WA State Action Alert, Knife Rights

 From Knife Rights:

URGENT! Urge Chairman Hansen to Hear HB 1224 Repealing WA's Switchblade Ban

The bipartisan Washington “Spring Blade” Ban Repeal bill, HB 1224, that would repeal the state's ban on automatic knives is in danger of dying on the vine. If a hearing is not held by the end of the day on Monday, February 15, it will be dead for this session. The current agenda does not include a hearing on HB 1224!

 If you are a Washington resident, please use Knife Rights’ Legislative Action Center to ask House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee Chairman Drew Hansen to please hold a hearing on HB 1224.  The members of the committee will be CC'd on the email to the Chairman asking them to also make the request of the Chairman to hear HB 1224.

We keep seeing bills to repeal this Blackboard Jungle-era crap filed in Olympia and then gather dust and die. I happen to know that First Responders all over this state support repeal, as does anyone who ever needed three hands to accomplish a task -- probably 20 feet up a ladder -- and realized they needed to open their knife.

Go to the link and sign the petition if you're a Washington resident.

Patriots Day

©1983, 2020 D.W.Drang & The Cluemeter

Battle Road
©1983, 2020 D.W.Drang & The Cluemeter

A Rude Bridge, Arching a Flood
©1983, 2020 D.W.Drang & The Cluemeter

Washington: Hearing for Bill to Expand Gun Seizures Without Due Process (NRA-ILA)

NRA-ILA | Washington: Hearing for Bill to Expand Gun Seizures Without Due Process

On February 19^th, the Washington state Senate Committee on Law & Justice will be holding an executive session on Senate Bill 5745 to expand the circumstances under which Second Amendment rights may be revoked without due process.  In addition, the committee is also scheduled on February 21^st to vote on Senate Bill 5434 to expand arbitrary zones where law-abiding citizens are left defenseless while nothing is done to hinder criminals.  Please contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bills 5745 and 5434.  Click the “Take Action” button below to contact committee members.

TAKE ACTION

Senate Bill 5745, sponsored by Senator Marko Liias (D-21), would expand Washington’s existing Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) to allow Second Amendment rights to be suspended for individuals alleged to make certain threats by third party accusers with little, if any, real evidence and limited “due process” for the respondent.  Hearings for the orders would be ex parte, where the respondent would not be present to challenge the accuser and defend against allegations made against them.  The issuance of an order would immediately prohibit the respondent from exercising their Second Amendment rights.  The Right to Keep and Bear Arms should not be treated as a second-class right and should only be restricted consistent with the constitutional requirements of due process.

Senate Bill 5434, sponsored by Senator Claire Wilson (D-30), would increase the areas where law-abiding citizens are prohibited from possessing firearms, including holders of a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) carrying a handgun for self-defense.  It would turn child care facilities, libraries, public parks, and recreational facilities into “gun-free zones” where law-abiding citizens would be unable to defend themselves and their loved ones against criminals who simply ignore such arbitrary boundaries.  In addition, child care facilities would be required to post a “Gun-Free Zone” sign.

Again, please contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bills 5745 and 5434.

More: Washington: House Committee to Hear Ammunition Ban & Other Anti-Gun Bills

NRA-ILA | Washington: House Committee to Hear Ammunition Ban & Other Anti-Gun Bills

On January 29^th, the Washington state House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary will be hearing House Bill 1315 to increase the red tape for law-abiding citizens to apply for a Concealed Pistol License.  On February 1^st, they will be hearing House Bill 1346 to prohibit young adults under the age of 21 from receiving the vast majority of conventional ammunition available and House Bill 1319 to allow localities to infringe upon Second Amendment rights.  Please contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE House Bills 1315, 1319, and 1346.  Click the “Take Action” button below to contact committee members.

House Bill 1346, sponsored by Representative Gerry Pollet (D-46), would make it illegal to sell, transfer, give, or otherwise make available ammunition that is not certified as “nonlead” to anyone under the age of 21, with the exception of ammunition given by a parent or guardian.  This would encompass the vast majority of ammunition available on the market commonly used for target shooting, self-defense, and many types of hunting.  It would essentially limit young adults under the age of 21 to very expensive, specialty ammunition that may not even be manufactured in certain common calibers and may even provide sub-standard performance compared to traditional ammunition.  In addition, businesses selling ammunition would be required to provide a handout to customers on the health effects of lead and they would even be subject to random, unannounced inspections by the Department of Health along with local law-enforcement to ensure compliance.

