Today, the Washington Legislature convened its 2014 legislative session. The most significant issue to be addressed by the Washington Legislature this year will be Initiative 594.
Initiative 594 is a gun control bill being falsely promoted as a “Universal Background Check” measure. In reality, I-594 is a universal handgun registration scheme being promoted by a very wealthy group of anti-gun elitists who have already raised nearly $1.4 million to qualify this initiative. Under I-594, every time a handgun is transferred, the person receiving the handgun will need to be registered with the state Department of Licensing. Further, virtually every firearm transfer - with very few and limited exceptions - would be required to go through a licensed firearms dealer under the provisions of I-594. I-594 will specifically regulate transfers, not sales. Under the language of I-594, a person merely handing his or her firearm to a family member or a friend cannot do so without going through a background check and state registration with a gun dealer.
Additionally, all bills introduced last year are still pending for possible consideration during the 2014 session, including:
House Bill 1839 – sponsored by state Representative Roger Goodman (D-45), HB 1839 would amend the firearms purchase statute to conform to the CPL issuance statute that was amended in 2011 and allow the possession of a CPL to reduce background check bureaucracy. Currently HB 1839 is pending in the House Rules Committee.
House Bill 1588 – sponsored by state Representative Jamie Pedersen (D-43), HB 1588 would require private sellers to have a background check done on buyers through a police chief/sheriff/dealer, authorize a fee of up to $20 for the check and impose a universal handgun registration for law-abiding handgun owners. Currently HB 1588 is pending in the House Rules Committee.
House Bill 1676 – sponsored by state Representative Ruth Kagi (D-32), HB 1676 would single out the storage of firearms for criminalization. Currently HB 1676 is pending in the House Judiciary Committee.
House Bill 1703 – sponsored by state Representative Laurie Jinkins (D-27), HB 1703 would impose a $25 state tax on every retail firearm purchase to fund a state “firearm education program.” Currently HB 1703 is pending in the House Judiciary Committee.
House Bill 1840 – sponsored by state Representative Roger Goodman (D-45), HB 1840 would make possession of a firearm while under the control of a domestic violence restraining order a crime. Currently HB 1840 is pending in the House Rules Committee.
Senate Bill 5711 – sponsored by state Senator Adam Kline (D-37), SB 5711 -- like HB 1588 – would require private sellers to have a background check done on buyers through a police chief/sheriff/dealer, authorize a fee of up to $20 for the check and impose a universal handgun registration for law-abiding handgun owners. Currently SB 5711 is pending in the Senate Law & Justice Committee.
Senate Bill 5737 – sponsored by state Senator Ed Murray (formerly D-43), SB 5737 would ban the possession of many commonly owned semi-automatic firearms as well as magazines with a capacity to hold more than ten rounds. Possession of these firearms and magazines would only be allowed in your home or at a shooting range. Currently SB 5737 is pending in the Senate Law & Justice Committee.
Senate Bill 5739 – sponsored by state Senator Ed Murray (formerly D-43), SB 5739 would ban possession of firearms in local parks. Currently SB 5739 is pending in the Senate Law & Justice Committee.
So that you are better able to track the status of state legislation impacting your Second Amendment rights in Washington and to easily contact your elected state officials, the National Rifle Association will update you with alerts and action items throughout this session as pro-/anti-gun and pro-/anti-hunting legislation are considered in the Washington Legislature. As always, check www.NRAILA.org and your e-mail for future legislative updates.
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