GOAL Alert 1-2014 – CRITICAL HEARING NOTICE I-591, 594

BREAKING: GOAL Alert 1-2014 – CRITICAL HEARING NOTICE I-591, 594

NEWS FROM THE GUN OWNERS ACTION LEAGUE OF WASHINGTON
GOAL Alert 1-2014
Legislative Update from Olympia 26 January 2014

• PUBLIC HEARING ON INITIATIVES
• LEGISLATURE INUNDATED WITH PRO-I-594 E-MAILS
• CHANGE IN POSITION ON HUNTER ED BILL

This is a repeat, but it bears repeating.  Public hearings will be conducted on Initiatives 591 (pro-gun) and 594 (anti-gun) on 28 January (House Judiciary) and 29 January (Senate Law & Justice).  It is critical that as many individuals as possible turn out to attend BOTH of these hearings. 

A strong turnout sends a strong signal to both the legislature and to the media present of the support for, or opposition to, each of the initiatives.    Signs and posters are not allowed inside the buildings, but we will be distributing “Guns Save Lives” stickers to participants.  Parking in the vicinity of the Campus is tight, and Olympia loves to give tickets for illegal parking, so car pools are strongly encouraged.  http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Parking.aspx
The House Judiciary Committee will conduct it’s hearing on both initiatives at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, in House Hearing Room “A” in the John L. Obrien (House) Office Building.  The Senate Law & Justice Committee will hear both initiatives at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Senate Hearing Room “1″ in the John A. Cherberg Senate Office Building.  Sign-up sheets will likely be posted outside the hearing rooms.  Please come early and sign in FOR I-591 and AGAINST I-594.

House Judiciary chair Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-27) announced she would also hear HB 1561 — legalizing short-barreled rifles under state law — in conjunction with her hearing on the initiatives Tuesday afternoon. 

We are receiving reports legislators are being inundated with e-mails asking them to support I-594 (anti-gun) and oppose I-591 (pro-gun).   Whether you can or can’t make it to Olympia on Tuesday and/or Wednesday, and especially if you can’t make either day, it is imperative you communicate with your legislators and tell that that I-594 is not only too extreme for Washingtonians, it’s possibly in conflict with federal law as well. 

You can link directly to your legislators by clicking on “Comment on this initiative” box at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=594&year=2013. 

You can also make positive comments and ask them to support I-591 (pro-gun) by clicking the same box at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=591&year=2013

Speaking of being inundated with e-mails, I have received several from hunter education instructors asking that we reverse our position on the Hunter Education fee increase bills.  Given that they are far more current with the program (my experience goes back 25-35 years), I defer to their judgment.  The position will change to “SUPPORT” in the next GOAL Post.”
I look forward to seeing all of you on Tuesday and Wednesday.