Legislative agenda for 2014

The 63rd Legislature will convene January 13 - March 13, 2014. Attached is a bill cross reference to RCW 9.41. All of these bills are carried over from the last session. Of particular not are the bills regarding background checks. If the links do not work then you can go to the Bill information page directly.

If either competing initiative for background checks is approved what happens to these bills stuck in committee?

~Whitney

The session has begun!

This is a short session but the spendocrats and a couple statist RINOs (Ross and Chandler) have already gotten off to a huge jumping start with an extremely rare and unusual fast vote for financial aid for illegal aliens. This spells trouble for us possibly with 594. In such a short session it was thought they'd spend their time arguing over the gas tax and supplemental budget and McCleary decision. Instead, they might try to go for everything.

Use this link to find your reps and sens. http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

Call them, email them, write snail mail letters to them, etc. Let them know we don't want 594 passed by them and we certainly don't want them spamming the ballot with edited copies of these initiatives. Hopefully the Senate majority coalition will prevent any stupidity but don't just count on that as a given, make sure you call and write and let them know what you want and what you expect.

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.