Washington state Legislature approves semi-automatic rifle ban.

The Washington state Legislature has passed a ban on dozens of semi-automatic rifles, including AR-15s and AK-47s, which will be signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee. The ban will block the sale, distribution, manufacture, and importation of more than 50 gun models, but will not bar possession of the weapons by those who already have them. The law would go into effect immediately and is expected to save lives. Republican state lawmakers opposed the ban, with some contending school shootings should be addressed by remodeling buildings to make them less appealing as targets.