Date: 97-03-21 00:46:41 EST
GOAL POST 97-9
Weekly Legislative Update from Olympia 21 Mar 1997
PRO-GUN BILLS SURVIVE CHAMBER CUT-OFF DATE "Cut-off" day, the day all bills must clear their originating chamber (House or Senate) and pass to the other chamber, occurred Wednesday afternoon, with all but one of our bills alive and well. The sole casualty of cut-off day was SB 5862 (range liability protection), although a similar bill (HB 1541) passed the House earlier and will now be considered by the Senate. HB 1050 (CPL/dealer licensing reform) also died in the House Appropriations Committee, nominally over concerns about revenue losses. Bill status follows:
Bill # Subject Status
HB 1050 CPL/dealer licensing reform Died in House Approp
HB 1406 Recognize out-of-state CPLs PASSED HOUSE 75-22
HB 1541 Range liability protection PASSED HOUSE 78-19
HB 1716 Eliminates state pistol registry PASSED HOUSE 96-0
HB 1978 Requires WSP to auction forfeited guns PASSED HOUSE 70-28
SB 5326 Repeals open carry prohibition PASSED SENATE 26-23
SB 5862 Range liability protection Died on cut-off day
SJM 8009 Eddie Eagle gun safety program PASSED SENATE 49-0
An attempt to amend HB 1978, returning to the original language authorizing the State Patrol to destroy forfeited guns at their discretion, was defeated in a voice vote on the House floor. HB 1978, as passed to the Senate, continues to REQUIRE AUCTION OR TRADE as the first option. We support HB 1978 in its present form.
HB 2078 (mandating safe storage of firearms with criminal penalties if a firearm is accessed by a child) died once again, this time at the 5 p.m. chamber cut-off. But like the energizer bunny, it keeps coming back. Due to intense pressure on the Speaker from a bloc of liberal Republicans, HB 2078 has been placed on the "exception list" of bills not subject to cut-off. This has become THE BILL for the GUN GRABBERS. A striking amendment, holding individuals responsible for ANY actions placing another person at risk of death or great bodily harm, has been endorsed by the entire firearms coalition.
(Please read our position on the issue of safe storage below.)
ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT ACTION ALERT
TELEPHONE CALLS NEEDED: Call your individual legislators and give them this message:
ADOPT THE FIREARMS COALITION STRIKING AMENDMENT ON HB 2078
You can reach your legislators by calling the Legislative Hotline toll free at 1-800-562-6000. The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993.
OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON YOU! 1-800-562-6000 TDD 1-800-635-9993
CALL TODAY!
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"SAFE" STORAGE/CHILD ACCESS PREVENTION (CAP) LAWS: While we support the safe and responsible ownership of firearms, to include the use of lock boxes WHERE APPROPRIATE, we recognize that "one size gun law" does not apply to the wide variety of personal situations faced by Washington's citizens. Mandating secure storage of all firearms will place many citizens' lives at greater risk in the event of a home invasion or burglary, crimes all too common in many neighborhoods.
We have developed a "striking amendment" that would put the focus of HB 2078 where it belongs: on ANY behavior that creates the risk of death or great bodily harm to another person. The existing Reckless Endangerment law (RCW 9A.36.050) is broadened and clarified, and takes into account safety precautions adopted and the security situation of the individual(s) concerned.
The following points should be considered when discussing the striking amendment:
1. The striking amendment holds individuals accountable for ANY actions that pose a risk to others.
2. The striking amendment provides more safety and protection for our children.
3. The striking amendment offers prosecutors more options in determining the correct action to take in response to criminally-negligent behavior.
4. The striking amendment protects those who take reasonable precautions to ensure children's safety.
5. The striking amendment requires prosecutors to consider the specific security situation faced by citizens in choosing how they elect to protect themselves, their families and their homes.
OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available through "gopher" at the Washington State Legislative Information stop, or on the legislature's web site at "www.leg.wa.gov". You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc., in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at TVW.org.
GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the Goal Post by e-mail, send a message to Joe Waldron. Please pass Goal Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message and leave them with your local gun shop(s). Or have them call me and ask to be placed on the fax distribution list. I can be reached at Joe Waldron or (sometimes) by telephone/voice mail at 1-360-754-9782, Unfortunately, I have neither the time, the staff, nor the stamps to mail Goal Post to individuals. :-(
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WAC gun show, Puyallup Fairgrounds, Saturday/Sunday, 22-23 March 1997
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"The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men." Article 1, Section 24 Constitution of the State of Washington