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Coalition Announces Push for State Ban on Military Assault Weapons

January 13th, 2010, blog post by Megan Montplaisir

Bill Calls for Ban to Honor Slain African American Youth and Protect Police

 

 

Seattle, WA.  A large coalition led by state gun control group Washington Ceasefire is proposing a statewide ban on military semi-automatic assault weapons in the wake of the high profile shootings by these weapons of young Aaron Sullivan and Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton. The coalition includes the United African Political Action Committee, the International Association of Police Chiefs, The Jewish Federation of Seattle, and the Seattle Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women, Parents for Student Success, Cultural Reconnection Missions, and Parents for Safe Child Care.   

 

 

The Aaron Sullivan Public Safety and Police Protection Bill is named in honor of a young man, Aaron Sullivan killed in July, and the dozens of police officers throughout the country killed by semi-automatic assault rifles. This proposed legislation has strong backing from Seattle Police and Police Chiefs across the state, the Mayor and Mayor Elect of Seattle, and King County Executive Director Elect Dow Constantine. It is being introduced in the House by Representative Ross Hunter and in the Senate, by Senate Commerce Chair Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Senate Judiciary Chair Adam Kline. 

 

 

Aaron Sullivan, is the 18 year old son of local college professor Dr. Debra Sullivan and the grandson of the late UW Law Professor Jack Sullivan.  The tragic slaying of Sullivan and Officer Timothy Brenton who also was killed by a semi-automatic assault weap on have brought together the police and community in common cause. The collective groups will hold a press conference on Thursday, December 17th at 10am at the Central Area Senior Center at 500 30th Ave near the intersection of King St and 30th Ave. The site was chosen because of its close proximity to the tragic shootings of both young Mr. Sullivan and Officer Brenton. Speakers will include Dr. Sullivan, the mother of Aaron Sullivan, elected officials and a police representative.

 

 

 Semi-automatic assault weapons are designed and intended for military purposes to kill as many people as quickly as possible in a designated area. These guns can fire over 200 bullets a minute. Even avid hunters acknowledge that semi-automatic weapons have no sporting purpose other than target practice which this bill would accommodate within designated shooting ranges. Significantly kits are readily available that can convert semi-automatic weapons to automatic “machine gun” status in just a few minutes. The risk of assault weapons is made worse by the so-called gun show loophole which allows gun purchasers, as young as eighteen, to purchase unlimited quantities of these dangerous weapons without a background check, record keeping or waiting period at various gun shows held almost weekly in this state.

 

 

Both national and state polls show overwhelming support for the ban by similar 5 to 1 majorities.  But passage for this common sense gun control measure is by no means guaranteed.  Former Police Chief Norm Stamper said recently the people are far ahead of the politicians on this issue. Last year the U.S. Supreme Court validated the right of individuals to own handguns and sporting rifles but specifically gave the green light to  state regulation for things such as mandatory background checks or a ban on military assault weapons. 

 

 

The proposed ban would prevent the future sales of assault weapons to private citizens and would also require all current owners to submit to a background check.  Former State Representative, Dawn Mason says; “We are trying to take a practical approach to the problem and believe this bill if passed, would makes our streets and schools safer”.  

 

div="">Since 1983 Washington Ceasefire has led the fight to reduce gun violence in Washington State. Gun violence affects everyone including the approximately 25,000 state residents shot this decade alone. Ceasefire serves as both an informational resource via its website at www.washingtonceasefire.org  and an advocate of common sense gun legislation such as banning military semi-automatic assault weapons