Bump stock owners can turn in devices for $150 check from state under new bill

OLYMPIA – Washington residents with bump stock devices for their firearms can turn them in to the Washington State Patrol district offices this Sunday and Monday or March 24 and 25, and get as much as $150 from the state. Wait any longer, and the devices will be illegal under federal law and their redemption value will fall to zero.

The devices – which can be used to make a semi-automatic firearm fire as fast as an automatic – were to be banned by this summer in Washington under a 2018 law, which was designed to give patrol officials time to develop a buy-back program. But the federal government later decided to ban them nationwide, starting March 26, so the Legislature recently set aside $150,000 to pay for the devices turned in before the federal deadline.

Gov. Jay Inslee signed the bump stocks buy-back bill Thursday with an emergency clause, which means the money is available right away. WSP will accept the devices at its eight district offices between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. this Sunday and Monday, and the same time on March 24 and 25.

In Spokane, the district office is at 6403 W. Rowand Road. Other district locations and details of the buy-back program can be found online at wsp.wa.gov/buyback.

The devices can also be turned in to local law enforcement for a receipt, which can be brought to a patrol office for a $150 voucher.

Owners can relinquish as many as five bump stocks. The district offices won’t be paying cash; owners will receive a check in the mail.