House Bill 1319, sponsored by Representative Sharon Wylie (D-49), would create an exemption in a decades old statute which would allow local governments to ban the open carrying of firearms at public meetings.

House Bill 1315, sponsored by Representative John Lovick (D-44), would increase the government red tape that law-abiding adults must go through in order to obtain a Concealed Pistol License by requiring a mandatory training course developed by the Washington State Patrol.

Again, please click the “Take Action” button above to contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE House Bills 1315, 1319, and 1346.  

Again, the "TAKE ACTION" button is at the linked page. At this time, it does not work -- for me. Not sure whether that's because it has not been updated, or something is blocking it, whether on my computer or in between.

To no one's great surprise: "Washington: Anti-Gun Bills Pass Committee..."

NRA-ILA | Washington: Anti-Gun Bills Pass Committee, On to Senate Floor

During the January 24^th executive session, the Washington state Senate Committee on Law & Justice voted to pass all of the gun control bills before them by a vote of 4-3.  They will now go to the Senate floor for further consideration.  Please contact your state Senator and urge them to OPPOSE these anti-gun bills.  Click the “Take Action” button and call 1-800-562-6000 to contact your state Senator. {At link. DWD}

The Proposed Substitute to Senate Bill 5062, sponsored by Senator Patty Kuderer (D-48), was filed at the request of Attorney General Bob Ferguson. It would ban the possession of ammunition magazines with a capacity greater than 10, encompassing most standard capacity magazines commonly used by law-abiding citizens, such as with handguns popular for self-defense. Those who own non-compliant magazines prior to the ban would only be allowed to possess them on their own property and in other limited instances such as at licensed shooting ranges and nationally sanctioned sport shooting events. These magazines would have to be transported unloaded and locked separately from firearms and stored at home locked, making them unavailable for self-defense.

The Proposed Substitute to Senate Bill 5061, sponsored by Senator Manka Dhingra (D-45), was filed at the request of Attorney General Ferguson. It would end the centuries old practice of manufacturing firearms for personal use, among other things.

Senate Bill 5174, sponsored by Senator Guy Palumbo (D-1), would increase the government red tape that law-abiding adults must go through in order to obtain a Concealed Pistol License by requiring a mandatory training course.

Senate Bill 5143, sponsored by Senator Dhingra, would require law-enforcement to seize firearms and ammunition when they are called to the scene of an alleged domestic violence incident and hold them for at least five business days. This would result in property being confiscated without first going through due process and subjecting citizens to bureaucratic red tape to get their property returned.

Senate Bill 5027, sponsored by Senator David Frockt (D-46), would expand Washington’s existing Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO). It would affirm that the ERPO can be issued against minors while also infringing upon the self-defense rights of law-abiding parents or others in the household without due process.

Again, please click the “Take Action” button above and call 1-800-562-6000 to urge your state Senator to OPPOSE these gun control bills.

 I feel compelled to note that clicking the "Take Action" button at the link resulted in a pop-under,  leading me to think that the button didn't work. 😕 Just mentioning it in case anyone else sees the same thing.

SEE ALSO: GOAL Post 2019-2, Legislative Update from Olympia 18 January 2019 - Gun Owners Action League of Washington

It's frustrating as hell to live in a state which strongly supported firearms rights -- including liberal constituencies -- up until the last few years when the ultra-rich socialist capitalists realized they could buy the law through the initiative process.

A Review Which Should Not Be Necessary

I hear Ted Cruz has introduced a bill to impose term limits on congresscritters.

Must be the beard.

Meanwhile, the ignorance on display daily among voters (or non-voters, if they make that choice) is bad enough, but the media should know better, and anyone in government, whether hired, appointed, or elected...!

Anyway.

So Nancy Pelosi claims that according to the Constitution, she is the equal of the President.



Meanwhile, I keep being told it's the President's fault that a Democratic senator filibustered the budget bill the House sent there, or that the house has since failed to send a clean bill to the Senate, so that body can send it to the President...



