Gun control by insurance requirement

On Monday, January 29^th, the Senate Law and Justice Committee will hold a public hearing for Senate Bill 5963. The bill that would require gun owners to have a home insurance policy if they own a firearm, even they are renters. This bill will not reduce crime but will only price law abiding gun owners out of home insurance policies, if they can even obtain the coverage. Please contact the members of the committee and urge them to OPPOSE SB 5963.  Or click on the Take Action button below.  Or both.

SB 5963, requires every legal firearm owner to obtain a "residential dwelling policy" that is to be kept wherever the firearm(s) may be stored. The policy is required to cover loss or damage resulting from the accidental or unintentional discharge of a firearm. 

Mandating insurance policies will in no way reduce crime and the illicit use of firearms, as criminals and other prohibited persons could never secure coverage. Instead, this legislation would serve as a barrier to those seeking to exercise their rights, including unknown annual costs. 

SB 5963 could be utilized as a backdoor registration scheme, which would include sensitive personal information on firearm owners, including name, address, phone number and other identifiers. 

Also, given the uncertainty if this type of coverage would even exist, it could put insurance companies in a position of increased pricing on policies based on the types and number of firearms covered. 

This legislation is not rooted in public safety, but instead provides an additional avenue for the Washington State Legislature to harass and burden law-abiding citizens.  The bill is a clear violation of Washington state's constitution "The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired.... (Art1, §24)"

Please contact the members of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and Urge them to OPPOSE SB 5963!

Rent control moves ahead in legislature

Update 2/27/24: HB-2114 - Rent Control is Dead for 2024.  The bill died in committee.

Its beginning to look like Washington state government is going to impose rent control.    There are two, identical rent control proposals filed.  They are House Bill 2114 and Senate Bill 5961.

Many of us have not lived in a place with rent control, so wee don't know about how screwed up rent control makes things.  Quality of housing is ignored under rent control.  So what if you could rent a great place for a good rate if it is not available?  So what if you have a great rent on a place that is in a neighborhood the police don't go to?  Usually rent amounts is inn response to all these factors and more.  

Rent control was the origin of the slums in New York City.  Rents were set to satisfy politicians -- not to solve housing problems. And our legislature is set to try it soon.

Let the legislators know you're onto their game (link).  Rent control is a bad idea.

•     Rent control squeezes housing providers leading to less spending, resulting in lower sales tax revenues for thew state
•     Rent control is proven to reduce investment regardless of any exemptions
•     Rent control is proven to reduce property values
•     Rent control will lower investment and lower property values, which both lower government income.
•     Rent control will significantly reduce the property tax revenues state and local governments collect from housing providers.
•     Local and state governments rely on these property taxes in order to properly address the needs of their residents, lower revenues will reduce quality of life for residents of Washington state while simultaneously making housing affordability more difficult.

Rent control would be a disaster for the people who need housing.

Vote out those legislators who vote for rent control.  Impolite will keep yo posted.

Washington state operating budget graphic

Operating budget ($69.8 billion for 2023-2025)

The 2023-25 operating budget of $69.8 billion funds the day-to-day operations of state government for the two-year period ending Jun 30, 2025. The operating budget will be updated this session to reflect adjustments in state revenues and spending.

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Just so you can know what getting soaked looks like....

Gun ban in "sensitive places" passes out of committee

CLICK HERE TAKE ACTION

On Thursday, January 18th, the Senate Law and Justice Committee passed an amended version of Senate Bill 5444, a "sensitive places" expansion bill, out of committee.

The bill has now been referred to the Ways and Means Committee. Please contact your Senator now and ask them to OPPOSE SB 5444 by clicking the TAKE ACTION button above.

Publicly-accessible areas categorized in the bill as "gun-free" zones include:

• Public Parks
• Public Transit
• State and local government buildings
• Public libraries
• Zoos and aquariums

There is no way to insure violent criminals will respect a "sensitive place." So the bill does not include any measures that would protect law-abiding citizens.  The bill does not recognize that words alone make a poor shield.

Olympia - One gun ban passes committee

On Thursday, January 18th, the Senate Law and Justice Committee passed an amended version of Senate Bill 5444, a "sensitive places" expansion bill, out of committee. 

SB 5444 increases “gun-free zones” where law-abiding citizens are left defenseless in publicly accessible areas, including:

• Public parks
• Public transit
• State and local government buildings
• Public libraries, and
• Zoos and aquariums

Nothing in the bill requires these “sensitive places” have any measures to protect citizens and prevent armed criminals from ignoring this arbitrary boundary and entering. 94% of mass shootings occur in these gun free zones, signage is not enough to stop criminals.

During the public hearing on Monday in the Senate Law and Justice Committee, the NRA testified in opposition and challenged the committee’s interpretation that this bill did not apply to the concealed carry of firearms. The NRA’s challenge prevailed, and the committee confirmed that SB 5444 would prohibit concealed carry in the so called "sensitive places" the bill proposes.

Thanks to pressure from the NRA and pro-Second Amendment Senators, during today’s executive session, the committee voted to amend the bill. Concealed Pistol License holders would not be prohibited from carrying concealed in the expanded "sensitive places". This is a big win for law abiding gun owners. However, our work and opposition is not done. The otherwise lawful carry of firearms remains prohibited criminal conduct and must be defeated.

The bill has now been referred to the Ways and Means Committee. Please contact your Senator now and ask them to oppose SB 5444 by clicking the Take Action button below.

 

Anti-Gun Bills Scheduled for Hearings Next Week in Olympia

Democrats in Olympia have proposed new ways to abuse gun owners (and anyone interested in self-defense). 

You can Click Here to Take Action on all bills simultaneously, and tell all the committee members what you think and use the convenient form letter provided. Or you can enter specific comments on individual bills by going to the link provided for each bill, and look for the 'Comment' or 'Testify' links for that bill.

