Gun owners surrender bump stocks to Washington State Patrol

The Washington State Patrol is once again collecting bump stocks on Monday after launching its buyback program on Sunday at eight locations across the state.

Legislators banned bump stocks in 2018, which would have made the devices illegal by the summer, but a federal ban takes effect March 26.

Sgt. Julie Fischer told KIRO Radio reporter Aaron Granillo that they had collected about 40 devices at the Bellevue buyback location office by midday Sunday.

In exchange for your bump stock, WSP will mail you a check for $150.

The program is a result of Senate Bill 5954. SB 5954, sponsored by Senator Rolfes (D-23rd Dist.),  allows Washington state residents to trade in up to five bump stocks for payment before the federal ban takes effect. Gov. Jay Inslee signed the bill Friday to make $150,000 immediately available for the program.

“I’ve used it quite a bit just out in the woods and stuff just shooting cans and stuff. That’s about it,” said Chris Nieves of Covington told KIRO 7 TV.

He told KIRO 7 that he surrendered his bump stock to WSP’s Bellevue office so he could be compliant before a federal ban takes effect.

“I’d rather do the right thing rather than being an unlawful gun owner,” Nieves explained.

Jeromy Fuqua of Lynnwood returned two of them. He told KIRO 7 that he never had a use for them, even though he’s owned them for almost three years. For him, it was important to be compliant. But he worries this will lead to more of a crackdown on gun rights.

“Do we need these bump stocks? That’s for the individual person to determine for themselves. It’s not the government’s duty to take away rights from the individuals,” Fuqua said.

You can visit any of the WSP offices listed below on March 18 and March 24-25 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For information, visit the state patrol’s website.

March 18, 2019
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
District 1 – Tacoma – 2502 112th Street East
District 2 – Bellevue – 2803 156th Avenue SE
District 3 – Kennewick – 143302 E Law Lane
District 4 – Spokane – 6403 W Rowand Rd
District 5 – Vancouver – 11018 NE 51st Circle
District 6 – Wenatchee – 2822 Euclid Avenue
District 7 – Marysville – 2700 116th Street NE
District 8 – Hoquiam – 3111 Pacific Avenue

March 24-25, 2019
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
District 1 – Tacoma – 2502 112th Street East
District 2 – South Seattle – 15666 International Blvd (detachment office)
District 3 – Yakima – 2715 Rudkin Road
District 4 – Spokane – 6403 W Rowand Rd
District 5 – Vancouver – 11018 NE 51st Circle
District 6 – Ellensburg – 291 S Thorp Hwy
District 7 – Marysville – 2700 116th Street NE
District 8 – Bremerton – 4811 Werner Road

Siemny Kim, KIRO 7 TV contributed to this report.

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