Friday, August 29, 2014

More on Initiatives 591 (YAY!) and 594 (BOO!)

A round-up, of sorts, in a tab-clearing type of day at the Washington Arms Collectors' web site:
First, the new TV ad for 591:

One big question locally, that, as discussed at the above link, has even been mentioned in the local media, is why has the National Rifle Association been pretty much AWOL, or at best phoning it in, on this.

Is it because they figure the Second Amendment Foundation and Washington Arms Collectors, and their associated and affiiliated organizations, have it covered?
Is it because they figure Washington State is doomed, and aren't wasting money on us? 
Or is it because they hate the Second Amendment Foundation and Alan Gottlieb and are willing to sacrifice the Evergreen State just to see their bete noir go down in flames?

I really, really hope it's number 1.

There's a TV ad out there in favor of I-594, that almost caused me to go Full Elvis on the boob toob last weekend, in which some bimbo claimed that "background checks are a simple solution to gun violence."
 Where to start?
  • "Universal background checks" are clearly ineffective, witness the crimes committed by people who pass one. (And I'm not just talking here about the NICS check to buy a gun, I'm talking about, for example, police officers or others in positions of trust who pass a background check and commit a crime.) 
  • This monstrosity requires a background check on any transfer of a firearm.
  •  These checks mandated by I-594 would require that I conduct a background check on any adult I lend a gun to, including simply swapping pistols at the range ("Hey, is that a Crunchenticker Loudenbooomer 9...?") And then he would have to conduct a background check on me before handing it back. 
  • Similarly, showing off the contents of the gun safe to a visitor, handing a "spare" to a hunting buddy because his gun broke, etc. 
  • And, since each and every one of these required background checks is reported to the Washington State Department of Licensing, it will, in fact, be a de facto state firearms registry. 
  • And no one knows what it will cost.
  • There's an exemption for age, but only if the parent is present during the time when the minor is holding a gun. 
  • There's an exemption for training, but only if the training is held at a "licensed club", and if the gun is kept at the club. 
And then there's this lovely fact:
  • Failing to conduct a background check  for any transfer will be a Class C Felony.
  • Like Rape.
I just don't know if I'll be able to resist the urge to spit in the face of the next jackass that tries to tell me the gun banning statists don't want to take away my guns...

Previous post: Why does the "1%" like this idea?

Oppose I-594: WA Citizens Against Regulatory Excess

I've mentioned Ballot Initiative 591 a couple of times.  It is a very short (one page!  Unheard of!) that adds two lines to the Section 9.41 of the Revised Code of Washington:
  • It is unlawful for any government agency to confiscate guns or other firearms from citizens without due process.
  • It is unlawful for any government agency to require background checks on the recipient of a firearm unless a uniform national standard is required.
Support I-591: Protect Our Gun Rights.

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