(The Center Square) – Despite Washington state numerous gun control laws, an illegally modified fully automatic gun was found at the Bite of Seattle shooting with a clip that isn’t legal to purchase in the state.
While Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is pushing for even greater restrictions, Washington Gun Law President William Kirk said that gun laws only apply to people who are law abiding.
“Criminals don’t seem to follow the law,” Kirk told The Center Square. “This is just another example of the abject failure of gun control legislation in terms of making our communities safe.”
Kirk has been a criminal defense attorney for 30 years.
After the July 26 shooting that took place at an event prohibiting firearms, SPD arrested a 15-year old male suspect possessing an illegal ghost gun.
The Center Square recently reported based on public records that SPD also recovered an illegally-modified Glock with a 40-round magazine; it is unknown if the magazine was obtained before or after the state’s ban on high-capacity magazines. Additionally, SPD recovered casings that potentially match those found in other criminal investigations, including drive by shootings.
Despite the numerous violation of gun control laws, Kirk says “what you’re going to see in the state of Washington is the state legislature will probably come up with legislation to ban Glocks, because that’s all they’ve ever done in this state: Put the blame on innocent, responsible gun owners.”
Alliance for Gun Responsibility interim Executive Director Ryan Disch-Guzman wrote that more laws are necessary to prevent juveniles from accessing firearms.
Last “session Washington passed a new law prohibiting manufacturing of ghost gun parts and that law is still taking effect,” he wrote in a statement to The Center Square. “That being said, we’ve explored policy solutions with state lawmakers that include high-tech prevention mechanisms like requiring 3D printers sold in Washington to come with an algorithm that detects and blocks printing of gun parts. The technology exists.”
He wrote further that “fifteen-year-olds can’t buy guns. They either get them from family members or, more often, they’re stolen. Washington still has no laws preemptively requiring the secure storage of firearms, either in homes or in vehicles, where the vast majority of crime guns are stolen. Passing common-sense secure storage laws that help reduce gun trafficking and keep guns out of youth hands will be our top priority this session.”
On Sept. 16, Wilson released a gun violence prevention plan, which among other things calls for calls as stronger firearm regulations in places such as parks, public events, and the Seattle Center), as well as updates to juvenile firearm possession/sentencing laws.
The Center Square reached out to Wilson’s Office seeking comment on how her plan would address the possession and use of illegal firearms, illegally modified firearms, and violent crimes committed with firearms by juveniles, but did not receive a response.
Kirk says gangs are taking advantage of the legal distinction between juveniles and adults is by gangs.
“What you’re seeing is the gang organizations exploit that loophole and hire young people to be their hitman,” he said.
Three people were killed and four wounded during the July 26 shooting. Although one suspect has been arrested, other potential suspects are still at large.