To: undisclosed-recipients
GOAL Post 2011-11
Legislative Update from Olympia 18 March 2011
HB 1016 AWAITING SENATE FLOOR VOTE
PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON SHB 1923
HB 1455 PASSES OUT OF SENATE JUDICIARY
WSP FISHING EXPEDITION?
The Senate Rules Committee moved HB 1016 to the Second Reading Calendar. This means it is one step away from a vote by the full Senate.
A public hearing was conducted today on SHB 1923 (CPL qualification). The bill now awaits a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which must come before next Friday's (25 March) policy committee cut-off.
HB 1455 (restoration of firearm rights) was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee and sent to Senate Rules where it awaits a pull to the floor. The Judiciary Committee made a minor revision to the bill, mandating the clerk of the superior court(s) to maintain records of how many such petitions for restoration are filed and approved.
Earlier this week most, if not all, firearms dealers in Washington received a letter from the Washington State Patrol asking for data on ALL AR-15s (and clones) and AR-15 lower receivers sold or purchased by the dealers over the past nine months. The information sought was reportedly requested pursuant to an investigation of a stolen AR-15.
Apparently the ATF (who has jurisdiction over tracing stolen firearms) was not consulted by the WSP before they initiated their query. It would appear the WSP request FAR EXCEEDED their authority to seek such information. It typically would take a subpoena to gain access to such a broad sweep of transaction records. And that would have to be signed by a judge, after presentation of sufficient probable cause.
It is my understanding most dealers politely declined to comply, as was their right. The Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation jumped right into this issue. Meanwhile, in addition to ATF asking questions (of the WSP), several state legislators want to know what's going on.
BATFE has broad legal authority to examine firearm dealers' records. Local law enforcement has much more limited authority in cases like this. I suspect this was simple overreach by an over-zealous and perhaps inexperienced WSP detective. At least I hope that's what it was. Eternal vigilance remains the price of liberty!
BILL STATUS:
The following bills are still under consideration for the 2011-12 biennium:
Bill # Subject Sponsor Status
HB 1016 Suppressor use Blake (D-19) S. Rules
HB 1455 Restoration of rights McCune (R-2) S. Rules
SHB 1923 CPL qualification Goodman (D-45) S. Jud.
Key to abbreviations: S. = Senate, H. = House, Jud = Judiciary,
GOAL POSITION ON BILLS
HB 1016 SUPPORT
HB 1455 SUPPORT
SHB 1923 SUPPORT
HEARING(S) SCHEDULED:
No public hearings remain for gun-related bills.
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.
GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to "jwaldron@halcyon.com". 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, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at "jwaldron@halcyon.com" or by telephone at (425) 985-4867. Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.
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Upcoming WAC gun show(s):
Puyallup 26-27 March
Monroe 9-10 April
"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
Copyright 2011 Gun Owners Action League of WA
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