While we're at it...

Because you knew they would...

Second Amendment Foundation: SAF, NRA FILE FEDERAL LAWSUIT CHALLENGING INITIATIVE 1639

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation and National Rifle Association have filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging gun control Initiative 1639 in Washington State, on several grounds.


The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. In addition to SAF and NRA, plaintiffs include gun dealers and young adults in the affected age group.

The lawsuit challenges the measure on the grounds that it violates the commerce clause by banning sales of rifles to non-residents, and that it unconstitutionally impairs the rights guaranteed by the First, Second and Fourteenth Amendments, and Article I Section 24 of the Washington State constitution by preventing the sale to otherwise qualified adults under age 21 of certain rifles.

“We are also considering additional legal challenges,” SAF Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb confirmed. “We are disappointed that too many Evergreen State voters were fooled into supporting this 30-page gun control scheme, despite overwhelming law enforcement opposition. This initiative is an affront to the constitutional rights enshrined in the Second Amendment and the Washington state constitution, especially for young adults.

“We’re determined to fight this egregious measure because constitutionally-protected rights should never be subject to a popularity vote,” he stated. “The wealthy elitists behind I-1639 want to turn a right into a regulated privilege. This measure was only designed to have a chilling effect on the exercise of a constitutional right by honest citizens while having no impact at all on criminals, and we cannot let it go unchallenged.”

“The NRA is committed to restoring the Second Amendment rights of every law-abiding Washingtonian,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “I-1639 violates the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens and puts people at risk. This lawsuit is the first step in the fight to ensure that Washingtonians are free to exercise their fundamental right to self-defense.

“The NRA will fight to overturn this unconstitutional initiative. We will not sit idly by while elitist anti-gun activists attempt to deny everyday Americans their fundamental right to self-defense,” concluded Cox.

“While a handful of billionaires spending millions of dollars were able to buy votes, it is our hope they can’t buy the judges,” Gottlieb said.

 

The Quixotic Act of The Day 11/16/18

I think WhiteHouse.Gov petitions are about as fine an example of quixoticism as you'll find, but, still, that abortion of a ballot initiative passed, so wotthehell, as Mehitable said to Archie:

To abolish unlawful, unjust, and unconstitutional gun laws in Washington state (I-1639).

The great state of Washington, through fraudulent petitioning and tricky wording, has placed on the ballot and passed I-1639; one of the strictest anti-gun laws in our country. We The People therefor ask that our great President and our public servants, step in and abolish such laws restricting, infringing upon and/or otherwise limiting our right, that has been guaranteed to us within the 2nd amendment of the Bill of Rights, and further protected and solidified through centuries of bloodshed and legal proceedings.


We The People humbly and gracefully plead for your helping hand Mr. President. Please put an end to the destruction of our freedoms and liberties by protecting our second amendment rights; here in Washington state and throughout the states of our great country.
Thank you.

I mean, I don't know what they think the President can do about this, beyond launching a Twitter campaign.

Still.

Note that there's no restriction on state of residence for signing this thing...

Reading Notes, Revolutionary Edition

 So, if you read my blog you probably also read Tamara's blog and saw this post:

Which is why I wonder about people who call for a "second revolution". We beat the odds in '76, but just because you got lucky drawing to an inside straight once doesn't make it the way to bet. https://t.co/4KzaoXlYDJ

— Tamara K. (@TamSlick) September 1, 2018

This was actually a Re-Tweet with commentary of a Tweet of mine:

The Revolution eats its own.
The American War 4 Independence was an exception. French Revolution led 2 the Terror, & 2 Napoleon. The Russian Revolution led 2 the Russian Civil War led 2 purges & the Holodomor. The Chinese Civil War led 2 the Great Leap Forward, purges & famine.

— Drang (@DWDrang) September 1, 2018

which was in itself a reply to others being surprised that Twitter has gotten too hot for Will "Weaselly Crusher" Wheaton, who had up until very recently been one of the most reliable of knee-jerk leftist narrative followers.

(If the Tweets themselves do not show up, just text with funky formatting, you can click on the date of the tweet to see the things in their original glory.)
(Side note: I just noticed that I have 1776 Tweets..)

