GOAL Post 2019-10

The new GOAL Post is out, and has arrived in email but is not yet posted at the Gun Owners Action League of Washington web site. Since this has some significant info in it -- and ties in with my previous post -- I'll revert to my past practice of reproducing the entire thing here, with minor editing for formatting.

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

TO: undisclosed recipients

SENT: Fri 3/15/2019 2:14 PM

SUBJECT: GOAL Post 2019-10

Legislative Update from Olympia 15 March 2019

• SB 5954 PASSES LEGISLATURE
• CHAMBER CUT-OFF/TURNOVER DAY
• BILLS LIVE – BILLS DIE
• PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED

In an unusual move, SB 5954 (bump stock buyback funding) passed out of the Senate on 28 February, was fast-tracked through the House on March 11th  where it was amended, so it went back to the Senate, who concurred in the House amendment.  It’s on its way to the Governor.

Of the 23 bills that survived the original chamber policy committee cut-off, only 13 made it through the second cut by passing out of their chamber of origin.  House bills moving to the Senate include HBs 1225 (firearms/DV), 1465 (handgun delivery w/CPL), 1739 (undetectable/untraceable firearms – the Senate version died), 1786 (protective orders/firearms), 1934 (military CPL renewal by mail) and 1949 (single point of contact for background checks).

Senate bills moving to the House include SBs 5027 (underage extreme risk protection orders), 5181 (firearms/Mental health), 5205 (firearms/incompetent for trial), 5434 (new/expanded gun free zones), 5508 (WSP background checks for CPLs) and 5782 (spring-blade knives).  I mentioned SB 5954 above.

Bills that died include HB 1010 (WSP destruction of forfeited firearms), 1068 (high capacity magazine ban), 1381 (UAVs/contraband delivery), 5016 (arming animal control officers), 5061 (undetectable/untraceable firearms), 5062 (high capacity magazine ban), 5099 (target shooting on DNR land), 5143 (firearms/DV incidents). 5150 (college safety officers/weapons) and 5174 (CPL training).

Note BOTH “high capacity magazine” bills (HB 1068, SSB 5062) died, as did the mandatory training requirement for a CPL (SSB 5174).  

There is a public hearing scheduled for HB 1949 (single POC for background checks) in Senate Law & Justice at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, 18 March.  Public hearings scheduled for SB 5508  (WSP background check) in House Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 19.  For SB 5181 (firearms/mental health) in House Civil Rights & Judiciary at 9 a.m. on March 20.  For SB 5782 (spring assisted knives) in House Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10 a.m. on March 22.

If you are tracking a specific bill, you might want to check the bill’s page on “Bill Information” to ensure a hearing was not added later.

(I added a note below in “Other data.”  The same bill information page for each bill that tells you where/how to get copies of bills and bill reports also mentions public hearings are available on TV Washington, both live and archived.  Links to airings are available at the very bottom of the bill page – no need to search the archives.)

{Continued after the jump -- DWD}

Good News/Bad News

NRA-ILA | Washington: Gun Ban Bills Fail Crossover Deadline

Today, March 13th at 5:00PM, was the cutoff deadline for all bills to be voted out of the chamber in which they originated. Having failed to receive a floor vote, the following bills are likely dead for this year.

The Substitute to Senate Bill 5062, sponsored by Senator Patty Kuderer (D-48), and House Bill 1068, sponsored by Representative Javier Valdez (D-46), were filed at the request of Attorney General Bob Ferguson. SB 5062 would have banned the possession of ammunition magazines with a capacity greater than 10 and HB 1068 would have banned those greater than 15. They would have encompassed the standard capacity magazines for many handguns and rifles commonly owned by law-abiding citizens for self-defense. SB 5062 would have required that those who owned 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 had to be transported unloaded and locked separately from firearms and stored at home locked, making them unavailable for self-defense.

