Monday, February 13, 2012

GOAL Post 2012-6

From: GOAL [goalwa@cox.net]

Subject: GOAL Post 2012-6GOAL Post 2012-6
Legislative Update from Olympia
10 February 2012

ANOTHER  CUT-OFF  DATE  PASSES;  MORE  BILLS  DIE
SHB 2347  CLEARS  HOUSE
SSB 5697  CLEARS  SENATE
FOUR  BILLS  AWAIT  FLOOR  VOTES
CHAMBER  CUT-OFF  NEXT  FRIDAY,  17  FEBRUARY
POLITICAL  GAMES  CONTINUE

Tuesday, 7 February was the last day to consider bills in any of the fiscal committees.  House Bills 2067 (self defense reimbursement) and 2589 (unlawful firearm possession) died in House Ways & Means.  Just a reminder in the case of 2067 -- this doesn't mean the language repealing the self-defense reimbursement statute could be amended into some other budget-related bill.  Eternal vigilance...

Substitute House Bill (SHB) 2347 (spring-blade knives) was amended on the House floor and passed on a unanimous vote.  The House floor amendment was technical in nature and DID NOT reinsert the language allowing CPL holders to carry spring-blade knives.  At this point the bill does absolutely nothing for the private citizen and we will stop reporting on it.  In the Senate, Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 6179 awaits a full vote of the Senate.  Like SHB 2347, it accomplishes NOTHING for private citizens and tracking will be deleted from future GOAL Posts.

Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 5697 (state agency gun security devices) passed out of the Senate on a unanimous vote.  It now goes to the House where it will likely be assigned to the House Judiciary Committee for action.  As written, this bill has zero impact on private citizens in Washington.  It adopts the California standard for firearm safety devices (e.g. trigger locks, gun safes, etc) to be used with firearms issued by a state or local agency.

Four bills still await a vote by the full House or full Senate (floor votes):  SHB 1508 (range protection), HB 2471 (firearm purchase), SSB 6123 (NRA license plate) and SSB 6179 (switchblade knives).

Friday, 17 November is the last day to consider bills in their chamber of origin (House or Senate).  Bills that have not passed out of the original chamber (House bills out of the House, Senate bills out of the Senate) are considered dead for the session.

(Click on post title to continue reading after the jump...)



We reported last week that HB 1508 (range protection) had been amended to significantly limit its protective effect.  An amendment has been prepared by the bill's prime sponsor, Rep. Dean Takko (D-19) that would restore most of the original language.  How that will fare on the House floor remains to be seen.  SHB 2471 (firearm purchase) follows last years SHB 1923 that requires successful completion of an FBI NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) check to receive a concealed pistol license.  The BATFE granted Washington a NICS waiver, meaning anyone who acquired a C{PL after the 22 July 2011 effective date of last year's bill would not have to undergo a NICS check when purchasing a firearm from a dealer.  SB 2471closes the loop on NICS alternative status by eliminating the NICS Check requirement under state law for new CPL holders.  Anti-gun Rep. Ross Hunter (D-48) is offering an amendment to HB 2471 that would negate the NICS waiver and would reinstate the requirement for a background check to be conducted on ALL firearm transfers by licensed dealers.  This, too, awaits a House floor vote.
BILL STATUS:
The following are only the bills remaining under consideration during the 2012 regular session.

Bill #
Subject
Sponsor  
Status
SHB 1508
Range protection
Takko (D-19)
H. Rules
HB 2067
Repeal of self defense restitution
Hunter (D-48)
Died
SHB 2347
Spring-blade knives
Dammeier (R-25)
Passed House
HB 2471
Firearm purchase
Goodman (D-45)
H. Rules
HB 2589
Unlawful firearm possession
Goodman (D-45)
Died
SSB 5697
State agency gun security devices
Hargrove (D-24)
Passed Senate
SSB 6123
NRA license plate
Hatfield (D-19)
S. Rules
SSB 6179
Anti-switchblade knives
Kastama (D-25)
S. Rules
Key to abbreviations:  HB = House Bill, SB = Senate Bill, Jud. = Judiciary, Trans = Transportation, W&M = Ways & Means, Ener. = Energy, Natural Resources and Marine Waters, Rules = Rules Committee

GOAL POSITION ON BILLS  (dead bills deleted)
SHB 1508        OPPOSE UNLESS ORIGINAL LANGUAGE RESTORED
HB 2471          SUPPORT
SSB 5697         NEUTRAL
SSB 6123         SUPPORT IF AMENDED
SSB 6179         NEUTRAL

HEARING(S) 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.

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" or "goalwa@cox.net" 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):
             Monroe             18-19 February
             Puyallup            25-26 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
Copyright 2012 Gun Owners Action League of WA

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