The proposed bill seeks to enhance public safety in Washington by instituting a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, and offering for sale of assault weapons, which are defined as military-style firearms capable of causing mass casualties. The legislation includes specific definitions for terms such as "assault weapon," "loaded," "machine gun," and "semiautomatic," while allowing limited exemptions for licensed firearm manufacturers and dealers, specifically for sales to armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and transfers outside the state or to inheritors. The bill aims to reduce gun violence and mass shootings while permitting current legal owners to retain their assault weapons.

In addition to the ban, the bill introduces penalties for violations, classifying them as gross misdemeanors, and establishes that such violations are considered unfair or deceptive acts under the state's consumer protection laws. It also includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the act is invalidated, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable. The act is deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of public safety and will take effect immediately upon passage.