Senate Bill 5174, sponsored by Senator Guy Palumbo (D-1), would have increased the time, cost, and government red tape that law-abiding adults must go through in order to obtain a Concealed Pistol License by requiring a mandatory training course that meets arbitrary standards. Adding additional barriers to law-abiding citizens who wish to exercise a constitutional right would not improve public safety. Concealed carry permit holders have consistently demonstrated themselves to be one of the most law-abiding segments of the population in Washington and across the country. Hindering them from being able to defend themselves and their families would not affect criminals who do not obey the law.

Senate Bill 5745, sponsored by Senator Marko Liias (D-21), would have expanded 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 have been ex parte, where the respondent would not have been present to challenge the accuser and defend against allegations made against them. The issuance of an order would have immediately prohibited 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.

House Bill 1010, sponsored by Representative Tana Senn (D-41), would have allowed the Washington State Patrol to destroy forfeited firearms rather than raise funds by selling them to licensed firearm dealers.

However, several anti-gun bills did receive a floor vote and passed their chamber of origin, and are still alive for the session.

House Bill 1225, sponsored by Representative Laurie Jinkins (D-27), 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.

House Bill 1465, sponsored by Representative Roger Goodman (D-45), would require CPL holders to undergo a state background check on handgun purchases instead of the instant NICS check that is currently being conducted as a courtesy by the FBI. Unfortunately, beginning July 1st, the FBI will no longer be conducting these courtesy NICS checks for CPL holders.

House Bill 1786, sponsored by Representative Laurie Jinkins (D-27), would expand firearm seizures to a wider range of protective orders with little to no due process, and in some cases, would remove a judge’s discretion as to whether to impose firearm restrictions upon respondents of protective orders.

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.

Senate Bill 5181, sponsored by Senator Kuderer, would suspend Second Amendment rights without due process for six months from individuals who are admitted for a 72-hour mental health evaluation, but who are not subsequently involuntarily committed.

The Substitute to 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 mandate that child care facilities be “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, they would be required to post signs indicating their “gun-free zone” status.

In addition, pro-gun legislation, House Bill 1934, also passed its chamber of origin and will be advancing. Sponsored by Representative Michelle Caldier (R-26), HB 1934 would allow military members who are stationed or assigned out-of-state to renew their CPL by mail.

Thank you to all the NRA members and Second Amendment supporters that attended committee hearings and contacted legislators. While your NRA is at the Capitol on a daily basis throughout the session, it is your continued involvement that makes the difference. Please stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for further updates on these bills and others affecting our Second Amendment rights in Washington.

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.

Told You So

Not that anyone that reads this blog is likely to have needed telling, but...

Dave Workman writes: Gun Prohibitionist Agenda Confirms ‘Slippery Slope’ - Liberty Park Press

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that when the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives convenes next month, “We will pass common sense gun violence prevention legislation soon, and…it will be bipartisan,” which remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, here in Washington AC, NRA-ILA sends:

NRA-ILA | Washington: Anti-Gun Group Announces 2019 Agenda 

On December 5^th, the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, a group backed by out-of-state elites, announced it will pursue its most extreme anti-gun legislative agenda to date during the upcoming 2019 Washington Legislative Session.  This comes less than one month after the Alliance for Gun Responsibility and Seattle tech-billionaires spent millions to pass Initiative 1639, which made the state’s gun control laws amongst the worst in nation.

Some of the most egregious restrictions in the Alliance for Gun Responsibility’s 2019 agenda includes the following:

