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"NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. The legislature intends to instill a fear of firearms in the populace based off the shape and color of the firearm instead of any measurable difference in actual accuracy, capacity, or versatility. The lethal effects of the misuse of firearms are attributed to the style and shape of the firearms in addition to accessories that can be attached to the firearm. These attributes are utilized to describe the lethality of the actions of people who utilize these firearms for nefarious purposes by individuals and organizations that are strongly opposed to possession of firearms. These individuals and organizations attribute lethal characteristics to commonly used accessories and components in an effort to instill and encourage the fear of inanimate objects and detract focus from the cause of firearm violence, the mental status of the firearms user.

Violence accomplished with firearms has been exploited to create an atmosphere of fear surrounding the existence and legality of firearm possession. A desire to protect society and prevent future violence has led to a desire to ban firearms, their components, and accessories. Because of the strikingly similar assault weapons ban from 1994 to 2004, there is an opportunity to examine data that can support or refute claims that banning certain firearm accessories reduce the lethality of mass shootings. An examination of that evidence finds that both the federal assault weapons ban and several state assault weapons bans have had inconclusive effects on reducing violence. Many of the studies that do indicate a positive link do not take into consideration gang violence and manipulate the data to prove a reduction in violence.

In the United States, there are approximately 393 million civilian owned firearms, with roughly 20 million of those being AR-15 style firearms. In Washington state, 42 percent of Washington state residents live in households with guns and there are less than 100,000 registered firearms in the state. The legislature intends to exert control over the future purchase of a certain type of firearm without addressing the safety of the most treasured members of our society by providing school safety officers.

According to the 2018 mass shootings work group, funding school resource officers, multistage threat assessment processes implemented in education facilities, extreme risk protection orders, and increased investment in mental health professionals were the most important policy recommendations that would prevent future mass shootings. The legislature finds that this legislation which limits what law abiding citizens may possess will not protect anyone's children. Focusing on who is using firearms to commit violent crimes, why they are committing these crimes, and how to protect children would accomplish much more."