On Thursday, February 2 at 1:30pm, the House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear House Bill 1387 and House Bill 1122. During the hearing, testimony has been limited to 30 minutes per bill, so all NRA members and Second Amendment supporters are strongly encouraged to show up before the hearing and meet directly with their legislators.
If you are able to attend, please RSVP to attend the hearing and speak with your legislators in opposition to House Bill 1387 and House Bill 1122. If you are unable to attend, please the “Take Action” button above to contact members of the House Judiciary Committee and urge them to oppose these anti-gun bills.
House Bill 1387 would impose a registration-licensing system on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms and standard-capacity ammunition magazines that bill proponents label as “assault weapons” and “large-capacity magazines” (LCM). Every person who possesses, transports, manufactures, purchases or sells a so-called “assault weapon” or LCM must have an annual state-issued license, with an updated license required every time there is a change in possession of the gun or magazine. The licensing requirement has a delay period (until 2020) before it applies to persons who currently possess such items, but these persons would be prohibited from selling or transferring any gun or magazine designated by this bill to anyone other than a licensed dealer, a gunsmith, or to law enforcement for permanent relinquishment. HB 1387 also mandates that relinquished guns and magazines “must be destroyed.” (House Bill 1387 doesn’t stop there either. For more information about HB 1387 and other anti-gun bills in the Washington Legislature, refer to our previous NRA-ILA alert.)
House Bill 1122 is vaguely written legislation that could potentially subject law-abiding gun owners to gross misdemeanor penalties, including huge fees and potential imprisonment, if they don’t lock their firearms up and render them useless for any self-defense scenario.
This proposal has little to do with making children safer and everything to do with making it safer to be a criminal. HB 1122 would be virtually unenforceable and in addition to these concerns, there are also safety concerns to consider. The mandatory use of a locking device can greatly diminish reaction times under duress. Being forced to fumble with a lock and key in a self-defense situation could mean the difference between life and death.
At the end of the day, it comes down to the fact that all households are different and have different needs. This reckless bill encompasses every home. This one-size fits all approach is a solution to a non-existent problem and is both over-reaching and not based on fact.
Again, if you are able to attend, please RSVP to attend the hearing and speak with your legislators in opposition to House Bill 1387 and House Bill 1122. If you are unable to attend, please the “Take Action” button above to contact members of the House Judiciary Committee and urge them to oppose these anti-gun bills.
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As previously reported, Senate Bill 5050 and its companion bill, House Bill 1134, have each received a committee referral. Neither bill has received a committee hearing at this time. Your NRA-ILA will continue to keep you updated if these bills receive a committee hearing.
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