• Standard Capacity Magazine Ban:  Targets commonly owned standard capacity ammunition magazines by arbitrarily branding them as “High Capacity Magazines,” and restricts access for self-defense purposes.
• Government Mandated Training to Obtain CPL:  Would require all new applicants and renewing holders of a concealed pistol license show documentation they have completed a firearms safety course
• Abolish State Preemption:  Washington’s state preemption statute, passed in 1983, helps keep firearm and ammunition laws consistent throughout the state by establishing that the State Legislature has full authority to regulate and create laws pertaining to firearms and ammunition.  These statutes help prevent a confusing patchwork of gun control laws which make it difficult for gun owners to ensure that they are following the law and also protects the Second Amendment rights of all Washingtonians, regardless of where they reside.
• Remove Second Amendment Rights without due process:  Impose a firearm prohibition for any person who has been released from a 72-hour mental health evaluation. This type of legislation removes a constitutional right without any mental health adjudication or judicial determination, and without any due process of law.
• Expand “Gun-Free Zones” to child care facilities and early learning centers:  This type of policy creates arbitrary boundaries around areas where law-abiding individuals are prohibited from carrying a firearm for self-defense.  These arbitrary boundaries do not deter criminals.
• Firearm Destruction by Washington State Patrol:  Allows for the destruction of all firearms confiscated by or forfeited to the Washington State Patrol.  Like other seized items, these firearms should be sold by law-enforcement to generate revenue instead of spending money to have them destroyed.
• Require Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms by setting a timeframe for when they must be reported under penalty of law:  Individuals should not be further victimized after experiencing a burglary or other loss.

Your NRA will continue to fight for the Second Amendment rights of Washingtonians and will be at the Capitol on a daily basis throughout the 2019 legislative session.  Your active participation is needed to help protect self-defense rights in the Evergreen state.  Please sign up as an NRA Frontlines volunteer and get at least three fellow gun owners to also sign up to receive timely legislative alerts on firearm-related bills during this upcoming session.  Make plans to attend committee hearings on these bills in Olympia when NRA-ILA notifies you of the place and location.  Also, contact your state lawmakers before and during session urging them to OPPOSE these measures. 
Please stay tuned to your email inbox and www.nraila.com for further updates on pre-filed bills and ways to be involved when the legislature convenes on January 14^th.

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...

WA: I1639 Update from SAF

Second Amendment Foundation:SAF, CCRKBA CONTEND I-1639 INVALID; ‘DOESN’T MEET LEGAL GUIDELINES’

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today raised serious new concerns about the validity of Initiative 1639, the gun control measure now gathering signatures, because petitions do not appear to meet state-mandated guidelines for having a “full, true, and correct copy of the proposed measure” printed on the back.
Having already raised the issue of readability as required by state law, the two organizations now believe that in its printed form on the back of each petition, I-1639 does not meet the “full, true and correct” requirement. SAF and CCRKBA examined the printed text on an official petition and discovered that language designated to be changed or removed is not “lined out,” nor are proposed new statutory additions underlined as they appear in the version submitted to the state and published on the Secretary of State’s website.

“We warned earlier this week that the tiny print on I-1639 petitions makes the document unreadable according to several people who have contacted us,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “If you look closely, which requires a magnifying glass, this new problem becomes obvious.

“We immediately advised our attorney about this,” he added. “He already reached out to the initiative sponsors about the readability issue, but they didn’t respond. If they are so careless about knowing what is, or is not, shown on their own petitions, how is anyone else supposed to know?

“They’re asking people to sign an initiative that is difficult, if not impossible to read,” Gottlieb observed. “And now we’ve discovered that even if people can read the fine print, it does not appear to be a ‘true and correct copy’ of the proposed measure as submitted to the state.

“What are voters supposed to think about this,” he wondered. “How are they supposed to know what they’re being asked to change? How can they tell the difference between what would become law, and what would be replaced? Are they simply expected to sign a document they can’t read and vote on a measure they don’t understand? That’s not democracy, that’s Trojan Horse politics.

“If these petitions, which are not compliant with state law, are turned in,” Gottlieb vowed, “our organizations will seek to have them invalidated by the court.”

SOS also weighed in: More legality issues with I-1639 gun control petitions
 

Text of HR 5087, new Federal "Assault Weapon" Ban

Text - H.R.5087 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Assault Weapons Ban of 2018 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Institutes a 10 round magazine limit.

"Improves" upon the Clinton Ban by banning any semi-automatic rifle with one "Evil Feature". (Note: It even admits that a "barrel shroud" is a safety device, but still bans it...)

Co-Sponsored by The Usual Suspects. Including my own Representative, who was, at one time, rated B by the NRA.

Adds mandatory "safe storage" for grandfathered "assault weapons."

