Legislative Update From Olympia
8 February 2013
TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED
TURNOUT NEEDED IN OLYMPIA
At least eight new gun bills were filed, good and bad. HB 1676 by Rep. Ruth Kagi (D-32) is another mandatory safe storage bill similar to the 1997 "Whitney Graves" bill. HB 1703 by Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-27) is interesting: it imposes a $25 tax per transfer of any firearm, as well as a tax of one cent per round of ammunition sold... to fund a state-developed firearms safety training program. Between this and HB 1588/SB 5625, that's a $45 tax on EVERY firearm transferred. HB 1729 by Rep. Judy Warnick (R-13) adds penalties to street gang members found with firearms, and HB 1788 by Rep. Liz Pike (R-18) would allow qualified school personnel to carry on campus.
On the Senate side, SB 5604 by Sen. Brian Hatfield (D-19) would authorize an NRA license plate. (I'll just say it once: I believe we'd be better off with a generic "Second Amendment" plate -- it's harder to criticize the Bill of Rights.) SBs 5625 and 5711 by Sen. Adam Kline (D-37) are similar to HB 1588 -- they require ALL firearm transfers to be conducted by an FFL or by law enforcement, with resulting record keeping (de facto registration) AND a $20 transfer fee (tax). SB 5635, also by Sen. Kline, makes it harder for firearm rights to be restored.
Two public hearings are scheduled for next week. On Wednesday, 13 February at 8:00 a.m., the House Judiciary will take public testimony on HBs 1147, 1588, 1612 and 1676. On Friday, 15 February also at 8:00 a.m., the Senate Law & Justice Committee will conduct a public hearing on SB 5479.
If at all possible, PLEASE try to attend the House Judiciary hearing on Wednesday. It's important that we get as large a pro-gun turn-out as possible to demonstrate our opposition to HBs 1588 and 1676. HB 1588, especially, as it creates a de facto gun registration system in Washington. There are ways to conduct background checks that DO NOT retain data on the transfer. If they want background checks, run a pure background check bill. If they want registration, call it that and let's debate it.
If you can't attend the hearing, please write to your Representatives AND to the members of the Judiciary Committee and go on record with your opposition to these two bills. Links to legislator contact information:
House Judiciary Committee:
Rep, Jaime Pedersen (D-43)
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jaime.pedersen@leg.wa.gov
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Rep. Drew Hansen (D-23)
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drew.hansen@leg.wa.gov
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Rep. Jay Rodne (R-5)
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jay.rodne@leg.wa.gov
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Rep. Steve O'Ban (R-28)
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steve.oban@leg.wa.gov
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Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45)
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roger.goodman@leg.wa.gov
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Rep. Mike Hope (R-44)
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mike.hope@leg.wa.gov
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Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-27)
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laurie.jinkins@leg.wa.gov
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Rep. Steve Kirby (D-29)
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steve.kirby@leg.wa.gov
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Rep. Brad Klippert (R-8)
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brad.klippert@leg.wa.gov
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Rep. Terry Nealey (R-16)
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terry.nealey@leg.wa.gov
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Rep. Tina Orwall (D-33)
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tina.orwall@leg.wa.gov
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Rep. Mary Helen Roberts (D-21)
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maryhelen.roberts@leg.wa.gov
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Rep. Matt Shea (R-4)
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matt.shea@leg.wa.gov
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In the "GOAL Position" vbseveral bills are marked "CONCERNS." As mentioned previously, the concerns are based on how the bill might be improperly enforced and ensnare an individual that the bill was never intended to trap. There is a lot of judicial and prosecutorial flexibility in the system, theoretically enough to preclude this from happening. That's in a perfect world. We don't live in a perfect world.
BILL STATUS:
House Bill numbering begins with 1000; Senate Bills with 5000. The following bills have been filed so far in the 2013-14 biennium:
Bill #
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Subject
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Sponsor
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Status
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HB 1096
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Juvi illegal firearm possession
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Hurst (D-31)
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H. Jud
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HB 1147
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1st degree juvi unlawful possess.