Part of the reason for this tweet was that I just finished reading Russia in Flames: War, Revolution, Civil War, 1914 - 1921: Laura Engelstein (Amazon link), which I borrowed from the King County Library.

Here's the synopsis from Amazon:

October 1917, heralded as the culmination of the Russian Revolution, remains a defining moment in world history. Even a hundred years after the events that led to the emergence of the world's first self-proclaimed socialist state, debate continues over whether, as historian E. H. Carr put it decades ago, these earth-shaking days were a "landmark in the emancipation of mankind from past oppression" or "a crime and a disaster." Some things are clear. After the implosion of the three-hundred-year-old Romanov dynasty as a result of the First World War, Russia was in crisis-one interim government replaced another in the vacuum left by imperial collapse.

In this monumental and sweeping new account, Laura Engelstein delves into the seven years of chaos surrounding 1917 --the war, the revolutionary upheaval, and the civil strife it provoked. These were years of breakdown and brutal violence on all sides, punctuated by the decisive turning points of February and October. As Engelstein proves definitively, the struggle for power engaged not only civil society and party leaders, but the broad masses of the population and every corner of the far-reaching empire, well beyond Moscow and Petrograd.

Yet in addition to the bloodshed they unleashed, the revolution and civil war revealed democratic yearnings, even if ideas of what constituted "democracy" differed dramatically. Into that vacuum left by the Romanov collapse rushed long-suppressed hopes and dreams about social justice and equality. But any possible experiment in self-rule was cut short by the October Revolution. Under the banner of true democracy, and against all odds, the Bolshevik triumph resulted in the ruthless repression of all opposition. The Bolsheviks managed to harness the social breakdown caused by the war and institutionalize violence as a method of state-building, creating a new society and a new form of power.

I think someone at Amazon couldn't bring themselves to make any observations about how the "Bolshevik Triumph" was due to the Bolshevik's being better at slaughtering anyone who didn't toe their party line better than any of their rivals. Also, that "true democracy" as espoused by the Bolsheviks was just a word to dupe the masses.

While this book is organized more-or-less chronologically, Engelstein covers the events of 1905-1921 geographically as well, examining events in all of the former Russian Empire, including those arts that managed to break off from it to become independent -- as well as in those that failed in their attempts to do so. (Growing up in Detroit, more often than not I heard Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia referred to as The Captive Nations"; they had a weekend Ethnic Festival all their own.)

The Reds did not so much defeat the Whites as the Whites defeated themselves: They were not an "Army" so much as being a chaotic shambles under a blanket descriptor. This process is well described, as is the way that Lenin and Trotsky, et alia,  blithely had thousands if not millions slaughtered for the crime of... existing.

As I noted in my tweet above (limited to 280 characters) not only was the process of the revolution devouring it's own not finished, but it was neither the first nor the last to do so. If you can find it, I highly recommend The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression: Jean-Louis Panné, Andrzej Paczkowski, Karel Bartosek, Jean-Louis Margolin, et al. to describe the manner in which various revolutions have betrayed those in whose names they were carried out. Note that it was written by an assemblage of European commies.

(From the Amazon.com Review: When it was first published in France in 1997, Le livre noir du Communisme touched off a storm of controversy that continues to rage today. Even some of his contributors shied away from chief editor Stéphane Courtois's conclusion that Communism, in all its many forms, was morally no better than Nazism; the two totalitarian systems, Courtois argued, were far better at killing than at governing, as the world learned to its sorrow.)

Now, I've tried to read Russian history before and gotten so bogged down in Russian names that I had to quit; I was simply unable to keep track of who was doing what to whom. (I suppose there's a Lenin joke in there somewhere...) Robert Conquest just, well, defeats me when it comes to it. (Maybe Daddy Bear can recommend something...) I managed with this one, so there's that.

This is another of those books which run 800 pages, 200+ of which are notes, index, and bibliography. At some point I extended the loan from the library, but I managed to finish it by the original due date. It probably wouldn't have been a challenge if my reading habits haven't been severely impacted by my work schedule, i.e., working graveyard shift, I do most of my reading on my weekends.

If you've ever wondered how Russia went from the Tsar to Kerensky to Lenin, and how Lenin hung on until his death, this book covers the period well. Recommended.

