Firearm magazines bans are coming

along with needless complications for the law abiding concealed permit holders.

On January 31^st, the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee voted to pass bills to ban most standard capacity magazines and make it more difficult to obtain a CPL. These bills will now go to the Rules Committee awaiting being pulled to the House floor. Please contact your state Representative and ask them to OPPOSE House Bills 2240 and 1315.

House Bill 2240, as passed out of committee, bans the manufacture, possession, sale, transfer, etc. of magazines that hold more than fifteen rounds of ammunition. This measure is strongly supported by the Governor and the Attorney General. These so called “high capacity” magazines are in fact standard equipment for commonly-owned firearms that many Americans legally and effectively use for an entire range of legitimate purposes, such as self-defense or competition.

Those who own non-compliant magazines prior to the ban are only allowed to possess them on their own property and in other limited instances such at licensed shooting ranges or while hunting. These magazines have to be transported unloaded and locked separately from firearms and stored at home locked, making them unavailable for self-defense.

House Bill 1315 requires more government red tape and further training to obtain a Concealed Pistol License. Mandatory training requirements are yet another cost prohibitive measure intended to ensure that lower income Americans are barred from defending themselves.

Again, please contact your state Representative and ask them to OPPOSE House Bills 2240 and 1315.   

You can use the NRA website, or use the Legislature's website to look up your representatives.

Olympia politicians gutting our rights

Peoples' self-rule elimination bill moving along

A new bill – HB 2529 and Senate companion bill SB 6503 – seeks to ban initiatives and referendums in odd years, while still allowing local governments to run special elections and tax raising measures during all years. Democrats argue that, as voter turnout declines during off years, referendums should be banned. There is no explanation as to why it would be permissible – using this logic – to allow tax increases to appear on the ballot during all years. Of course, the legislation also poses serious constitutionality questions – Washington voters have a constitutional right to initiatives and referendums.

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No despot wants to face an armed populace, thus new gun possession restrictions are in the works.

House Bill 2305 imposes a mandatory firearm prohibition for respondents of a Vulnerable Adult Protective Order. This order, which removes someone’s Second Amendment rights for up to 5 years, requires no criminal convictions or even charges. Due process limits restrictions on constitutional rights to only serious convictions and adjudications that provide procedural protections to the accused, which results in more reliable proceedings. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms should not be treated as a second-class right and should only be restricted when sufficient protections are in place.

House Bill 2622 modifies Washington’s existing firearm surrender provisions for individuals subject to a court order. This bill compels a respondent to appear and testify, under oath, on how and to what extent they complied with the surrender order. This is a serious encroachment on the right against compelled self-incrimination in any criminal, civil, or other government proceedings. Failure to appear would result in the individual being in contempt of court, thereby putting the individual in a no-win situation.

House Bill 2623 prohibits an individual from possessing firearms if they are convicted of the misdemeanor crimes of unlawful aiming or discharge of a firearm. This poorly conceived legislation even applies to airguns and slingshots, and has no exceptions for an individual aiming or discharging a firearm for self-defense purposes in location that would have otherwise not be authorized.

On Friday, the committee is scheduled to vote on the following bills:

House Bill 2240 bans the manufacture, possession, sale, transfer, etc. of magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. This measure is strongly supported by the Governor and the Attorney General. 

House Bill 1315 requires onerous government red tape and further training to obtain a Concealed Pistol License.

Gun-rights elimination bills moving along

(Olympia WA) On January 23^rd, the Washington Senate Law & Justice Committee approved three anti-gun bills, among them Senate Bill 6077 to ban most standard capacity magazines. This will affect all people who use the standard capacity magazine that came with their self-defense weapon if it holds more than 10 rounds.

This bill is now headed to the Rules Committee awaiting being pulled to the Senate floor. In addition, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 1010 to allow the state patrol to destroy confiscated firearms, clearing the way to send this 1010  to the Senate.  

These bills are part of the "Democrat Party's" far left's attempt to eradicate self-defense and freedom.

Please contact your state Senator and urge them to OPPOSE SBs 6077, 6294, and 6288, and HB 1010.  Washington State legislative districts.

Senate Bill 6077 bans the manufacture, possession, sale, transfer, etc. of standard capacity magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. This measure is strongly supported by the Governor and the Attorney General.

