Several North Olympic Peninsula law enforcement agencies will accept residents’ bump stocks to assist the State Patrol’s buyback program before a federal law bans the devices later this month.
Clallam County Undersheriff Ron Cameron said bump stocks can be turned in at the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, 223 E. Fourth St., Suite 12, in Port Angeles. Hours of operation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday and again Monday.
Jefferson County Sheriff Joe Nole said that bump stocks can be dropped off at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, 79 Elkins Road in Port Hadlock, or the Port Townsend Police Department, 1925 Blaine St., Suite 100.
Each participant who turns in a bump stock will get a receipt which can be brought or mailed to designated State Patrol offices to get a voucher for $150 per device, according to a Clallam County Sheriff’s Office press release.
Once the voucher is processed, State Patrol will mail the participant a check for $150 for each bump stock turned in. No checks will be issued the day an individual turns in a bump stock, according to State Patrol.
Bump stocks also can be brought directly to designated State Patrol offices. None are on the North Olympic Peninsula. For a list of participating State Patrol offices and times they are accepting bump stocks, visit www.wsp.wa.gov/buyback.
The first-come, first-served program is limited to five bump stocks per resident.
State Patrol had received 520 total units statewide through Monday.
Vouchers will no longer be issued once the state reaches its cap of 1,000 total devices.
Gov. Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5954 last Thursday, allocating $150,000 for the statewide buyback program.
The federal law goes into effect this coming Tuesday.
Bump stocks can replace the standard stock and grip of a semi-automatic weapon, making it easier to fire rounds by using the gun’s recoil to “bump” the trigger faster, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Department of Justice in December amended the ATF regulations to clarify bump stocks as falling within the definition of a machine gun.
Cameron said Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict supports the state buyback program and wanted to host an event closer than the nearest participating State Patrol offices.
The Hoquiam State Patrol office held an event last Sunday and Monday, and another is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this coming Sunday and Monday at the Bremerton office, 4811 Werner Road.
“We wanted to work on having a program here locally,” Cameron said.
Each resident must have a valid mailing address and provide a Washington state driver’s license or identification card to be eligible, according to the State Patrol.
Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith said Monday his agency would help, if needed.
“We normally help [the sheriff’s office] with drug takeback, if we have the staffing,” Smith said.
The press release from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office said any bump stocks turned into its office will be destroyed.
Other agencies, including the Sequim Police Department and the Lower Elwha Police Department, were considering how they could participate. Forks Police Chief Mike Rowley did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