Cue the hysteria! -- Edit

CodeIsFreeSpeech.com

OK, I'm actually a few days late with the "Cue the hysteria!" title, still...

You may be aware that the US Government has lifted the restriction on the sharing online of files with instructions to 3D print firearms components.

This, of course, is merely the latest in a series of events which are going to kill us all.

The thing is...

There are many inherent issues with manufacturing a firearm, or firearm parts, using a 3D printer. For instance, the plastic used isn't exactly up to withstanding the pressures of a modern firearm cartridge being fired, which limits which parts of the firearm they are suitable for. In order for the firing pin to detonate the primer on a cartridge, it has to be made of metal, or possibly, I suppose, some other hard material, which would probably be so exotic as to be impractical.

But.

A fact which escapes those convinced that the availability of these files online mean the end of civilization is that it has always been legal to manufacture a firearm in your garage workshop, as long as you did not attempt to sell it.

Here, for example, is a thread about building a glorious revolutionary AK47 from a people's shovel, purchased for a whole 2 kopeks I mean rubles I mean capitalist pig dollars at an antique barn in Vermont: DIY: Shovel AK - photo tsunami warning! | Northeastshooters.com Forums

So, why (one might ask) was the distribution of files with instructions on how to 3D print firearms components banned? Well, the US State Department takes its responsibility (not to say authority) to control export of firearms and weapons technology seriously.

Now, this authority does extend to some information technology, namely, computer security/anti-virus files. (In an earlier job I had to help some sales reps for a local aviation firm process requests to Uncle Sam to let them take their laptops, with anti-virus software installed, overseas.)

But these are 3D printer files are hardly innovative in and of themselves, and cannot be seriously be considered a threat to national security.

What made the US State Department lift the ban on Internet distribution of 3D printer files is that the US State Department does not have a broad legal authority to ban the distribution of information.

That's right: The ability to download these files is a First Amendment issue, as well as a Second Amendment one. (Some would even argue that it is not a Second Amendment one at all.)

CodeIsFreeSpeech.com

Elsewhere, Roberta X addresses the issue in her post The Adventures of Roberta X: That's Not How This Works.

There is also an excellent Twitter thread that starts with this one:

Ok, on this, the eve of one of my favorite things ever - the #democratization of technology - let's have a serious, sober-ish conversation about this whole #StopDownloadableGuns / #Stop3DPrintedGuns hysteria by starting at the beginning and working forward (1/?)

— Jonathan (@CorrelA_B) August 1, 2018

(There is a Thread Reader version of the full thread here: Thread by @CorrelA_B: "Ok, on this, the eve of one of my favorite things ever - the of technology - let's have a serious, sober-ish conversation a […]" #democratization #StopDownloadableGuns #Stop3DPrintedGuns #guncontrol

EDIT: Meanwhile, a commie judge here in Western Washington has ordered Defense Distributed to shut down their site again: DEFCAD

Fortunately, the files are available elsewhere: CodeIsFreeSpeech.com

WA -- SAF, CCRKBA WARN I-1639 SPONSORS THAT ‘UNREADABLE’ PETITIONS VIOLATE LAW

The Second Amendment Foundation and Citizen's Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms send:

SAF, CCRKBA WARN I-1639 SPONSORS THAT ‘UNREADABLE’ PETITIONS VIOLATE LAW
BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today warned sponsors of anti-gun Initiative 1639 via a demand letter that their campaign “is utilizing unreadable petitions in violation” of state law, and demanded that this be corrected to “conform to the legal requirements.”
Olympia attorney Shawn Newman, writing on behalf of the two Bellevue-based organizations, noted, “The petitions for I-1639 have the proposed measure printed on the back of the sheets in such fine print as to be unreadable… Use of fine print is unconscionable.”
State law mandates that initiative petitions “have a readable, full, true, and correct copy of the proposed measure printed on the reverse side of the petition,” Newman’s letter warns.
“In the short time that I-1639 petitions have been in circulation,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb, “SAF and CCRKBA have been contacted by several people who could not read the initiative language. I’ve always been warned to read the small print before signing anything. I-1639, as it appears on the back of each petition, is all small print. That should tell voters something about its content.”
According to Newman’s letter, “Obviously, due to the microscopic maze of fine print used by the initiative sponsors to disguise the actual language of the initiative on the back of their petitions, voters cannot be fully informed.” He cautioned I-1639 sponsors that having their paid signature gatherers tell voters to “read it online” is “no substitute for following the law.” Newman suggested reprinting the petitions, and contact voters who have already signed to allow them the opportunity to sign a readable copy of the measure.
“We would prefer that you become compliant with the law,” Newman wrote, “but if you choose to continue in this illegal manner, we will be forced to litigate this matter.”
Copies of the letter were sent to Secretary of State’s office, the Washington State Attorney General, and “many other interested parties to ensure that everyone has been notified of the fundamental problem with your petitions.”
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation's oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.

