State AG Ferguson testifies against high-capacity magazines, ghost guns

A committee hearing in the Washington State Legislature Monday saw Attorney General Bob Ferguson and more speak out in support of a pair of gun measures, one that would ban high-capacity magazines, and another that would ban the production and sale of so-called “ghost guns.”

RELATED: Lynnwood gun store owner thinks she found loophole in I-1639

“[High-capacity magazines] were used in Newton, Las Vegas, Aurora, Parkland. The Parkland shooting only came to an end when the shooter had to come to a stop to reload,” Ferguson said in his testimony.

Hundreds of people packed the state Legislature on Monday to voice either their support or opposition to the proposals.

“People served best by high-capacity magazines are mass shooters,” said Las Vegas shooting survivor and Seattle local Emily Cantrell. “High-capacity magazines paired with a bump stock allowed the shooter to fire 90 shots in 10 seconds — imagine 1,100 rounds total in 10 minutes coming right at you.”

Senate Bill 5062 would ban the sale and owning of gun magazines with more than 10 rounds. Opponents to the legislation cited the need to protect themselves.

“I live with this nightmare every single day. I stand before you as a crime survivor and I don’t want to be a crime statistic,” said Jane Millhauser, who lives in Pierce County.

The second piece of gun legislation would ban ghost guns, alleged to essentially be untraceable firearms that are ordered through the mail, often made with plastic using a 3D printer.

“This is common sense,” Ferguson told KIRO Radio in December. “Ghost guns are a real threat — because they’re made out of plastic, they can go through security at your Seahawks game or at your airport.”

RELATED: Washington AG targets ban on ghost guns in 2019

Critics argue that the idea of untraceable guns, though, is a misnomer.

“Undetectable firearms do not exist — anyone using that term does in ignorance, or to purposely deceive others,” claimed one gun rights advocate.

Both measures will go before a House committee on Tuesday.

Additional reporting from KIRO 7 News Staff