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.