Washington: Mag Ban & Other Bills Heading to Senate Floor

[Charlie T Waite]

On January 23^rd, the Washington Senate Law & Justice Committee approved three anti-gun bills, among them Senate Bill 6077 to ban most standard capacity magazines. These bills are now headed to the Rules Committee awaiting being pulled to the Senate floor. In addition, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 1010 to allow the state patrol to destroy confiscated firearms, clearing the way to send this bill to the Senate. Please contact your state Senator and urge them to OPPOSE SBs 6077, 6294, and 6288, and HB 1010.

Senate Bill 6077 bans 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 imposes government red tape and expensive training requirements to obtain a Concealed Pistol License.

Senate Bill 6288 creates 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.

House Bill 1010 passed the House by a vote of 56-42. It allows the Washington State Patrol to waste taxpayer dollars destroying confiscated firearms rather than sell them to raise funds.

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

Again, please contact your state Senator and ask them to OPPOSE SBs 6077, 6294, and 6288, and HB 1010.