Includes a "by-name" list of banned rifles and shotguns...

...and an extensive "by-name" list of exempt rifles and shotguns, including not only semi-automatics, but pump, bolt, lever-action, break action, and even by-name list of "drillings and combinations."

(Nothing suspicious about that at all, right?)

But, hey, it lets retired Law Enforcement Officers keep their Large Capacity Feeding Devices upon retirement, IF they purchased them for on-duty use before retirement... 

GOAL Post 2018-9

 I was going to leave these to the GOAL web site (top of right sidebar) but SB6620 has been amended to make it worse, if possible...

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FROM: GOAL WA <goalwa@cox.net> (Joe Waldron)
TO: undisclosed recipients
SENT: Fri 3/2/2018 3:45 PM

SUBJECT: GOAL Post 2018-9

Legislative Update from Olympia 2 March 2018

BILLS MOVE

SIX DAYS LEFT IN REGULAR SESSION

RESPONSE TO FLORIDA SHOOTING

WHAT DO POLICE OFFICERS THINK?

Bills continue to move as the session winds down.SB 5992 (bump stock ban) has been sent to Governor Inslee for his signature. HBs 2363 (drone delivery of contraband) and 2519 (return of CPLs) still await a floor vote. SBs 5553 (suicidal, waiver of rights) and 6298 (DV harassment firearm ban) were both amended in the House and thus require a concurrence vote by the Senate. HB 3004 (school safety/semi-auto rifles) was assigned to House Judiciary, where it sits without action.

The biggest news this week is that SB 6620, the newly-filed “School security and safety of students” bill, was significantly amended in the Senate Ways & Means committee before passing out to Senate Rules for a floor vote yesterday.Shotguns were completely removed from the bill, All reference to “tactical features” for semi-auto rifles was removed – meaning it now applies to ALL semi-auto rifles, even your 10-22. It grandfathers existing legal possession, meaning 18-20 year olds that currently possess semi-auto rifle(s) may keep them.The requirement for the dealer (FFL) to file a separate background check request to local law enforcement (as is done with handguns) remains, but it eliminates delivery of a copy to the Department of Licensing and prohibits DoL from entering the information into a data base. While arguably a slight improvement in the bill, it is still an unacceptable violation of both the 2nd Amendment and Article 1, Section 24.

There are six days left on the legislative session, which by law must end by midnight next Thursday. Most of that time will be taken up with House and Senate floor sessions, taking up the bills that haven’t had their final vote yet. Differences in bills as passed by both chambers, where they exist (bills amended in the second chamber) must be reconciled before a final vote may be taken.

For those of you who have been following the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, and the mass, mainstream media-driven outrage that followed it, you might have questioned how the response could have been so well organized. The linked article below gives some background on that. Be prepared for similar performances (and that’s what much of it is, an orchestrated performance) following future incidents. Their end goal is effective repeal of the Second Amendment through further restrictions on firearms. Of all types (look how they amended SB 6620 (above) from semi-auto rifles with “tactical features” to include ALL semi-auto rifles).

http://thefederalist.com/2018/03/01/take-two-weeks-truth-emerge-parkland-students-astroturfing/

Read this the results of this survey by PoliceOne.com to see what 15,000 law enforcement professionals think of various gun control proposals.It’s dated, but came out shortly after the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, so it ties in with today’s happenings.

https://www.policeone.com/gun-legislation-law-enforcement/articles/6183787-PoliceOnes-Gun-Control-Survey-11-key-lessons-from-officers-perspectives/

BILL STATUS/GOAL POSITION:

HB 2363 Drone delivery of firearms to offenders Pellicciotti (D-30) S. Rules SUPPORT

HB 2519 Return of seized CPLs Lovick (D-44)S. Rules SUPPORT

HB 3004 Student safety/semi-auto rifles Jinkins (D-27)H. Jud. OPPOSE

SB 5553 Suicidal, waiver of rights Pedersen (D-43)Concurrence vote NEUTRAL

SB 5992 Bump stock ban Van De Wege (D-24)To Governor OPPOSE

SB 6298 DV harassment firearm ban Dhingra (D-45) Concurrence votes OPPOSE

SB 6620 Student safety/semi-auto rifles Frockt (D-3) S. Rules OPPOSE

HB = House bill, SB = Senate bill.L&J = Law & Justice, Jud = Judiciary, PubSaf = Public Safety, HC = Health Care, H. K-12 = House Early education, Aprop = Appropriations, Fin = Finance, W&M = Ways &Means

“S” before a bill number indicates Substitute, “E” means Engrosssed (both mean amended).

