What happened to NFA in Washington?

imported post

I'm not a native of Washington, so I don't know the history of gun laws here. I'm just wondering why we aren't allowed NFA items. The Brady Center ranks Washington pretty nicely (18 out of 100 :lolso I would expect some decent laws for the legal possession of NFA items. What happened?

imported post

You can not possess certain things after a date when the law was enacted, including: Short-barreled shotguns, Short-barreled rifles, and machineguns.

However, you may possess the following NFA items: Destructive Devices, Sound suppressors, "Any other weapons".

Currently the suppressor law does not allow for them to be used on a firearm, but there is a bill in the legislature to rectify that. Contact your legislator(s) and tell them to support House Bill 1604: http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum55/21129.html

imported post

I guess I was specifically referring to SBRs. So you're saying that in 1934 when NFA was passed, Washington just took it without a fight?

imported post

SBR's, SBS's, machineguns and machinegun parts are listed here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.190 Subsection (1)

While sound suppressors are listed here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.250 Subsection (1)(c)

I'm not 100% sure how to interpret the dates of change at the bottom of the RCW's, so perhaps someone more knowledgeable on that can shed some light as to when they were first enacted.

imported post

Looks like something happened in 1994.

"(3) It shall be an affirmative defense to a prosecution brought under this section that the machine gun, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle was acquired prior to July 1, 1994, and is possessed in compliance with federal law."