Governor Jay Inslee made the public safety decision to include gun stores in his pandemic shutdown order. Gun groups are frightening citizens at this time that criminals will to invade their home looking for food. Illogically, gun groups want gun stores to stay open. Wouldn’t that make it easier for criminals to get guns?
March 25, 2020
Governor Inslee signs domestic abuse prevention bills into law
- House Bill 2622 requires individuals subject to firearm surrender orders to appear in court and testify as to how they complied with the order. 👍 Like
- House Bill 2473 closes the boyfriend loophole.👍 Like
March 18, 2020
Governor Inslee signs two background check bills into law
The Bills
- House Bill 2467 establishes a centralized single point of contact background check system for firearms transfers. 👍 Like
- House Bill 2555 improved the background check process. 👍 Like
March 10, 2020
Washington State: Current status of gun sense bills
This week was the deadline for bills to pass both legislative chambers. Happily, three gun violence prevention bills passed. They may need some language concurrence from the other chamber before heading to the Governor for final signature. Unfortunately, good gun safety measures died for the year.
The bills
Bills that passed both chambers:
- Senate Bill 5434 bans the possession of guns in childcare centers. 👍 Like
- Senate Bill 6288 creates a new office of Firearm Violence Prevention. 👍 Like
- House Bill 2622 requires individuals subject to firearm surrender orders to appear in court and testify as to how they complied with the order. 👍 Like
Bills that failed:
- Senate Bill 1010 allows the Washington State Patrol to destroy confiscated firearms rather than sell them. 👍 Like
- House Bill 2305 prohibits those under a Vulnerable Adult Protective Order from having firearms for up to five years. 👍 Like
- House Bill 2623 prohibits those convicted of unlawfully aiming or firing a gun from possessing a gun. 👍 Like
- House Bill 2947 bans all assault weapons magazines holding more than fifteen rounds of ammunition. 👍 Like
February 23, 2020
Washington State: Hearing Tuesday on a new gun control bill limiting magazines capacity
Gun violence prevention advocates continue their hard work. Even though a magazine capacity restriction bill failed, they’ve offered a new one. This one limits the capacity of these assault weapons to fifteen rounds instead of ten which was in House Bill 2240.
The NRA alerted their Washington members to attend the meeting on Tuesday, February 25th at 8:00 am in Hearing Room A. They asked members to contact their Representatives and ask for opposition to this new bill. All gun control supporters should take a quick moment to counteract their calls and emails with our own advocacy to support this bill.
The bill
- House Bill 2947 bans all assault weapons magazines holding more than fifteen rounds of ammunition. 👍
Action
Please call or email the office of your Washington State Representative. Ask them to support HB 2947. Nobody needs weapons that hold more than fifteen rounds of ammunition.
February 23, 2020
Washington State: On Monday, Feb 24, committee will hear 4 gun control bills
The Washington State Legislature is furiously passing gun safety measures. Continuing to forge ahead against NRA pressure, on February 24th, the Senate Law and Justice Committee will take testimony on four bills passed by the House.
To resist these bills, the NRA asked their members to contact the committee members. Gun control supporters should contact the committee chairman and submit testimony supporting these bills. This will counterbalance the calls from NRA members.
The bills
- House Bill 2622 requires individuals subject to firearm surrender orders to appear in court and testify as to how they complied with the order. 👍
- House Bill 2623 prohibits those convicted of unlawfully aiming or firing a gun from possessing a gun. 👍
- House Bill 2305 prohibits those under a Vulnerable Adult Protective Order from having firearms for up to five years. 👍
- House Bill 2947 stipulates that the Washington State Patrol create a centralized system for all firearm sales and exchanges. The NRA objects to the $18 fee charges for a background check. 👍
Action
Please call the office of State Senator Jamie Pedersen (Chair) at (360) 786-7628. Ask to have your opinion registered with the Senate Committee on Law & Justice in support HB 2622, 2623, 2305, and 2947.
February 20, 2020
Washington State: Current status of good gun bills
Unfortunately, gun control bills to ban large capacity magazines and to increase training requirement for a Concealed Pistol License both are likely dead for this yearly session. Five other gun violence prevention bills are still alive and can now move on to the other chamber.
Thank you to those who contacted your legislators. Further alerts will follow as these bills move through the legislature.
The bills
Bills that are likely defeated for the session:
- House Bill 2240 and Senate Bill 6077 both ban all magazines able to hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. 👍
- House Bill 1315 and Senate Bill 6294 both increase training requirements to obtain a Concealed Pistol License. This included live-fire practice and basic safety rules. The NRA objection is that it would “make it more difficult to obtain a CPL.” 👍
Bills that made the deadline and passed their chamber of origin:
- Senate Bill 6288 creates a new office of Firearm Violence Prevention. 👍
- Senate Bill 1010 allows the Washington State Patrol to destroy confiscated firearms rather than sell them. 👍
- House Bill 2305 prohibits those under a Vulnerable Adult Protective Order from having firearms for up to five years. 👍
- House Bill 2622 requires individuals subject to firearm surrender orders to appear in court and testify as to how they complied with the order. 👍
- House Bill 2623 prohibits those convicted of unlawfully aiming or firing a gun from possessing a gun. 👍
Action
This is a status report and no action is requested at this time.