Senate Bill 6294 imposes government red tape and expensive training requirements to obtain a Concealed Pistol License.

Senate Bill 6288 creates an Office of Firearm Violence Prevention within the executive branch of state government. Governor Jay Inslee and his administration have already made it clear where they stand on Second Amendment issues—they routinely sponsor and support gun ban legislation and initiatives designed to disarm law-abiding citizens. This office would be nothing more than a tax-payer funded lobby group with the sole purpose of eroding self-defense rights in Washington.

House Bill 1010 passed the House by a vote of 56-42. It allows the Washington State Patrol to waste taxpayer dollars destroying confiscated firearms rather than sell them to raise funds.

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In an out-of-character move, the committee also approved Senate Bill 6406. As amended, it provides that the theft of a firearm from a residence, shop, sales outlet, or vehicle is a Class B Felony. This bill rightly focuses on the illegal actions of criminals, instead of targeting law abiding gun owners.

Again, please contact your state Senator and ask them to OPPOSE SBs 6077, 6294, and 6288, and HB 1010.  Washington State legislative districts.

"The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired...."  --  Washington State Constitution, Article 1, Section 24

Stop the Madness, part 2

"Here are four things that have happened in the first days of the 2020 session:

1. A group of Democrat legislators and several unions kicked off the session by filing briefs with the state Supreme Court asking for them to reverse nearly a century of case law and allow a graduated income tax without a constitutional amendment. Since the new Speaker of the House sponsored income tax legislation several sessions, this is obviously a top priority for them.
    
2. Governor Inslee gave his State of the State address where he urged the legislature to pass a low-carbon fuel standard, something he has been trying to pass for years. His plans would mostly add an extra 57 cents per gallon tax on gas with no roads to show for it.
    
3. Democrats introduced House Bill 2529, which would prohibit initiatives and referendums from being voted on in odd election years. Democrats' bill would significantly restrict voters' constitutionally-provided right to place a check on the legislature – this from the party that consistently complains about voter suppression.
    
4. The Senate wasted no time passing ESSB 5323, a bill from last year that enacts a statewide plastic bag ban. (The plastic bags on our ocean shores floated here from China. Coastal Chinese cities dump their trash in the ocean).  

It seems the Democrat Party majority feels that, since there was a hearing on this bill last year, they could simply skip allowing the public to comment and taking it straight to the floor. The plastic bag ban is among a handful of bills that were rushed through on Wednesday with no public comment this year.

Keep in mind this all happened in the first 72 hours of the 2020 session, and there are still 52 more days to go!

Republicans must regain the majority in the state Senate so we can stop this madness."

-- email from Johnny Alvarado

Doing public business in a dark corner

The Freedom Foundation keeps tabs on the integrity and honesty of Washington State government. 

Contact your lawmakers about HB 1888

HB 1888 is the latest in a series of union-backed bills seeking to undermine the Freedom Foundation’s work to help inform public employees of their First Amendment right to stop paying union dues.

The bill would add new exemptions to the Washington Public Records Act that would make it more difficult for the Freedom Foundation to obtain the lists of public employees from government agencies needed to conduct its outreach.

While unions claim the bill is about protecting employees’ privacy, unions would still be able to collect detailed personal information about employees, including even their Social Security numbers. The reality is that unions simply want to be the only ones able to communicate with public employees.

In addition, HB 1888 would make it harder for investigative journalists to report on public employees engaged in misconduct.

Contact your state legislators and ask them to support government transparency by OPPOSING HB 1888

Hearings On Gun Bills This Week

It is a busy week in Olympia as authoritarians plot how to restrict our civil rights of self defense.  Some of the bills are protective of gun owners, but many are just extra regulations.  One, SB 6077, is actually evil, as formerly lawful gun products would suddenly become illegal to possess.

There are hearings scheduled.

Senate Law & Justice Hearings

Monday January 20^th, 10:00AM-12:00PM

Testimony will be limited to one minute per person, with SB 6294 and 6347 being heard together, and SB 6402 and 6406 being heard together.

Senate Bill 6077 would ban the manufacture, possession, sale, transfer, etc. of standard capacity magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. This measure is strongly supported by the Governor and the Attorney General.

Senate Bill 6294 would impose government red tape and expensive training requirements in order to obtain a Concealed Pistol License.

