WASHINGTON – Federal Way Discount Guns will pay $3 million for violating a Washington law prohibiting the sale of high-capacity magazines that can hold more than ten rounds of ammunition, according to a release from Washington State Office of Attorney General, Bob Ferguson.
Federal Way Discount Guns has been under investigation since Dec. 2022 when AG Ferguson filed a lawsuit against the store and its owner, Mohammed Baghai, for selling the high-capacity magazines. The sale of such products in addition to manufacturing and distributing them was banned in Washington state in July 2022.
After the lawsuit was filed, AG Ferguson won a preliminary injunction which required Federal Way Discount Guns and Baghai to stop selling the high-capacity magazines.
Later, the court found Baghai and the store in contempt of court after failing to abide by the court’s instruction to store his remaining stock of illegal high-capacity magazines securely and provide the Attorney General’s Office with an accurate inventory. Violating the high-capacity magazine ban also constitutes a violation of Consumer Protection Act.
King County Superior Court Judge Wyman Yip ruled that Baghai and Federal Way Discount Guns violated that act in April, 2023.
A consent decree filed on Feb. 6 in King County Superior Court resolved the remainder of the case.
Through the investigation, it was revealed that the store sold 3,625 high-capacity magazines between the date the law went into effect and when AG Ferguson filed his lawsuit.
Over a four-month period, investigators were able to purchase a total of nine high-capacity magazines four separate times.
After these purchases, both Baghai himself and other sales clerks either refused to provide receipts or destroyed them, which investigators believe means they were aware that the selling of the magazines was illegal, according to AG Ferguson.
Additionally, the investigation also revealed that the store continued to sell the magazines after multiple firearm distributors had warned that selling them was against the law.
The store also reportedly continued to sell the magazines for a month after the lawsuit was filed, selling 246 of them before AG Ferguson won the preliminary injunction.
“Federal Way Discount Guns chose to violate a critical law aimed at combating mass shootings,” AG Ferguson said. “Washington businesses are following the law and stopped selling high-capacity magazines. This resolution provides accountability for someone who flagrantly violated the law and will increase law enforcement resources to combat gun violence.”
According to the consent decree, the $3 million must be paid within 30 days. In addition, Federal Way Discount Guns and its owners or employees are barred from selling, offering for sale, or facilitating the distribution of high-capacity magazines in the future.
The investigation and litigation of the case cost the Attorney General’s Office approximately $1 million. AG Ferguson will dedicate $2 million to local law enforcement agencies in an effort to reduce gun violence.
This case was a part of a larger sweep conducted by Attorney General’s Office investigators, who visited a variety of gun retailers in counties across the state in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, Yakima, Kittitas, Benton and Spokane counties.