 (More after the jump...)

Patriotic Musings

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

   Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood

   And fired the shot heard round the world.*

April 19^th, 2018, marks the 243^rd Anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts,as well as the long retreat of the Redcoats along battle Road back to (perceived) safety in Boston.

Is this the most 'Murica photograph ever?

Is it coincidence that Tax Day comes just before Patriot Day?

Captain Parker's orders to the Colonial Militia

Is it coincidence that Patriot Day is also Israel's Independence Day?

"The Shot Heard 'Round The World."
Massachusetts Militia resists the Redcoats.

*First verse of Concord Hymn, by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sung at the Completion of the Battle Monument, July 4, 1837

Ignorance, arrogance, and "gunsplaining"

Seen on Twitter:

If I have this right, only climate scientists can have an opinion on climate change, but any jackass can opine on guns even if they don’t know a .22 from a 12 gauge.

— J.R. Salzman (@jrsalzman) March 9, 2018

In all modesty, I believe I have an improvement:

"...don't know an ear plug from a rubber bullet."

— Drang (@DWDrang) March 9, 2018

It is my understanding that this sort of attempt by those of us who are knowledgeable about firearms technology and terminology to correct those who are clueless about same is now derided as "Gunsplaining". Note that the link goes to what might be called a "friendly" site, as opposed to the ones that criticize "gunsplaining" as using "jargon" in "bad faith" to "bully" the gun grabbers...

Because terminological inexactitude is unimportant when The Feelz are at stake.

So, remember, next time you feel the need to correct someone on "Standard Capacity" versus "High Capacity" magazines, or to explain the difference between the independent and dependent clauses in certain articles in The Bill of Rights, or why cosmetic features make little or no difference to the actual functioning of a firearm, or why  certain firearm features are actually safety features...

...Remember, I say, that you are engaging in jargon-based, bad-faith, bullying behavior.

Make sure you capture any progressive tears that ensue, as I am assured that they make excellent firearms lubricant.

Training returns to WAC Shows!

This coming weekend, NRA Home Firearms Safety Classes return to the Washington Arms Collectors gunshows.

These had ceased due to the fallout of I594, about which I had a thing or two to say.  Current interpretation is that, as long the firearm does not leave the training venue, a "transfer" has not taken place, so it has been decided to start classes again.

• Date: Sunday, February 11^th
• Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
• Location: Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, WA, in the "Log Cabin".
• Cost: 
• Admission to WAC Gunshows is free for WAC members
• $10.00 for non-members. (Refundable if you join at the show.)
• Target audience: 
• Those wishing to learn, or review the basics of safe gun handling. 
• No minimum or maximum age, but the "final exam" involves safely demonstrating "unloading and showing clear", so if the student does not have the strength and dexterity to do so, no certificate will be issued.

WAC's Event Rules are at the link.

Current plan is to have at least one HFS class a quarter; we'll probably start doing Refuse To Be A Victim classes, too.

Challenge Accepted!

Seattle: Boy, the WTO Riots were the worst, weren't they?
Hamburg: Hold mein bier and watch this...

— Drang (@DWDrang) July 7, 2017

GOAL Post 2017-Special 5 (PLUS: Quote Of The Day!)

If you want to see what America would look like if Clinton/Kaine had won, look at Olympia... 

 Also, if you read all the way through the narrative, you'll find the Quote Of The Day:

The problem with all of these background check systems is they rely on government living up to its obligation to allow people to exercise fundamental rights without hindrance or delay.

Replace "background check systems" with "government entitlements" or "regulatory systems"...

