Moms Demand Action Respond to Court Ruling Upholding Initiative 1639 in Washington State

The Washington chapter of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, the grassroots networks of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement after Initiative 1639 was upheld by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, defeating a legal challenge by the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation. 

“After Washington voters passed this landmark gun safety law at the ballot box, its opponents tried to use the courts to undo our progress,” said Kate Stockert, a volunteer with the Washington Chapter of Moms Demand Action. “It’s not a surprise that they failed. As the court recognized, there is no conflict between this life-saving law and our Constitution. This is another victory for gun safety in Washington.”

Everytown’s education, research, and litigation arm submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the constitutionality of Initiative 1639.

Passed by Washington voters in 2018, Initiative 1639 strengthened state gun laws by raising the age to purchase semiautomatic rifles to 21 and enhanced the background check system for semiautomatic rifle purchasers, among other provisions. Everytown contributed more than $500,000 toward the passage of I-1639, including direct and in-kind contributions.