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, 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 "goalwa@cox.net ". 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 WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at "joewaldron@cox.net" 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 "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):

Puyallup 24-25 March

Puyallup 28-29 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 2018 Gun Owners Action League of WA

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Posted by: GOAL WA <goalwa@cox.net>

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GOAL Alert 2018-2

Action needed!

or

BOHICA!

***

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

TO: undisclosed recipients

SENT: Sun 2/25/2018 6:27 AM

SUBJECT: GOAL Alert 2018-2

GOAL Alert 2018-2

Legislative alert from Olympia25 February 2018

HOUSE COUNTERPART TO SB 6620

ACTION NEEDED, NOW!

I’d say I’m sorry for the rush of messages, but I’m not.The rush is caused by end-of-session manipulation by Democrat “leadership” in Olympia, and calls for a strong response.

As I have posted frequently, it ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings.And she’s not scheduled to sing until midnight on 8 March (a week from this coming Thursday). While the legislature sets cut-off dates and other procedural processes to keep bills moving and cull out other bills, the bottom line is that these are not written in the state Constitution, they are internal rules adopted by the legislature and may be changed by the legislature at will.

The House has filed a “counterpart bill”, HB 3004, to SB 6620.A counterpart bill is a verbatim duplicate of the bill filed in the other chamber. If both pass unamended, it/they go straight to the governor for his signature.

SB 6620/HB 3004 is a 14 section, 28 page bill in their words, “Improving security in schools and the safety of our students.” What it is is a Trojan horse, gun control hidden under the guise of the standard Democrat mantra “It’s for the children.”

Part I of the bill is a single section less than one page in length and talks about unspecified funding for “school emergency response systems.” Part II, “Students protecting students,” is three more sections spread over 10 pages and discusses nominally establishes a program whereby students may – anonymously if so desired – report potential threats to school safety and sets out procedures, including court action, to be followed, as well as identity protection for all involved in the process up to and including law enforcement and court personnel.

Part III is the zinger, “Semiautomatic rifles or shotguns with tactical

features.” 18 pages, 24 sections describing the offending firearms as semi-auto rifles or shotguns with detachable magazines (mostly the features such as pistol grip, thumbhole stock, flash hider, grenade launcher – the standard litany of evil features from the federal 1994 Clinton/Feinstein “assault weapon ban”). There are some omissions here but I’m not going to identify them. Please note that these definitions do not include tube-fed firearms or manually operated firearms.

The principal focus in Part III is shifting “semiautomatic rifles and shotguns” to the same category as that applied to handguns: they can only be sold to individuals age 21 and over, and are subject to the additional requirements for handguns: additional state paperwork and waiting periods (with the existing CPL exemption).

Keep in mind, under I-594 ALL firearm transfers must be processed by a licensed dealer, meaning that de facto registration already exists via the FFL’s required record-keeping, but this would effectively add offending semi-auto firearms to the state pistol registry, creating an on-line data base of such firearms.

It also increases the state firearm dealers license fee from $125 to $150.

Text of SB6620: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6620.pdf

Text of HB 3004 has not been posted yet, but the bill’s home page is at: http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=3004&Chamber=House&Year=2017:

It is the intention of legislative “leadership” to ram this bill through before the end of the session.How much time will be given to public testimony remains to be seen – at this point nu public hearings are scheduled.

It is imperative that you contact your legislators as soon as possible to ask that they remove Part III from the bill.Parts I and II are likely legitimate, but Part III is strictly a ploy to use school and children’s safety as a cover for more gun control.

