Idaho gun store owner says blue state customers are drawn to his store for a sense of freedom.

The fourth part of the series on West Coast residents migrating to Idaho is now available. You can read parts one, two, and three to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon.

Early on a Saturday morning, the parking lot outside North Idaho Arms in Post Falls, Idaho, was calm. However, owner Bryan Zielinski anticipated that it would soon become busy, with many cars arriving, bearing Washington plates.

On weekends, some customers from the Seattle area make the five-hour drive to Washington's eastern cities to buy magazines and other accessories that are outlawed in their own state.

Zielinski stated that individuals are seeking to take a drive solely for the purpose of experiencing a small amount of freedom, which they feel they have lost in Washington.

Until last June, Zielinski was a lifelong resident of Washington and ran a large gun store in Bellevue. He opposed the state's strict gun control laws, but his efforts were in vain, and he relocated his family to North Idaho.

"In western Washington, some of the most restrictive gun control in the United States has been implemented in less than three years, as stated."

Washington's crackdown on gun rights

Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson, now a candidate for governor, led the effort to ban magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds, using the Consumer Protection Act, a state law aimed at protecting residents from "unfair or deceptive" business practices.

In 2022, Washington lawmakers prohibited the production, import, distribution, and sale of high-capacity magazines, but not possession. The following year, they enacted a similar ban on the sale or import of "assault weapons" and many of the components used to construct them, asserting that these measures were crucial in preventing mass shootings.

According to The Violence Project, a database backed by the National Institute of Justice, assault weapons were used in approximately 25% of mass shootings in the U.S. from 1966 to early 2020. This database tracks mass shootings where four or more people were killed with firearms in public spaces.

Since 1966, Washington has experienced eight shootings, with the majority of them involving handguns. However, semi-automatic rifles have been used in other killings in the state, such as the 2016 shooting at a Mukilteo house party, which resulted in three deaths. This mass shooting prompted Ferguson to advocate for a ban on such weapons.

In June, the Zielinski family relocated to North Idaho, just two months following Washington Gov. Jay Inslee's signing of the assault weapons ban.

"We finally reached a crescendo," Zielinski said, "and I got to see how bad things were starting to get."

In Washington, Zielinski opened a gun store just a five-minute drive from the border. He spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital while surrounded by semi-automatic rifles that are now prohibited in his former state.

Washington residents cannot purchase the banned guns directly from Zielinski because they need extra processes such as a background check and must be transferred to a licensed dealer in Washington. However, Zielinski states that he does not conduct background checks on replacement parts or magazines unless they have a serial number.

"We follow all federal and Idaho state laws, but there are certain things that are legal to buy in Idaho as an adult that may not be legal in Washington."

Idaho residents can purchase pre-rolls and gummies that are prohibited in their state, according to Zielinski.

He stated that ultimately, it is the responsibility of the consumer to ensure they are not violating the laws of their state.

Safeguarding Idaho from a "liberal mindset" by learning from Washington's "mistakes."

This spring, Washington gun stores were buzzing with anticipation for a possible injunction against their state's magazine ban. The attorney general had sued a business for selling magazines after the ban, and the store challenged the law's constitutionality.

In Post Falls, Zielinski prepared and shipped dozens of pre-orders that he had packaged.

He stated that as soon as the injunction occurs, we will legally enter Washington and import the boxes to be mailed out to customers.

On April 8, a judge ruled that the ban violates both the U.S. and Washington state constitutions. However, the attorney general secured an emergency order from the state Supreme Court 88 minutes later, which kept the ban in place.

Zielinski shipped 147 boxes of magazines during that window.

He stated that we have satisfied customers because we've received feedback from all of them.

He stated that he remains committed to the future of Washington's Second Amendment because some of his loved ones are still living in countries behind the Iron Curtain.

""If I can learn from Washington's mistakes and use that knowledge to safeguard Idaho, then I can help both Washington and Idaho into the future, creating a win-win situation," he said."

He stated that "Idaho has strong gun laws."

One of nearly 30 states with constitutional concealed carry, it lacks regulations on high-capacity magazines and semi-automatic rifles, and permits residents to own machine guns with registration.

Idaho's legislators should not use the Consumer Protection Act to infringe on the Second Amendment, as Zielinski advocates. He also believes that the state's GOP needs to be more unified, like its national counterpart, which has become increasingly fragmented.

"He stated that if Idaho is protected from a liberal outlook, it could serve as an example for other conservative states to follow, inspiring them to adopt a similar mindset."

Click here to hear more from Zielinski.

Ramiro Vargas contributed to the accompanying video.