***

FROM: GOAL WA goalwa@cox.net (Joe Waldron)

TO: undisclosed recipients

SENT: Fri 6/23/2017 12:42 PM

SUBJECT: GOAL Post 2017-Special 5

Legislative Update from Olympia, 23 June 2017

•  THREE STRIKES, YOU’RE OUT! THIRD SPECIAL SESSION
•  GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IMMINENT -- MAYBE
•  IMPACT ON GUN OWNERS

 The THIRD special session of the legislature started on Wednesday, 21 June. They’re still hung up on the state operating budget. All bills that have not been passed to date go back to their original chamber (House bills to House, Senate bills to Senate).

This is similar to 2013 and 2015, when the legislature required multiple special sessions to pass the required operating budget by June 30^th and the governor had to sign it at the last minute to keep state agencies operating. 30 June is next Friday. This is all about the Governor and Democrats demanding more tax revenue.

The House and Senate convene every other day or so, them immediately shut down for a couple more days while the budget conferees continue to disagree.

Should the budget not pass by 1 July, many state agencies will shut down or go on reduced operations. Some, mostly those with public safety functions, (e.g police, fire, medical, etc.), will remain fully or partly functional. How this will impact gun owners remains to be seen. Rumors are floating around that this will shut down gun shops, or at least gun sales/transfers. Not quite. Background checks for long guns are sent straight to the FBI’s NICS system, so that’s transparent to the state. But handgun checks are local. The state operating budget has little impact on local agencies, although access to data bases such as DSHS for mental health checks is problematic.

The problem with all of these background check systems is they rely on government living up to its obligation to allow people to exercise fundamental rights without hindrance or delay. By inserting the government into the middle of what should be private business between two individuals, they can effectively and arbitrarily shut down a constitutional right. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, “A right delayed is a right denied.” (Under federal law, if a NICS check cannot be completed within three days, the sale/transfer may go forward. But NICS isn’t the problem in this scenario.)

BILL STATUS/GOAL POSITION: Nothing to report.

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!!!

1-800-562-6000TDD 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). Each bill’s web page contains a link to any public hearing at the bottom of the page.

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 12-13 August
• Monroe 23-24 September

"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 2017 Gun Owners Action League of WA

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Posted by:

GOAL WA <goalwa@cox.net>

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GOAL Post 2017-Special 3

Reports from elsewhere suggest that the Republicans have presented a balanced budget, but that the Democrats are ready and rarin' to raise taxes, any taxes, all taxes, they don't care just so long as those nasty taxpayers give it up.

***

FROM: GOAL WA <goalwa@cox.net>

TO: undisclosed recipients

SENT: Fri 5/26/2017 2:02 PM

SUBJECT: GOAL Post 2017-Special 3

Legislative Update from Olympia 19 May 2017

• SPECIAL SESSION ENDS IN IMPASSE
• SECOND SPECIAL SESSION CONVENED
• PROCEDURAL NOTE
• CRITICAL SPECIAL ELECTION AHEAD

 The first special session ended earlier this week without budget resolution. Therefore the governor called them back immediately into a second special session. We’re now four days into the second 30-day special session.

As I have reported in the past, those bills that did not pass the legislature during the previous session – bills that died in committee or awaiting a floor vote -- are still alive for legislative purposes. They can be called back and acted on in any subsequent session during the biennium (2017-2018). As a general rule, this does not happen, but it is something we need to be alert to. Those bills (more than 2,000 of them) are effectively frozen in place, and the bills are annotated “BY RESOLUTION, REINTRODUCED AND RETAINED IN PRESENT STATUS. “This is NOT a reintroduction of the bill, nor is it an indication that any action is intended… at this time.

A critical special session will be held later this year. As a result of vacancies that occurred just after the general election last November, several seats are up for what is called “confirmation” to elect the temporary appointees. There will be special elections this year for five vacated Senate seats and three vacated House seats.

Control of the Senate rests on the Senate elections. If the Majority Coalition (24 Republicans and one conservative Democrat) lose a single seat (of the three currently held by Republicans), the Democrats take control of the Senate. At that time it’ll be a race to see what happens first: more gun control bills or higher taxes (the race will likely result in a tie, with both passing).

