GOAL Post 2011-16

From:    Joe Waldron [jwaldron@halcyon.com]
Sent:    Friday, April 22, 2011 5:22 PM
Subject:    GOAL Post 2011-16

GOAL Post 2011-16

Legislative Update from Olympia 22 April 2011

SESSION ENDED TODAY -- SORT OF

GOVERNOR CALLS SPECIAL SESSION TO BEGIN TUESDAY

HB 1455 AND SHB 1923 AT GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

HB 1016 TO TAKE EFFECT 21 JULY

GOAL POST SUMMARY TO BE PUBLISHED AFTER SPECIAL SESSION

NRA CONVENTION NEXT WEEKEND IN PITTSBURGH

Under the state constitution, in odd-numbered years the legislative session can last up to 105 days. In even-numbered years, the limit is 60 days. The principal purpose of the long session is development of the two year (biennium) state budget. The legislature adjourned today, two days early, after failing to reach agreement on the 2011-2012 budget. Legislators will go home for a brief Easter holyday weekend.

Governor Gregoire has formally called for a special session of the legislature, to begin Tuesday, 26 April. A special session may last up to 30 days, although typically they end much earlier. While a special session is called for a specific reason (in this case, adoption of a biennial budget), once in session the legislature may choose to act on any bills or legislation they desire. (In that sense, it is like a Constitutional Convention -- once the door is opened, you lose control of who or what enters.) I would not expect the gun issue to come up, but all bills previously filed may receive new attention, and new bills may be filed. As always, eternal vigilance remains the price of liberty.

Two gun-related bills are sitting on the governor's desk, awaiting her signature or veto. HB 1455, by Rep. Jim McCune (R-2), mandates petitions (applications) for restoration of firearm rights (e.g. due to a disqualifying conviction, commitment, etc) MUST be filed either in the county where the petitioner resides or the county where the conviction (or other disqualifying status) occurred. HB 1923, by Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45), adds federal disqualifiers (prohibited persons) as a condition for denying a CPL. For those of you who have CPLs, you may recall the warning notice on the full-sized form that notes state and federal prohibitions are different. Assuming the governor signs the bill, that will no longer be the case, as regards CPL issue.

Unless a bill contains an "emergency clause," new laws signed by the governor do not take effect until 90 days after the end of the legislative session. HB 1016, the only gun bill thus far signed by Governor Gregoire, will take effect on 21 July. At that point those of you who lawfully possess (under federal law) suppressors may legally fire rounds through them.

I will publish a final summary GOAL Post when the special session ends and the governor has taken action on bills remaining to be signed. GOAL Posts will be published during the special session only if gun-related bills are acted on.

Next weekend, 29 April-1 May, is the time of the NRA convention and annual meeting. This years' event takes place in Pittsburgh, PA. If any of you are headed back that way, I'll be working at the Second Amendment Foundation booth, #325, in the exhibition hall. Stop by and say hello. I typically see at least a dozen Washingtonians there.

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) Signed by Gov.
HB 1455 Restoration of rights McCune (R-2) To Gov.
SHB 1923 CPL qualification Goodman (D-45) To Gov.
HB 2067 Repeal of self defense restitution Hunter (D-48) Dead on arrival

Key to abbreviations: HB = House Bill, SHB = Substitute House Bill, W&M = Ways & Means

GOAL POSITION ON BILLS

HB 1016 SUPPORT
HB 1455 SUPPORT
SHB 1923 SUPPORT
HB 2067 STRONGLY OPPOSE

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.
If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at "jwaldron@halcyon.com" with the words "Unsubscribe GOAL Post" in the subject line. I will remove your name immediately. Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists. If you received GP via a list, you must contact that list's admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Puyallup 14-15 May
Monroe 11-12 June

"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