February 15, 2020
Washington State: Vote on Sunday to restrict magazine capacity
This Sunday, Feb 16, the House may hold a floor vote on HB 2240. This according to a late notice from the NRA to their members. They pleaded with their members to call their State Representative and urge them to oppose this bill.
We notified our Washington State subscribers on February 2 to contact their Representatives and ask them to support this bill. If you didn’t get a chance to make the call, now is the time to call and counteract all the calls from pro-gun fanatics who feel they need to protect their automatic weapons with over 15 rounds of ammunition.
The bill
- House Bill 2240 would ban all magazines able to hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. 👍
Action
Please email the office of your Washington State Representative. Ask them to support House Bills 2240.
February 2, 2020
Washington State: Two-gun violence prevention bills need support
On January 31, The Washington State House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee passed two bills to ban assault weapons and require training to obtain a Concealed Pistol License. The two bills could reach the House floor for a vote very soon.
The NRA asked members to call their State Representative opposing these bills. If Representatives don’t hear from advocates for gun control supporting these bills, they will assume the public opposes them. This is a chance to support your Representatives in voting for better gun safety measures.
The bills
- House Bill 2240 would ban all magazines able to hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. 👍
- House Bill 1315 would increase training requirements to obtain a Concealed Pistol License. The NRA objection is that it would “make it more difficult to obtain a CPL.” 👍
Action
Please call or email the office of your Washington State Representative. Ask them to support House Bills 2240 and 1315.
January 29, 2020
Washington State: House Committee to vote Friday on several gun bills
The House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee is expected to vote Friday on several good gun safety bills. The committee will meet today and then probably vote on January 31 on the bills listed below. Please commenting on any of the bills at the legislative website listed below.
NRA sent out a late notice last night for members to contact members of the committee. Any comments from gun violence prevention advocates will offset those who fight any restrictions on guns.
The bills
- House Bill 2305 would prohibit those under a Vulnerable Adult Protective Order from having firearms for up to five years. 👍
- House Bill 2622 would require individuals subject to firearm surrender orders to appear in court and testify as to how they complied with the order. 👍
- House Bill 2623 would prohibit those convicted of unlawfully aiming or firing a gun from possessing a gun. 👍
- House Bill 2240 would ban all magazines able to hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. 👍
- House Bill 1315 would increase training requirements to obtain a Concealed Pistol License. 👍
Action
You can comment on any of these bills at https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/
January 26, 2020
Washington State: Five gun sense bills get a full Senate vote
The Washington Senate Law & Justice Committee approved four gun control bills on January 23rd. In addition, the House voted to approve Senate Bill 1010 and move it on to the Senate. These bills would all help prevent gun violence in Washington State. All five gun safety bill will get a full Senate vote soon.
The NRA alerted their members urging them to help oppose these gun safety measures. Who would have thought the NRA would oppose gun safety training?
The bills
- Senate Bill 6077 would ban ammunition magazines that can hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. 👍
- Senate Bill 6294 would improve training requirements to obtain a Concealed Weapons license. This included live-fire practice and basic safety rules. 👍
- Senate Bill 6288 would create a new office of Firearm Violence Prevention. 👍
- Senate Bill 1010 would allow the Washington State Patrol to destroy confiscated firearms rather than sell them. 👍
- Senate Bill 6406 would designate theft of firearms would be a Class B felony.
Action
Please call or email the office of your Washington State Senator. This would go along way to counteract pro gun calls to the Senators. Urge them to support SB 6077, 6294, 6288, 1010 and 6406.
January 17, 2020
Washington State: Senate Committee to hear gun safety reform bills
The House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, January 21 at 10:00 am. Testimony will be heard on five gun control bills.
The NRA alerted their members to contact committee members and urge them to oppose these bills. Their members are encouraged to attend the meeting. I encourage gun control supporters to also attend the meeting and support these bills.
The bills
To be heard Tuesday Jan 21 by the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee
- House Bill 2240 would ban all magazines able to hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. 👍
- House Bill 2241 would ban semi-automatic weapons that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. 👍
- House Bill 2519 would ban the online sale of ammunition. 👍
- House Bill 1371 would ban preemption laws. This would allow local communities to pass their own restrictions on guns, such keeping them out of parks. 👍
- House Bill 1315 would increase training requirements to obtain a Concealed Pistol License. 👍
Action
Please consider attending the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee hearing on January 21st at 10:00 am. Attendance will counteract the large number of NRA members who will attend.
January 14, 2020
Washington State: Senate Committee to hear two gun safety reform bills
The Senate Law and Justice Committee scheduled a public hearing for Monday, January 20 at 10:00am on gun control legislation. Consideration will be given to gun safety bills that would ban high capacity magazines and increase training for pistol licenses. The Governor is highly supportive of the ban on high capacity magazines. These weapons have no use in hunting or in defense of the home.
The NRA alerted their members to contact committee members and urge them to oppose these bills. Their members are encouraged to attend the meeting. I encourage gun control supporters to also attend the meeting.
The bills
- Senate Bill 6077 would ban high capacity magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. 👍
- Concealed Pistol License changes (no bill number yet) would increase training requirements to obtain a Concealed Pistol License. 👍
Action
Testimony can be submitted via email to the office of the Committee Chairman, Sen. Jamie Pedersen (https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/memberEmail/43/0)