The three districts with Republican incumbents that need to hold their seats are in the 7^th (northeast Washington), 31^st (south King/north Pierce counties) and the 45^th (north King/south Snohomish counties). The biggest fight will be in the 45^th , and probably also the 31^st. The 7^th is a safe Republican district.

A Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, 1 August. The General Election is on Tuesday, 7 November.

More specifics in the next GOAL Post (probably in two weeks).

BILL STATUS/GOAL POSITION: Nothing to report.

GOAL Post 2017-Special 2

As Joe notes below, all 5 of the gun bills that passed the legislature during the regular session--all of which were "acceptable", if not "good", let alone "on our wish list"--have been signed by Governor Inslee.

There's a lot of talk about him running for President in 2020, and I predict he will try and use the signing of these bills to establish some sort of bona fides for his claimed support for the Second Amendment.

Do not be fooled. He's just another left coast progressive. 

Joe also notes issues with the reporting of NICS denials. The Feds are supposed to pursue this, but do so rarely. That, of course, assumes that the denial is not due to a paperwork mistake or technical error.

***

FROM: GOAL WA goalwa@cox.net

TO: undisclosed recipients

SENT: Fri 5/12/2017 5:28 PM

SUBJECT: GOAL Post 2017-Special 2

Legislative Update from Olympia12 May 2017

•   GOVERNORS SIGNS ALL GUN BILLS
•   SPECIAL SESSION CONTINUES

I reported last week that Governor Inslee signed HB 1100. That means that starting in late summer or early fall (it takes time to set up the system), CPL holders will receive a postcard renewal notice 90 days before their CPL expires.

On May 10^th, the governor signed the remaining four gun-related bills awaiting action. He signed HB 1501, HB 1612, SB 5268 and SB 5552.

HB 1501 requires licensed dealers to notify the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) within five days if an individual pops negative (denial) on a NICS test. Denials may then be reported to the county prosecutor for his/her action, if appropriate. And if a person has a protection or no contact court order against the attempted buyer, the protected person must be notified that the individual attempted to acquire a firearm. Three things here: first, false “denials” are common, either because of mistaken identity or incorrect court documents (especially true of decades-old misdemeanor convictions). Second, an appeal may be filed to correct the record, thus preventing prosecution. Third, prosecution for what? An intentional false answer on an ATF Form 4443 is a false official statement, which is a violation of FEDERAL law. Whether it’s prosecutable as a state offense remains to be seen.

HB 1612 is a continuation of last year’s suicide prevention education bill. Among other measures, the program attempts to educated dealers on the outward signs of suicidal intent by some individuals.(I don’t recall the state, but many, many moons ago an eastern state prohibited sale of a handgun with either one round of ammunition or one magazine/cylinder load of ammunition. The former as a suicide preventive measure, the latter to supposedly restrict workplace violence.

SB 5268 adds e-mail notification of CPL expiration/renewal date provided an e-mail address was provided.

SB 5552 is the bone Democrats threw to gun owners this session, after they killed several solidly pro-gun bills.SB 5552 adds a few exceptions to the background check requirement of I-594, most dealing with close family members (in-laws). It also adds language exempting individuals with federal Curio & Relic licenses from background checks (on C&R-eligible firearms only), taking firearms away from suicidal individuals, and exempting background checks on temporary transfer of firearms to armed security guards by their employer, and transfer of firearms to military honor guards for funeral ceremonies.

The bills take effect on 1 July. That should close out the 2017 regular legislative session.

There are 10 days left in the 30-day Special Session as I write this, ten more days for the House and Senate to agree on a biennial operating budget. As reported before, the Republican-controlled Senate passed a balanced budget, funding all required programs, while the House passed a budget asking for $8 BILLION in tax increases. It’s hard to imagine how the two can be reconciled. 2/3 of the way through the session it does not appear there are any breakthroughs.

Bill Number	Topic	Sponsor	Status
SHB 1100	CPL renewal notice	Blake (D-19)	Governor signed
HB 1501	Illegal purchase of firearms	Hansen (D-23)	Governor signed
2SHB 1612	Suicide prevention	Orwall (D-33)	Governor signed
SB 5268	CPL renewal notice	Takko (D-19)	Governor signed
SB 5552	Certain exemptions to I-594	Pedersen (D-43)	Governor signed