The unrepresentative legislature

Do you think the Washington State Legislature should represent you?  They are trying to take that responsibility out of the bill passing system.

SB 5224 - in the words of the official digest of the bill "removes the advisory vote from the election statutes."  That would mean we have no voice in determining our taxes or tax rates.

A link to the original bill's text is here.

A link to the bill's "homepage" is here.  You can get an idea of the bill's current status on this page.

Contact your legislator and tell them what you think about being excluded from democracy.  Find your legislative district here.

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Despite that fact that Washington State has a current surplus, the income tax that we voters turned down a couple years ago, is back in different forms:

HB 1343 - which would add $26 billion capital gains and Business & Occupancy taxes to the tax burden.  This little gem is a guaranteed job killer, and it will shut down investment in Washington State

HB 1172 - which would add a capital gains tax to the tax structure.  This is also guaranteed to shut down investment in Washington State.

SB 5314 is cagily titled "an act Relating to assisting Washington families by improving the fairness of the state's tax system by enacting a capital gains tax and providing property tax relief... ."  Imp[rove fairness by reducing existing taxes, then this claim would be a less obvious lie.  Since when has any politician reduced taxes?

HB 1681 Is a stupid promotion of class warfare, by "funding the working families tax exemption by imposing a surcharge on publicly traded companies providing excessive executive compensation... ."  This act would impose extra tax on companies that have owner-executives.  That is, if someone invests in a company he operates, that company is sure to be whacked by this one.  They use plenty of mealy mouthed words to try to confuse the issue, but that is what this bill amounts to.  Imagine profitable companies, Microsoft, for example, not being founded in Washington State.

We the People turned down the carbon tax. 

So governor Inslee had his elitist lackeys in the legislature introduce it as SB 5412.  (Also see SHB 1110.   SHB 1110 is a dwarf version of carbon taxation.  With snow and sub-freezing cold, it's pretty clearly an attempt to get some sort of carbon tax enacted).  

Governor Inslee should be removed from office for attempting to bypass the expressed will of the People.

A few years ago, a friend explained to me the reason the elitists want to disable our  carbon based transportation has nothing to do with the environment.  Rather, it is the elitist preference that the commoners not move around so much. 

The historical record shows the elites of the nineteenth century didn't like trains because it enabled the commoners ability to move.  Elites want the common folk to be bound to the land, just like the 'nobility' of the dark ages.

The end

This is what the Left has degraded into: A dogpile of reactionary elitists.

Olympia nibbles away on private firearms ownership

On February 1^st at 10:00AM, the Washington state House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary will be holding an executive session on anti-gun bills, where they are expected to be brought up for a vote. 

The bills before the committee include legislation for a firearm magazine ban, ending home manufacturing of firearms, and firearm seizures without due process. 

In addition, on the same day, the committee will hold public hearings on bills banning young adults from receiving conventional ammunition and allowing local governments to restrict open carry.

Please contact members of the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary and urge them to OPPOSE House Bills 1068, 1225, 1739, 1319, and 1346.  Click the “Take Action” button below to contact committee members.

House Bill 1068, sponsored by Representative Javier Valdez (D-46), 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. 

House Bill 1739, sponsored by Rep. Valdez, was also filed at the request of Attorney General Ferguson.  It would end the centuries old practice of manufacturing firearms for personal use and also contains provisions that go above and beyond the federal law that already bans undetectable firearms.  

When is the last time you heard of someone with a homemade gun using it in a crime?  HB 1739 is so stupid it is hard to take it seriously.

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 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.  The committee will hold a public hearing for HB 1346 on February 1^st. 

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.  The committee will hold a public hearing for HB 1319 on February 1^st.

The leftists say the NRA doesn't take action.  The NRA can act only through you.  Also, the NRA cannot vote, but you can. 

Yet more gun control

The "Democratic" Party controlled Olympia offers more corrupt gun control.  Restraining the tide of oppression is daunting, but the alternative is awful.  Please continue the struggle -- we will not be alone.
 

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.  Call 1-800-562-6000 to contact your state Senator.

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. 

The following bills have just been introduced:

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.

Anti-Gun Bills Committee Hearings Upcoming

Senate bills will be heard on January 21^st and House bills will be heard on January 22^nd.  Those wishing to attend the hearings should plan to arrive early to find parking and to sign in with opposition to the bills.  Testimony on bills at the January 21^st hearings will be limited to two minutes each, with Senate Bills 5061 and 5062 being heard together.  Click on the bill link to get current location information about where the hearing will be held.

(After the January 21^st hearings, NRA will be holding a meeting in the Irv Newhouse Building conference room by the Capitol at 12:00PM.  NRA members and Second Amendment supporters are invited to stop by in order to hear updates on the session.)

Anti-gun bills will be heard on January 21^st at 10:00AM by the Washington state Senate Committee on Law & Justice and by the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary on January 22^nd at 10:00AM.  Please contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE these gun control bills.

• 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.

• 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 developed by the Washington State Patrol.

• The Proposed Substitute to Senate Bill 5061, sponsored by Senator Manka Dhingra (D-45) and House Bill 1073, sponsored by Representative Javier Valdez (D-46), were filed at the request of Attorney General Ferguson.  They would end the centuries old practice of manufacturing firearms for personal use, among other things. 

• Senate Bill 5143, sponsored by Senator Dhingra, and 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 1068, sponsored by Representative Javier Valdez (D-46), 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.

