Firearms Regulations.
Firearms and other weapons are regulated under Washington law. Among other restrictions, the state prohibits all persons from manufacturing, owning, buying, selling, loaning, furnishing, transporting, possessing, or controlling any machine gun, bump-fire stock, undetectable firearm, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle, subject to various exceptions.
Washington does not specifically define and regulate a general class of weapons designated as assault weapons, but the state has established various restrictions on a group of weapons classified as semiautomatic assault rifles. State law defines a semiautomatic assault rifle as any rifle which utilizes a portion of the energy of a firing cartridge to extract the fired cartridge case and chamber the next round, and which requires a separate pull of the trigger to fire each cartridge, but this definition excludes antique firearms, any firearm that has been made permanently inoperable, and any firearm that is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action.
Restrictions on semiautomatic assault rifles include:
Federal law previously restricted certain semiautomatic assault weapons, subject to various exceptions and a sunset provision. These federal restrictions expired in 2004. Nine other states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws imposing various restrictions on assault weapons.
The Consumer Protection Act.
The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) prohibits unfair methods of competition, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce. If a person is injured in their business or property by a violation of the CPA, the person may bring a civil action to enjoin further violations and recover actual damages, costs, and reasonable attorney's fees. In addition, the court may award treble damages up to $25,000. The Attorney General may also bring an action in the name of the state or on behalf of persons residing in the state, against any person to enjoin violations of the CPA and obtain restitution. The Attorney General may also seek civil penalties up to the statutorily authorized maximums against any person who violates the CPA.
The manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, or offer for sale of any assault weapon is prohibited.
The term "assault weapon" is defined to include various kinds of firearms, including:
The term "assault weapon" excludes antique firearms, firearms that have been made permanently inoperable, and firearms that are manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action.
The restrictions on assault weapons are subject to several exceptions:
A violation of these restrictions is classified as a gross misdemeanor. Additionally, a violation is classified as a matter vitally affecting the public interest, not reasonable in relation to the development and preservation of business, and an unfair or deceptive act in trade or commerce and an unfair method of competition for the purpose of applying the Consumer Protection Act.