GOAL Post 2010-5

GOAL Post  2010-5

Legislative Update from Olympia                        5 February 2010

     HB 2226 PASSED HOUSE 97-0; GOES TO SENATE JUDICIARY

     SB 6396, “ASSAULT WEAPON” BAN, DIES IN COMMITTEE

     HB 2778  --  GUN CONTROL TROJAN HORSE

     HB 2499 SUBSTITUTE A STEP BACKWARDS

     FIRST POLICY COMMITTEE CUT-OFF PASSES

          GUN BILLS DIE

HB 2226 is a holdover bill from last year.  It would standardize requirements for retired peace officers to acquire their certificate to carry concealed firearms nationwide under the 2004 federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (H.R. 218).  This is primarily an assist for out-of-state officers retired in Washington. 

SB 6396, the so-called “assault weapon” ban bill, died in the Senate Judiciary Committee at the policy committee cut-off.  Knowing he didn’t have the votes to pass it out of committee, he didn’t even bring it up for a vote.  While in Olympia earlier this week, one Senator showed me two 4” thick binders full of e-mails opposing SB 6396.  Several others mentioned similar responses.  Along with the overwhelming turn-out for the public hearing last week, it’s input like this that demonstrates the strength of the gun lobby in influencing the legislative process.  To paraphrase the bumper sticker, we’re ALL the gun lobby!

HB 2778, the bill that would combine the worst of federal and state restrictions for firearm possession by individuals convicted of certain domestic violence-related misdemeanors or subject to certain restraining orders sits in the House Ways & Means Committee.  Fiscal committee cut-off is Tuesday, 9 February.  Assuming it passes out of Ways & Means, it will go to House Rules, awaiting a pull to the floor for a vote of the full House.  Amendments will be offered to eliminate or reduce the firearms provisions of the bill. 

HB 2499, the bill that would increase limits on the amount of black powder allowed to be stored in the home, transported on public highways or be offered for sale in commercial establishments suffered a setback when a more restrictive version passed out of the House Labor & Commerce Committee on 2 February.  The substitute bill, SHB 2499, increases the limit to private possession from five to 10 pounds, and requires “hazardous cargo” placards to be placed on vehicles transporting more than five pounds of black powder.  While not as good as the original bill, it does reflect an incremental improvement in the current situation.  NOTE:  these restrictions DO NOT apply to Pyrodex and other black powder substitutes.  These substitutes are treated the same as conventional smokeless powders.

Friday, 5 February, was the last day for bills to pass out of their original chamber policy committee.  Bills that did not pass are considered technically dead for the remainder of the session.  However, these cut-off dates are self-imposed for bill management purposes; if leadership wants to make an exception to policy, the can call for a vote to do so.  The “Bill Status” section below provides current status of bills.  As some dead white man observed a century ago, neither your wallet nor your liberties are safe as long as the legislature is in session,

BILL STATUS / GOAL POSITION ON BILLS:

Bill #          Subject                                           Sponsor                 Status

HB 1604   Firearm suppressors                         Condotta (R-12)  Died H. Jud.
HB 2226   Retired peace officer qualification     Orcutt (R-18)       S. Jud
HB 2264   Gun show regulation                        Williams (D-22)    Died H. Jud.
HB 2477   Gun sale liability                              Williams (D-22)     Died H. Jud.
HB 2499   Black powder storage/transport       Bailey (R-10)        H. Rules
HB 2703   Sport shooting ranges                      Takko (D-19)       Died H. Jud.
HB 2709   Firearms freedom act                       Shea (R-4)           Died H. Jud.
HB 2711   Right to protection                           Shea (R-4)           Died H. Jud.
HB 2778   Domestic violence                                                        H. W&M

SB 6396   So-called "assault weapon" ban       Kline (D-37)          Died S. Jud.
SB 6429   Suppressor use by police                 Brandland (R-42)  Died S. Jud
SB 6473   Right to protection                           Stevens (R-39)      Died S. Jud.

Key to abbreviations:  HB = House Bill, SB = Senate Bill, H. Jud = House Judiciary,  H. C&L = House Commerce & Labor

GOAL POSITION ON BILLS:

HB 1604                      SUPPORT (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
HB 2226                      SUPPORT
HB 2264                      OPPOSE (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
HB 2477                      OPPOSE (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
HB 2499                      SUPPORT
HB 2703                      SUPPORT (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
HB 2709                      SUPPORT (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
HB 2711                      SUPPORT (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
HB 2778                      OPPOSE, UNLESS AMENDED

SB 6396                      OPPOSE (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
SB 6429                      SUPPORT IF AMENDED (DIED IN COMMITTEE)
SB 6473                      SUPPORT (DIED IN COMMITTEE)

PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED:

None
 
LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE:  You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  Toll free!!!  The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993, also toll free!!!

            1-800-562-6000   TDD 1-800-635-9993
 
OTHER DATA:  Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature's web site at "www.leg.wa.gov".  Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format.  You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe's web site (http://www.adobe.com).  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.  Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000.  You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need "RealAudio" to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate "bill reports" (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted.  By reading the "roll call" for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill.  The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

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Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

           Monroe                  13-14 February
           Puyallup                 20-21 February

"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

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