• House Bill 1203, sponsored by Representative Beth Doglio (D-22), would create a one-size-fits all requirement of how and when lost or stolen firearms must be reported, further victimizing gun owners who suffer a loss or theft of their property.

•  Senate Bill 5340, sponsored by Senator Patty Kuderer (D-48), and companion House Bill 1286 would ban sales of military style weapons (so called "assault weapons").  This bill may pass but it is already contravened by the United States Supreme Court decision in United States v. Miller, in that the decision implicitly stated military style weapons are protected by the Second Amendment guarantee. 

• In addition, one pro-gun bill will be heard on January 22^nd.  House Bill 1024, sponsored by Representative Jim Walsh (R-19), would prohibit the government database of law-abiding gun owners from pistol purchase applications.  A gun owner database is a waste of taxpayer funded resources and does not improve public safety.  Criminals, by definition, do not obey the law.  They do not submit pistol purchase applications when acquiring their firearms illegally such as by theft, on the black market, or by straw purchase.  The only purpose that a gun owner database serves is to facilitate future confiscations of firearms from those who currently own them legally.

Washington 2019 Session Convened - Gun Control Hearings Scheduled

The 2019 Washington Legislative Session convened today, January 14^th, and anti-gun legislators have already pre-filed and scheduled hearings for bills that will infringe upon your Second Amendment rights. 

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.  They would ban the possession of ammunition magazines with a capacity greater than ten, encompassing most standard capacity magazines commonly used by law-abiding citizens.

Senate Bill 5027, sponsored by Senator David Frokt (D-46), and Senate Bill 5072, sponsored Senator Steve O’Ban (R-28), would expand Washington’s existing Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO).  These bills 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.   SB 5027 and SB 5072 are scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:00AM on January 17^th.

House Bill 1010, sponsored by Representative Tana Senn (D-41), would allow the Washington State Patrol to destroy forfeited firearms rather than raise funds by selling them to licensed firearm dealers.  HB 1010 is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:00AM on January 15^th, and has been scheduled for a committee vote on January 18^th.

More bills will be filed in the coming weeks.  Attorney General Ferguson and a major anti-gun group backed by out of state elites previously announced their 2019 legislative agenda, which includes banning commonly owned semi-automatic rifles and repealing RCW 9.41.290, the pre-emption statute, that prevents localities from infringing upon Second Amendment rights.

It’s imperative that Second Amendment supporters stay involved during the 2019 legislative session.  Your NRA will be at the Capitol on a daily basis throughout the session, so please stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for further updates on these bills and other issues affecting your Second Amendment rights in Washington.

Coming Up In Your State -- One Party Rule

Since the Democratic Party has taken total control of the Washington State government, you'd think we're safe from evil.  Sorry, it just ain't so.

Inslee proposes ‘public option’ health-insurance plan for Washington

Inslee also took time out from campaigning to lay out his goals for the 2019 session, set to kick-off tomorrow.  “Gov. Inslee’s policies may be geared more towards Iowa than Washington state,” said Senator Mark Schoesler. Whether it’s pushing for socialized medicine or proposing huge tax increases on families and businesses, Inslee seems set to make the 2019 session be about him and his political future. 

If you think government run health care access is a bad idea, sign this petition: https://act.srcc.org/stop-inslees-health-care-takeover/

Gov. Inslee says he’s focused on the state as speculation swirls about presidential bid

Inslee also took time out from campaigning to lay out his goals for the 2019 session, set to kick-off tomorrow.  “Gov. Inslee’s policies may be geared more towards Iowa than Washington state,” said Senator Mark Schoesler. Whether it’s pushing for socialized medicine or proposing huge tax increases on families and businesses, Inslee seems set to make the 2019 session be about him and his political future.

Washington state Supreme Court declines to review ruling that killed Seattle’s income tax
Potentially lost in all of the pre-session news, was an important decision by the state Supreme Court. Last week, they declined to review a ruling out of a lower-court that stopped Seattle’s unconstitutional income tax in its tracks. “There’s no way they can look at this and see any silver lining,” said Jason Mercier with the Washington Policy Center. We should add that after Seattle’s failure, liberals in Olympia are trying to pass their capital gains tax off as anything other than an income tax…which it is. Just ask the IRS.
 
Why Inslee's idea of fair costs $54.4 billion
In case you missed it, Governor Inslee late last month unveiled his $54.4 billion budget, full of tax increases. He’s proposing a $3.7 billion revenue increase, including an income tax in the form of a 9% capital gains tax and a hike in business taxes. And because new taxes aren’t enough, Democrats will likely continue to block every Republican-led attempt to lower your taxes.

Plastic straw ban: Out of Seattle and on to Washington state

As Seattle goes, so goes the Democrats in Olympia. Liberal Senator Patty Kuderer wants to impose Seattle’s ban on straws with the rest of the state. And that probably won’t be the only bill in the left’s “War on Plastic” this session. It really seemed like it was time to take a look at our use of plastic in general, but plastic straws in particular,” said Sen. Kuderer.

Meanwhile....

State senator proposes bill to block any downtown Seattle tolling plan

While the left takes on those evil plastic straws, the Republican caucus is working on the issues that actually matter to Washingtonians. Senator Tim Sheldon is proposing a bill that will block any city from implementing tolls without permission from the Legislature. “Do we really want a society where only the rich can afford to drive?” Sheldon said.