SEATTLE (AP) — The Washington state Legislature ended its latest session without passing a bill that would allow the State Patrol to destroy firearms confiscated during criminal investigations, instead of trading them with a firearms dealer, who would sell them to the public.
They not only sell handguns and hunting rifles, but also assault weapons.
House Bill 1483 sought to give the agency the option to destroy them instead, but it never received a vote on the House floor.
The agency has feared that one of its sold guns would be used in a new crime, and an Associated Press investigation found that has happened more than once.
“It’s disappointing the bill failed to pass,” said Kyle Moore, spokesman for the agency. “It’s a policy that falls in line with other law enforcement agencies across the state.”
Jaime Smith, spokeswoman for Gov. Jay Inslee, said the bill’s failure “was definitely a disappointment.”
In Washington, like most other states, the law allows police to decide whether to sell, trade or destroy guns that are confiscated during criminal investigations.
But the law was stricter for the State Patrol.
Any forfeited guns that are not needed as evidence or kept for agency use must be auctioned or traded with licensed dealers, who then sell them.