You can find your legislators by visiting: http://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder

Once you find your district, simply scroll down to see your Senator and Representatives listed.Click on their name and it will take you to their information, including a link to e-mail them.

Or you can call the Legislative Hotline toll-free at (800) 562-6000.

We need to flood the legislature with you going on record opposing Part III of SB 6620/HB 3004.

This is just step one on their agenda.There is already discussion of raising the age limit for the purchase of ALL firearms to age 21. The Constitution does not impose an age limit on the exercise of fundamental, enumerated (listed) constitutional rights.Not to mention the fact that you can enlist in the military, or be drafted, and fight for your country at age 18.

If anyone receiving this is attending the WAC gun show in Puyallup today, please make copies of this and take them to the show.Thank you.

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Posted by: GOAL WA goalwa@cox.net

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'Nuff said

GOAL Post 2018-8

I've skipped the last couple of GOAL Posts, they are linked in the right-hand sidebar. 

But I felt that this week's was important to post, if only for Joe's comments on the recent events in Florida.

As usual, minor editing for formatting, a couple of typos or elisions from the original are called out with "{sic}".

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FROM: wa-ccw@yahoogroups.com (Joe Waldron)

TO: undisclosed recipients

SENT: Fri 2/23/2018 5:50 PM

SUBJECT: GOAL Post 2018-8

Legislative Update from Olympia23 February 2018

• BILLS MOVE
• NO PUBLIC HEARINGS NEXT WEEK
• CONFERENCE COMMITTEES
• TWO WEEKS LEFT IN SESSION
• FLORIDA SHOOTING

HB 2363 (drone delivery of contraband) passed out of Senate Law & Justice to Senate Rules awaiting a floor vote. HB 2519 (return of CPLs) also passed out of Senate Law & Justice to Rules, but not before they amended the bill to it’s original form, removing the language that allowed current and former military members aged 18-20 to apply for and receive a concealed pistol license (several states with age 21 CPL requirements have opened them up to military members over 18). ed {sic} on the House floor to reimburse those owners who surrender them to police. SB 5553 (suicidal, waiver of firearm rights) passed out of the House on a77-20 vote with one excused.SB 5992 (bump stock ban) passed out of the House on a 56-41 vote also. The bill was amended to create a buyback program for banned bump stocks. Seven other amendments to limit the impact of the bill failed.SB 6298 (DV harassment firearms ban) passed out of the House Judiciary committee with an important amendment. Back in 1994, when many DV-related misdemeanors were made firearm disqualifiers, it was retroactive – a listed DV-related conviction at any time in the past prohibited future possession of firearms.SB 6298 was amended to allow only DV harassment convictions after this law takes effect to act as a disqualifier.

Unfortunately, the amendment is still lipstick on a pig. No misdemeanor conviction of any law should allow denial of a fundamental, enumerated right listed in the Constitution. Period. Add to that the common he said, she said nature of many of these DV offenses, in many cases with no physical proof offered.(We’ve been over this before: domestic violence is a serious issue and must not be tolerated, but if it’s that serious, make it a felony.)

No public hearings involving firearms are scheduled for next week. It’s all floor action now.

If a bill is amended in the second chamber and passes, it must go back to the original chamber to approve the change. If approval (another floor vote) is not granted, it goes to a conference committee composed of members from both chambers to iron out the difference(s). Then it goes back to both chambers for approval.

At this point, and we’re pretty far along in the session, it appears there will be no immediate, direct impact of the Florida shooting in Olympia. For now.

If you’ve been following the national news all this past week, it appears the only thing in the world that has happened is the Parkland, Florida school shooting. The overwhelming media focus is on gun control, calling for bans on AR-15s and other “assault weapons,” raising the age to purchase ”assault weapons,” or in some cases, all firearms, to 21.Suggestions have also been made by some to arm SOME teachers (the establishment doesn’t like that, nor do teachers’ unions), or to provide for more school resource officers. The outcome remains to be seen.

