Washington: Senate Committee to Vote on Gun Ban & Other Bills

[Charlie T Waite]

On January 23^rd, the Washington Senate Law and Justice Committee will be voting on a number of bills heard earlier in the week that would severely erode your right to self-defense. Please use the “Take Action” button below to contact the committee and ask them to OPPOSE Senate Bills 6077, 6294, 6288, and 6163.

Anti-gun bills:

Senate Bill 6077 would ban the manufacture, possession, sale, transfer, etc. of standard capacity magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. This measure is strongly supported by the Governor and the Attorney General.

Senate Bill 6294 would impose government red tape and expensive training requirements to obtain a Concealed Pistol License.

Senate Bill 6288 would create an Office of Firearm Violence Prevention within the executive branch of state government. Governor Jay Inslee and his administration have already made it clear where they stand on Second Amendment issues—they routinely sponsor and support gun ban legislation and initiatives designed to disarm law-abiding citizens. This office would be nothing more than a tax-payer funded lobby group with the sole purpose of eroding self-defense rights in Washington.

Senate Bill 6163 would strip Second Amendment rights from individuals charged, but not convicted, of a felony DUI. Constitutional rights should only be restricted with sufficient due process of law. Due process limits restrictions on constitutional rights to only serious convictions and adjudications that provide procedural protections to the accused, which results in more reliable proceedings. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms should not be treated as a second-class right and should only be restricted when sufficient protections are in place.

In addition, the committee will also be voting on these bills.

Senate Bill 6406 provides that the theft of a firearm from a residence, shop, or sales outlet is a Class B Felony. This bill rightly focuses on the illegal actions of criminals, instead of targeting law abiding gun owners.

Senate Bill 6402 also provides increased punishment for the illegal use of a stolen firearm. Under this bill, it would be a Class A Felony for a person, while committing a felony, to discharge a stolen firearm, or use the stolen firearm to threaten or menace another person.

Again, please contact committee members and ask them to OPPOSE Senate Bills 6077, 6294, 6288, and 6163.