gun violence as normal. Gun violence, in all its forms, can be prevented," after the ban cleared the state Senate.

Washington will follow nine other states and D.C. in enacting such restrictions. At the federal level, Democrats have pushed for nationwide restrictions on so-called "assault weapons" but such proposals have failed to clear Congress.

While pushes for tighter restrictions on semi-automatic rifles have become bolder, so to have efforts to liberalize gun laws at the state level. Earlier this month, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a measure eliminating the requirement for a permit before concealed carrying a weapon, making it the 26th state to do so.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.