A couple of things of note, though. The call for more gun control seems to be exceptionally-well organized. And funded. One Parkland survivor invited to attend a CNN episode on the shooting says he was denied the opportunity to ask the questions he wanted to ask, and instead was given a scripted question to ask. More and more information has come out about the shooter and the incident. He was a long term “problem kid,” with many fellow students reporting major issues with him including threats, he was expelled from Parkland, the Broward County Sheriff’s deputies had made more than three dozen calls to his home in the past few years. Clearly red flags were being waved – and ignored. Then the FBI dropped the ball after the “kid” posted a You Tube comment that he wanted to become a “professional school shooter” (a comment alleged made at other times and places, too).

The worst failure here was the fact that they just revealed that the on-scene School Resource Officer stayed outside under cover when the shooting started, and remained outside for at least four minutes. The major lesson learned in 1999 after the Columbine, CO, school shooting is that you don’t wait outside to see how things develop, you immediately enter. It’s called “running to the sound of gunfire” and has been “school shooter” Rule #1 since 1999.The news is reporting that the officer has resigned, but most fail to add that he was actually allowed to retire.

Just before I closed this out, another local police department whose officers responded to the Parkland H.S. shooting are reporting that when they arrived on scene, four additional Broward County deputies were also outside the school, guns drawn, but not going inside.

Former Milwaukee County Sheriff, NRA Director and staunch pro-gun advocate made the comment that George Soros fingerprints are all over this. I tend not to buy into conspiracy theories for a variety of reasons, but the number of coincidences in this one certainly raise questions. (And the media now says these conspiracy theories originated with the Russian{sic}. Maybe the shooter was a Russian immigrant?)

BILL STATUS/GOAL POSITION:

{After the jump. DWD}

GOAL Post 2018-2

Week two. 
There was a rally in Olympia today, only about 150 or so showed up. The weather sucks, and getting to Oly from north of Tacoma has become something of a nightmare. So far as I know, though, there was no Open Cary jackassery, so we have that going for us... 
(Since I am now working Graveyard Shift, any such activity is awkward for me, at best...)

In addition to the efforts on the part of Seattle commies to infringe on the Second Amendment Rights of Washingtonians, they are also said to be considering passing a "sweetened beverage" tax; from the description, they looked at the one Seattle itself recently passed and said "Hold my non-fat half-caff latte and watch this!"
(Milk-based beverages are exempt, but under this proposal, diet and alcoholic beverages will not be...)

This after the first order of business, which was repealing the state law requiring a two thirds majority for any tax bills.

Meanwhile, Hizzoner The Governor really, really, REALLY wants to institute a carbon tax on Washingtonians. 

Like I said last week, batten down the hatches and fasten your seat belts...

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

TO: wa-ccw@yahoogroups.com
SENT: Fri 1/12/2018 3:13 PM

SUBJECT: GOAL Post 2018-2

GOAL Post 2018-2

Legislative Update from Olympia12 January 2018 

• GUN RIGHTS RALLY
• LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR
• NEW GUN BILLS FILED
• PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED

Somewhere between 125-150 gun rights supporters showed up at the rally conducted on the Capitol Campus earlier today.Several legislators spoke to the crowd, including Representatives Matt Shea (R-4), Brian Blake (D-19), Vicki Kraft (R-17), Morgan Irwin (R-31) and Senator Phil Fortunato (R-31). After the formal presentations ended, individual participants visited their legislators’ offices. A big thank you to the legislators who spoke and to all who made the trek to Olympia to show the flag..

The following cut-off dates are proposed for bills under consideration in the 2018 regular legislative session. As a general rule, if a bill fails to pass a hurdle, it is considered dead for the session. Exceptions can be made.

2 February: Bills must pass out of policy committee

5 February: Bills must pass out of chamber fiscal committee (only bills with major fiscal impact)

14 February: Bills must pass out of house of origin (House bills out of House, Senate bills out of Senate)

23 February: Bills must pass out of policy committee in second chamber

26 February: Bills with major fiscal impact must pass out of second chamber fiscal committee

2 March: Bills must pass out of second chamber (House bills out of Senate, Senate bills out of House), except for bills in a conference committee to iron out differences in House/Senate versions,budget bills and initiatives.