Senate Bill 6347 would extend the expiration date for a Concealed Pistol License from 5 to 7 years with voluntary proof of completing a basic firearm safety course. 

Senate Bill 6402 also provides increased punishment for the illegal use of a stolen firearm. Under this bill, it would be a Class A Felony for a person, while committing a felony, to discharge a stolen firearm, or use the stolen firearm to threaten or menace another person.

Senate Bill 6406 provides that the theft of a firearm from a residence, shop, or sales outlet is a Class B Felony. This bill rightly focuses on the illegal actions of criminals, instead of targeting law abiding gun owners.

Tuesday, January 21^st, 10:00AM-12:00PM

Senate Bill 6288 would create an Office of Firearm Violence Prevention within the Executive Branch of the state government. Governor Jay Inslee and his administration have already made it clear where they stand on Second Amendment issues—they routinely sponsor and support gun ban legislation and initiatives designed to disarm law-abiding citizens. This office would be nothing more than a tax-payer funded lobby group whose sole purpose is to erode self-defense rights in Washington.

Senate Bill 6163 would strip Second Amendment rights from individuals charged, but not convicted, of a felony DUI. Constitutional rights should only be restricted with sufficient due process of law. Due process limits restrictions on constitutional rights to only serious convictions and adjudications that provide procedural protections to the accused, which results in more reliable proceedings. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms should not be treated as a second-class right and should only be restricted when sufficient protections are in place.

House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee Hearing

Tuesday, January 21st, 10:00AM-12:00PM

Testimony will be limited to 90 seconds per person and HB 2240 and 2241 will be heard together.

House Bill 2240 would ban the manufacture, possession, sale, transfer, etc. of magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. This measure is strongly supported by the Governor and the Attorney General, and is the companion bill to Senate Bill 6077 that is being heard in Senate Law & Justice on Monday, January 21^st.

House Bill 2241 would ban certain semi-automatic rifles and magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. HB 2241, like its predecessors, would do nothing to impact crime or keep Washingtonians safer.

House Bill 2519 would ban online sales of ammunition, and potentially require background checks for all ammunition purchases. This bill comes on the heels of California’s failed ammunition background check system and is being supported by the Attorney General.

House Bill 1374 would abolish Washington’s decades old state preemption statute, allowing localities to pass any gun control measures they see fit. The hearing will be held on a substitute bill that has not yet been released. 

House Bill 1315 would require onerous government red tape and further training to obtain a Concealed Pistol License. The hearing will be held on a substitute bill that has not yet been released.

State Senator O’Ban proposes new plan to save Pierce County from high car tabs
Given more than 66 percent of Pierce County voters approved I-976 and a majority rejected ST3, Republican State Senator Steve O’Ban (28th LD) will push legislation that would allow Pierce County to exit from Sound Transit’s Regional Transit Authority with respect to light rail during the 2020 legislative session. O’Ban calls the legislation his “Trexit” bill. O’Ban’s move comes as the future of the $30 car tab measure remains undetermined.

Study shows U.S. would lose billions by breaching the lower Snake River dams  (duh)
The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association conducted an independent study on the impacts on transportation and infrastructure caused by breaching the lower Snake River dams. They found that it would lead to higher rail rates to move freight and would impact air quality substantially, saying, “Loss of dams would also significantly increase carbon emissions and impacts to fragile economies.” Overall, the study concluded that dam removal would cost the U.S. over $2.3 billion dollars.

Income tax on capital gains
Explanatory note:  Capital gain is the income (or loss) people get for risking money on an investment.  Any people who invest their money rather than spending it on consumption have capital gains. State proposals include gains made on house sales.

Public records reveal what officials at Washington’s Department of Revenue (DOR) have been saying about the state capital gains income tax proposal. Documents reveal DOR officials acknowledge that the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) classifies the capital gains tax as an income tax. The public records requests – courtesy of the Washington Policy Center’s Jason Mercier – also reveal how DOR officials are preparing to combat legal arguments against potential state capital gains income tax proposals.

WSDOT overcharged drivers using SR 99 tunnel
According to the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), more than 1,500 vehicles were overcharged using the SR 99 tunnel from Nov. 9, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2019. The cars were overcharged 25 cents due to a “technical glitch” involving an extra “photo-enforced fee.” Public records reveal the fee was refunded 1,518 times from Nov. 9 to Dec. 31. WSDOT officials claim refunds will be automatic.

