The Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility issued the following statement from Executive Director Renée Hopkins regarding today’s Court ruling in favor of Seattle’s tax on firearm and ammunition sales:

“We are enormously gratified that Seattle’s action to address the costs of gun violence has been upheld Judge Robinson. City Attorney Pete Holmes and his team deserve thanks for their strong defense of this critical priority.

It has always been clear that Seattle’s tax on gun sales and ammunition was a proper and lawful exercise of the City’s power to invest in public programs. The costs of gun violence are far too high – for the taxpayers that paid $12 million in direct medical costs last year, and certainly for the victims and survivors of gun violence. The funds now available to the City will support first-in-the-nation research that is providing invaluable tools to our medical and law enforcement professionals for understanding this challenge, educating the public, and protecting public safety.

This is the second time this year that the gun lobby has tried – and failed – to use the courts to block the express will of the people for action on gun violence. Today’s ruling is a clear message that their campaign to eliminate any factual information about gun violence is not welcome in Washington State. The gun lobby should stand aside and allow Seattle’s law to take effect as scheduled. We will continue to stand with the City of Seattle in vigorously defending the law from further attack.”