8 March: Sine die – close of regular legislative session.

HB 2363, by Rep. Pellicciotti (D-30), makes any attempt to use a drone to deliver a deadly weapon to an incarcerated individual a Class C felony.SB 6146, by Sen. Saldada (D-37), repeals RCW 9.41.290, our state preemption law, that prohibits local government from passing its own gun laws.I believe Washington was first in the nation with this, 35 years ago. 42 states now have preemption laws. If this passes, every county, city and town can pass their own gun control laws, a patchwork quilt of laws that will trip up gun owners traveling across the state.SB 6247, by Sen. Dhingra (D-45), prohibits firearm possession by individuals with a history of violence who are not deemed competent to stand trial.

The Senate Law & Justice Committee will conduct public hearings on SBs 5992 (trigger devices), 6049 (magazine restrictions), 5444 (modern sporting rifle registration), 5463 (safe storage) and 6146 (preemption repeal) on 15 January at 10 a.m. in Senate Hearing Room 4, John A. Cherberg Building.That is the only public hearing on gun bills scheduled this week.A strong turnout would help.

BILL NUMBER/SUBJECT/SPONSOR/STATUS/GOAL POSITION:

GOAL Post2017-Special-Final?

Missed this one. 

On the subject of Seattle agenda and Seattle taxes, the Constitution of the State of Washington specifically bans income taxes, including those levied by municipalities. 

They're going for it anyway.

They're mandating that landlords give tenants voter registration cards. No mention if ensuring that the tenants are eligible to vote. 

Plus, RUMINT has it that the progressive super-rich are putting together a ballot initiative of  "common sense gun laws" which will include a requirement to register all "assault weapons" including  "high capacity" magazines, with a surtax on each item registered.

***

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

TO: Undisclosed recipients

SENT: Fri 7/21/2017 2:04 PM

SUBJECT: GOAL Post2017-Special-Final?

Legislative Update from Olympia21 July 2017

·        THIRD SPECIAL SESSION ENDS

·        NO ACTION ON GUNS

·        GRIDLOCK PREVAILS

·        SPECIAL ELECTION UNDERWAY

·        GOAL ENDORSEMENTS FOR SENATE

There was no action taken on gun issues throughout the three special sessions.

The third special session of the legislature came to a close last night without passing a capital construction budget. The governor says he will not call them back into session until they have resolution on a capital (state construction) budget.

What is at dispute is control of water in rural areas. A year-old state Supreme Court decision that allows counties to block well water drilling on private property, thus limiting development. Easy access to water is crucial for rural development. But the Seattle gang that controls Olympia wants rural to stay rural, so they can drive out on the weekend and see the pretty greenery.

Primary ballots have already been mailed for a handful of special elections to be held this fall. Control of the state Senate is at stake, and with it control of your wallets. If Democrats take just one (of

three) Republican senate seats up for grabs, Governor Inslee will have total Democrat control of the legislature next January, and this year’s failed tax proposals (state income tax, capital gains tax, etc.) will sail through next January.

Our focus in this special election is on the critical state senate seats, which will; determine who prevails in Olympia next legislative session. GOAL has endorsed the following candidates:

7^th Legislative District Senator Shelly Short (R)

31^st Legislative District Senator Phil Fortunato (R)

45^th Legislative District Jinyoung Englund (R)

The 45^th is probably the most competitive race and places both gun owners and taxpayers at greatest risk. If ever there was a time to get involved in politics, it is now. Make a donation (the cost of a box of bullets… or more; some of your time to volunteer – campaigns survive on volunteer support). Or you can sit back and kick taxes in to support whatever cockamamie programs Seattleites come up with next year to buy votes.

Hopefully this is the final GOAL Post for the year – for legislative matters, anyway.

BILL STATUS/GOAL POSITION: Nothing to report.