Gun owners load up on high-capacity magazines before Washington state ban starts

SEATTLE (KOMO) — Starting this Friday, firearm magazines with more than 10 rounds will be banned in the state of Washington.

As a result, gun stores around the region have seen record sales.

Wade’s Eastside Guns in Bellevue said he has seen sales jump 250% since last month. Some people are buying guns, but most everyone is buying firearm magazines.

Many customers said it’s because of the new state law that’s about to kick in.

In Tacoma at Mary’s Pistols, the store owner says eight out of 10 people come in asking about firearm magazines for pistols or AR-15s.

The record sales raise some big questions about the ban.

“We sold over 10 years supply in the past month of magazines that hold over 10 rounds," said Alan Gottlieb with the Second Amendment Foundation. "People say ‘OK, you’re not going to let me buy it in the future? I’m going to buy it now and put it away’.”

As for the new law that takes effect on Friday, Washington will become the 10th state in the U.S. to restrict the sale of magazines with more than ten rounds.

According to the FBI and NCIS, when it comes to firearm background checks, Washington state did a total of 63,908 background checks last month. That number is up from 52,914 checks in January.

Background checks don't necessarily show the number of guns sold because a person can buy several firearms at a time and it requires just one check.