Olympia plans assault on gun owners in 2020

The Washington State Legislature convened for its 2020 Legislative Session today, and anti-gun lawmakers have already scheduled a tentative public hearing on numerous gun control bills.  If you are able, please make plans to attend the Senate Law and Justice Committee hearing on Monday, January 20, at 10:00am.

While the agenda hasn’t been finalized, it is expected that the committee will hear the following anti-gun proposals:

Senate Bill 6077 seeks to ban the manufacture, possession, sale, transfer, etc. of standard capacity magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition.  This restrictive measure is strongly supported by Governor Jay Inslee and the Attorney General Bob Ferguson, and would severely limit your ability to defend yourself in a self-defense situation.

Senate Bill 5434, sponsored by Senator Claire Wilson (D-30), would increase prohibited areas where law-abiding citizens cannot possess firearms, including CPL holders carrying for self-defense. The bill extended “gun-free zones” to public parks, libraries, and child care centers before being amended to only apply to child care centers. Anti-gun Senators can easily amend the bill to add more areas when it comes up for vote. Your voice is needed in this critical fight for our freedom and safety. 

CPL Red Tape Bill, while this bill has not yet been filed and given a number, it is expected to increase government red tape and training requirements in order to obtain a Concealed Pistol License. This will be a different bill than the carryover bill heard in 2019.

No politician who respects the People would ever try to complicate their right to be armed

Breaching the Snake River Dams

by Rep. Dan Newhouse

The recently released Lower Snake River Dam Stakeholder Engagement Report, (in pdf) the product of a $750,000 state-funded study on breaching the federally-owned and operated Snake River dams, will be the subject of a public workshop in Tri-Cities on January 13

 

This report, which was drafted over the past year, concludes that "there are differing perspectives" and "more information is needed" on the dam breaching issue. Anybody in Washington state could have told you that. Instead, this study spent three-quarters of a million dollars that could have been used to directly support salmon recovery efforts. 

 

I encourage the people of Central Washington to attend the public workshop on January 13 at the Pasco Red Lion from 6:00PM - 9:00PM. We understand how critical these dams are to our area and realize the impact they have on our daily lives - from clean and affordable energy they provide to the well-paying jobs and investment in our local economies. 

Without these dams, our region - and the state of Washington - would not be what it is today, and we must make our voices heard. While the workshops will not allow for public testimony, public comments are accepted online and in writing until January 24. Find more information about how to submit comments here.

Weekly Olympia Watch

House Democrats' hostile action on charter schools

The Democrat controlled state House Education Committee appears to be preparing a hostile move against charter school families this legislative session. During a recent work session, Democrats committee members referred to charter schools as a “pilot project”. Democrat Committee chair Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos even falsely blamed the closure of Ashe Preparatory Academy on the state Charter School Commission. The Washington State charter school statute is up for re-authorization this year. With Democrats in the hands of the powerful, charter school hating WEA union, the future of our state’s charter school law is precarious.

Olympia Democrat policies continue to devastate rural and coastal Washington

Unemployment stats for November showed Grays Harbor County remained the fourth highest for jobless workers in the state. At a rate of 7.1%, only Ferry, Pend Orielle, and Pacific have higher rates. Democrats continue to create an environment that prevents job creation in rural Washington. We hope the majority will take up policies like Sen. O’Ban’s job tax credit bill which help encourage job growth outside of Puget Sound.

WA residents push for recall of Attorney General Ferguson 

Two Washington state residents are one step closer to obtaining a recall vote for Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court gave the go-ahead for a hearing that could lead for a statewide recall vote. Ultimately, King County Superior Court Judge Bill Bowman will determine whether or not the charges brought against Ferguson are sufficient for a ballot recall initiative. The charges brought against Ferguson pertain to questionable conflict of interest actions.

Advocates for dam destruction manipulate data

In a recent blog post, the Washington Policy Center’s Todd Myers exposes how advocates for the destruction of the Snake River dams manipulate data to support claims the dams impact salmon and steelhead negatively. Advocates for dam destruction allege declines in salmon and steelhead returns, blaming the Snake River dams. Myers – through the use of data – explains how the declines are a long term regional problem, and not a sudden onset.