House Bill 1902 and Senate Bill 6004 require individuals obtain a permit with live-fire training to be able to exercise the right to purchase firearms. A similar permitting scheme was recently held unconstitutional by an Oregon judge.

House Bill 1903 further victimizes otherwise law-abiding gun owners and places the liability on crime victims for theft of their own property by penalizing failing to report missing or stolen firearm within 24 hours.

House Bill 2021 and Senate Bill 6001 expand the authorized and/or required destruction of firearms held by state and local government entities.

House Bill 2054 rations Second Amendment rights by limiting firearm dealers from transferring or selling more than one firearm per 30 day period to an individual.

House Bill 2118 seeks to drive gun stores and other licensed firearm dealers out of business by imposing expensive, one-size-fits-all requirements.

Senate Bill 5985 codifies the unconstitutional provisions of Washington’s recent ban on commonly-owned firearms into the section of state code on background checks.  The bill's web page states this bill was requested by the Washington State Patrol.  If you decide to read it, you'll want to know the first 12 pages are all definitions.  The definitions tell us what they will eventually ask to ban.

Meanwhile the Senate: The Senate Law and Justice Committee will hold public hearings on Monday and Tuesday. An executive session and potential vote on the bills is scheduled on January 19^th.

January 15^th at 10:30AM

Senate Bill 5444 increases “gun-free zones” where law-abiding citizens are left defenseless in publicly accessible areas, including parks, public transit, and government buildings. Nothing in the bill requires these “sensitive places” have any measures to protect citizens and prevent armed criminals from ignoring this arbitrary boundary and entering, such as metal detectors, security guards, or a police presence.

January 16^th at 10:30AM

Senate Bill 5985 codifies the unconstitutional provisions of Washington’s recent ban on commonly-owned firearms into the section of state code on background checks.

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"I knew those dirty dog Democrats would immediately conduct hearings on A LOT of bad bills this week. It's one of the sneakiest things they do. Before anyone even knows Olympia is up-and-running, Democrats schedule 'public' hearings and pack the room with all the pigs feeding at the trough" ---Tim Eyman.

Olympia proposes rent control (again)

Its hard to believe that our state government can do anything better than the private economy.  We the people have had to live under this legislature laws on stuff like the prohibition of the police from pursuing  a violent criminal, and an increase in spending (and taxation) of $68 billion over the last ten years. Now the legislature is entertaining itself with rent control proposals.  

Impolite is against rent control.  Impolite prefers freedom.

Everywhere rent control has been imposed, rental housing has become more scarce and more expensive.  The implicit assumption of rent control is that landowners are somehow worthless people,  Like any form of class warfare, the underlying assumption is no different in substance than racism.

There are two, identical rent control proposals filed.  They are House Bill 2114 and Senate Bill 5961.

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Be a citizen, not a subject.  Take a position.

The House Housing Committee hearing on HB 2114 is scheduled for Thursday, January 11 at 8:00 am in the John L. O’Brien Building Room B

To testify in-person, click here
To testify virtually, click here
To submit written testimony, click here
To state opposition to be noted for the legislative record, click here

The Senate Housing Committee hearing on SB 5961 is scheduled for Friday, January 12 at 10:30 am in the JA Cherberg Building Room 4

To testify in-person, click here
To testify virtually, click here
To submit written testimony, click here
To state opposition to be noted for the legislative record, click here

Please note that you must sign in 1 hour before the hearing to testify or provide a position to be placed on legislative record.  After the hearing, you have 24 hours to submit written testimony.

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Here is a summary of HB 2114 & SB 5961:

• Data used by the State does not distinguish between single family, multifamily and manufactured housing.
• A month-to-month agreement is more costly than longer term leases. The bill restricts costs increases for both in the same manner.
• Local government policies, ordinances, or other regulations will create patch work across the State of different rules and requirements and cause confusion.
• Older housing stock is treated differently than 10 year or younger housing stock.  Older housing has costs not consistent with new housing.
• Restricts rent increases to 5% once every 12 months.  This is Rent Control.
• Model lease agreement language published by AG but can be modified by local governments.
• Landlord resource center will track landlords and require registration of properties.
• Requires 180 notice for rent increases of more than 3%.  Does not permit electronic notice.
• Rent increases of more than 3% give tenants the right to terminate a lease.
• Combines security deposit with move in fees and both cannot exceed a month’s total rent.
• $10 late rent payment fee limit is imposed.
• Park tenant purchased parks can raise rent, but non-tenant purchased parks cannot raise rent upon purchase date.
• Bill has an emergency clause that permits immediate implementation of the bill requirements.

Trust the science? On carbon-taxing schemes....

Opponents of Washington state's carbon pricing scheme were clear that this policy would drive up fuel costs at the pump at a time when Washingtonians could least afford it. The governor and legislative Democrats argued that any increases would be nominal, however simple math indicated a significant increase of close to 50 cents per gallon for this crony-capitalist shell game, and that's exactly what happened.  

Supporters of this carbon-pricing scam tried gaslight the public and shift blame onto the supposed greed of oil companies. They completely ignored the fact that our neighboring states have had much lower gas prices. 

We learned from a whistleblower that the public may have been purposefully misled about the 'cap-and-tax' program. A long-time and relatively senior state employee who was tasked with calculating the costs says he was pressured to lie about the impact on gas prices, which showed a 45 to 50 cents per gallon increase. He refused to lie and appears was retaliated against and forced from his job.

Watch the KING 5 story by clicking here. 

During Governor Inslee's tenure, state agencies have been plagued by serious mismanagement. This isn't the first time and likely not the last where the uniparty state will try to hide the truth from the public. 

  -- Phil Fortunato