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Goodman (D-45)
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H. Jud
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HB 1184
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Range protection
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Takko (D-19)
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H. Jud
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HB 1318
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CPL renewal notice
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Taylor (-15)
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H. Jud
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HB 1371
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WA Firearms Freedom Act
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Taylor (R-15)
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H. Jud
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HB 1383
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Stalking protection orders
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Goodman (D-45)
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H. Jud
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HB 1561
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Short barreled rifles
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Blake (D-19)
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H. Jud
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HB 1588
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Background checks
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Pedersen (D-43)
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H. Jud
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HB 1612
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Firearm offender registry
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Hope (R-44)
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H. Jud
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HB 1676
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Mandatory safe storage
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Kagi (D-32)
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H. Jud
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HB 1703
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Gun "safety" training and tax
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Jinkins (D-27)
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H. Jud
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HB 1729
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Street gangs
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Warnick (R-13)
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H. Jud
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HB 1788
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Firearms/school employees
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Pike (R-18)
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H. Jud
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SB 5282
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DSHS/WSP info exchange
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Carrell (R-28)
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S. HS&C
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SB 5376
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Juvi illegal firearm possession
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Kline (D-37)
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S. HS&C
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SB 5452
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Stalking protection orders
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Conway (D)
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S. HS&C
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SB 5478
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Firearms/mental health court
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Keiser (D-33)
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S. L&J
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SB 5479
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Safekeeping of firearms
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Keiser (D-33)
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S. L&J
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SB 5485
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Mandatory safe storage
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Kline (D-37)
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S. L&J
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SB 5604
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NRA license plates
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Hatfield (D-19)
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S. Trans
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HB 5625
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Background checks
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Kline (D-37)
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S. L&J
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SB 5635
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Restoration of firearm rights
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Kline (D-37)
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S. L&J
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SB 5711
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Background checks
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Kline (D-37)
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S. L&J
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Key to abbreviations: SB = Senate Bill, HB = House Bill, Jud = Judiciary, L&J = Law & Justice, HS&C = Human Services & Corrections, Trans = Transportation
GOAL POSITION ON BILLS
HB 1096 CONCERNS
HB 1147 CONCERNS
HB 1184 SUPPORT
HB 1318 SUPPORT
HB 1371 SUPPORT
HB 1383 CONCERNS
HB 1561 SUPPORT
HB 1588 OPPOSE
HB 1612 CONCERNS
HB 1676 OPPOSE
HB 1703 OPPOSE
HB 1729 SUPPORT
HB 1788 SUPPORT
SB 5282 SUPPORT
SB 5376 CONCERNS
SB 5452 CONCERNS
SB 5478 CONCERNS
SB 5479 OPPOSE
SB 5485 OPPOSE
SB 5604 NEUTRAL
SB 5625 OPPOSE
SB 5635 OPPOSE ?
SB 5711 OPPOSE
HEARING(S) SCHEDULED
13 Feb HBs 1147, 1676, 1588, 1612 House Judiciary Committee
8:00 a.m. House Hearing Room "A" John L. O'Brien House Office Building
15 Feb SB 5479 Senate Law & Justice Committee
8:00 a..m. Senate Hearing Room "1" John A. Cherberg Senate Office Building
7 Feb HB 1383 House Judiciary Committee
1:30 p.m. House Hearing Room "A" John L. O'Brien House Office Building
LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE: You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Toll free!!! The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993. Also toll free!!!
1-800-562-6000 TDD 1-800-635-9993
OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature's web site at "www.leg.wa.gov
". Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe's web site (http://www.adobe.com/
You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573. Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/(you need "RealAudio" to do this, available free at the TVW web site).
By reading the House and Senate "bill reports" (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the "roll call" for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill. The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.
GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to "jwaldron@halcyon.com". Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at "jwaldron@halcyon.com" or by telephone at (425) 985-4867. Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.
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Upcoming WAC gun show(s):
Monroe 16-17 February
Puyallup 23-24 February
"The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men."
Article 1, Section 24
Constitution of the State of Washington
