OLYMPIA, WA — The legislative session is drawing to a close, but there are still some surprises left before the curtain call Thursday. Among them, a last-minute decision to affirm a ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines in Washington in what supporters are calling a “historic vote”.

After a lengthy and spirited debate, the Washington state Legislature on Friday voted 55-42 in favor of Senate Bill 5078, which prohibit sales, attempted sales and distribution of all gun magazines with a capacity for more than 10 rounds. Notably, it would not bar gun owners from possessing those high-capacity magazines and would not force current owners to relinquish them.

The bill now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk for final approval. If it receives his signature, Washington will become the tenth state to restrict high-capacity magazines. Supporters like the Washington State Medical Association, the Parent Teacher Association, and the Washington Education Association say the restriction will help save lives.

“For too long we have accepted gun violence as an inevitable part of life,” said sponsor Sen. Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood). “My own community was impacted by gun violence in 2016, when three young lives were lost due to a mass shooting. Today, the Legislature took long overdue action to protect families across Washington from that harm by restricting the sale of high-capacity magazines. This is a commonsense policy that will save lives, and I am grateful for all of the years of advocacy that led to its passage.”

Critics have threatened a legal challenge, calling the bill unconstitutional, but the state’s leading legal expert doesn’t agree: In fact, Attorney General Bob Ferguson formally requested the legislation, as he has in every session since 2016, following a deadly Mukilteo house shooting that killed three students.

“Today is the fulfillment of years of hard work from so many,” Ferguson said following Friday’s vote. “More than five years ago, I stood with the parents of shooting victims, legislators, mayors, police chiefs and representatives from faith communities to say enough is enough, and proposed banning the sale of high-capacity magazines in Washington state. Today, our Legislature chose public safety over the gun lobby, and I am deeply appreciative of their service. This policy will save lives and make our communities safer from gun violence.”

Similar gun magazine bans have been upheld by federal courts of appeals seven times, which the Attorney General’s Office says sets a strong precedent in favor of the ban.

Ferguson points to several studies that support banning high-magazines, including a nationwide analysis which found nearly 60 percent of mass shootings between 2009 and 2017 involved high capacity magazines, and such incidents were associated with twice as many deaths and 1,400 percent more injuries. Incidents in which mass shooters did not have large-capacity magazines also resulted in 38 percent fewer deaths and 77 percent fewer nonfatal injuries, according to another 2020 study.

Inslee has just under a week to sign the bill: This year’s legislative session is scheduled to conclude on Thursday.