Anti-Gun Bills Advance Through the Legislature

On Tuesday, February 27^th, HB 2118, the “Federal Firearm Licensee Killer” passed the Senate, and SB 5444, "Sensitive Places" expansion, passed the House. 

Both bills were amended in the second chamber and now must return to their respective chambers of origin for concurrence and final passage before heading to the Governor's desk. 

House Bill 2118, the "FFL-Killer" bill, was passed by the Senate with a vote of 28-21. The bill will now return to the House for concurrence due to an amendment adopted in the Senate. The onerous requirements of House Bill 2118 will likely put most Washington-based FFLs out of business because of the financial burden to comply. 

Under HB 2118, any FFL that does more than $1,000 of sales per year must run annual background checks on their employees, carry $1 million liability insurance, install steel doors or bars at the business, and meet onerous requirements for storage and security systems with 24-hour audio and video surveillance. Even the Seattle Times agrees “… HB 2118 pushes gun control to a level of punishment for legitimate businesses… [and] unnecessarily tightens the rein on gun dealers while using the public’s safety as a smoke screen.” `

Here is a list of all House members.  HB 2118 will affect us all if it is enacted, so we have a right to let all legislators now how we think about it.

peter.abbarno@leg.wa.gov; emily.alvarado@leg.wa.gov; andrew.barkis@leg.wa.gov; stephanie.barnard@leg.wa.gov; jessica.bateman@leg.wa.gov; april.berg@leg.wa.gov; steve.bergquist@leg.wa.gov; liz.berry@leg.wa.gov; dan.bronoske@leg.wa.gov; michelle.caldier@leg.wa.gov; lisa.callan@leg.wa.gov; kelly.chambers@leg.wa.gov; bruce.chandler@leg.wa.gov; mike.chapman@leg.wa.gov; greg.chaney@leg.wa.gov; frank.chopp@leg.wa.gov; leonard.christian@leg.wa.gov; april.connors@leg.wa.gov; chris.corry@leg.wa.gov; julio.cortes@leg.wa.gov; travis.couture@leg.wa.gov; lauren.davis@leg.wa.gov; tom.dent@leg.wa.gov; beth.doglio@leg.wa.gov; brandy.donaghy@leg.wa.gov; davina.duerr@leg.wa.gov; mary.dye@leg.wa.gov; debra.entenman@leg.wa.gov; carolyn.eslick@leg.wa.gov; darya.farivar@leg.wa.gov; jake.fey@leg.wa.gov; joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov; mary.fosse@leg.wa.gov; keith.goehner@leg.wa.gov; roger.goodman@leg.wa.gov; jenny.graham@leg.wa.gov; mia.gregerson@leg.wa.gov; dan.griffey@leg.wa.gov; david.hackney@leg.wa.gov; paul.harris@leg.wa.gov; spencer.hutchins@leg.wa.gov; cyndy.jacobsen@leg.wa.gov; laurie.jinkins@leg.wa.gov; mark.klicker@leg.wa.gov; shelley.kloba@leg.wa.gov; joel.kretz@leg.wa.gov; mari.leavitt@leg.wa.gov; debra.lekanoff@leg.wa.gov; sam.low@leg.wa.gov; nicole.macri@leg.wa.gov; jacquelin.maycumber@leg.wa.gov; stephanie.mcclintock@leg.wa.gov; joel.mcentire@leg.wa.gov; sharlett.mena@leg.wa.gov; melanie.morgan@leg.wa.gov; gina.mosbrucker@leg.wa.gov; greg.nance@leg.wa.gov; ed.orcutt@leg.wa.gov; timm.ormsby@leg.wa.gov; lillian.ortiz-self@leg.wa.gov; tina.orwall@leg.wa.gov; dave.paul@leg.wa.gov; strom.peterson@leg.wa.gov; gerry.pollet@leg.wa.gov; alex.ramel@leg.wa.gov; bill.ramos@leg.wa.gov; julia.reed@leg.wa.gov; kristine.reeves@leg.wa.gov; marcus.riccelli@leg.wa.gov; eric.robertson@leg.wa.gov; skyler.rude@leg.wa.gov; alicia.rule@leg.wa.gov; cindy.ryu@leg.wa.gov; bryan.sandlin@leg.wa.gov; sharontomiko.santos@leg.wa.gov; joe.schmick@leg.wa.gov; suzanne.schmidt@leg.wa.gov; tana.senn@leg.wa.gov; clyde.shavers@leg.wa.gov; tarra.simmons@leg.wa.gov; vandana.slatter@leg.wa.gov; larry.springer@leg.wa.gov; chris.stearns@leg.wa.gov; mike.steele@leg.wa.gov; drew.stokesbary@leg.wa.gov; monica.stonier@leg.wa.gov; chipalo.street@leg.wa.gov; jamila.taylor@leg.wa.gov; my-linh.thai@leg.wa.gov; steve.tharinger@leg.wa.gov;  joe.timmons@leg.wa.gov; mike.volz@leg.wa.gov; amy.walen@leg.wa.gov; jim.walsh@leg.wa.gov; kevin.waters@leg.wa.gov; jt.wilcox@leg.wa.gov; sharon.wylie@leg.wa.gov; alex.ybarra@leg.wa.gov

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Senate Bill 5444, regarding open carry bans passed with a vote of 58-36.  This bill expands so-called “sensitive places” in many publicly accessible areas including public transit stations or facilities, public libraries, zoos, and aquariums. The bill permits firearms in those places with a Concealed Pistol License. 

SB 5444 passed both houses.  Next it heads to the governor's desk for his signature. Send Gov. Inslee an email explaining why he should not sign this bill.  

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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 firearms within 24 hours.  Send Gov. Inslee an email explaining why he should not sign this bill.  

House Bill 2021 expands the authorized and/or required destruction of firearms acquired from gun buyback programs held by state and local government entities.  It is presently scheduled for a floor vote in the Senate.  

Since the whole state will be affected, we all have the right to contact the whole senate.  So here are their emails:

andy.billig@leg.wa.gov; matt.boehnke@leg.wa.gov; john.braun@leg.wa.gov; annette.cleveland@leg.wa.gov; steve.conway@leg.wa.gov; manka.dhingra@leg.wa.gov; perry.dozier@leg.wa.gov; phil.fortunato@leg.wa.gov; noel.frame@leg.wa.gov; chris.gildon@leg.wa.gov; drew.hansen@leg.wa.gov; bob.hasegawa@leg.wa.gov; brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov; jeff.holy@leg.wa.gov; sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov; claudia.kauffman@leg.wa.gov; karen.keiser@leg.wa.gov; curtis.king@leg.wa.gov; patty.kuderer@leg.wa.gov; marko.liias@leg.wa.gov; liz.lovelett@leg.wa.gov; john.lovick@leg.wa.gov; drew.macewen@leg.wa.gov; jim.mccune@leg.wa.gov; mark.mullet@leg.wa.gov; ron.muzzall@leg.wa.gov; joe.nguyen@leg.wa.gov; twina.nobles@leg.wa.gov; mike.padden@leg.wa.gov; jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov; emily.randall@leg.wa.gov; ann.rivers@leg.wa.gov; june.robinson@leg.wa.gov; rebecca.saldana@leg.wa.gov; jesse.salomon@leg.wa.gov; mark.schoesler@leg.wa.gov; sharon.shewmake@leg.wa.gov; shelly.short@leg.wa.gov; derek.stanford@leg.wa.gov; nikki.torres@leg.wa.gov; yasmin.trudeau@leg.wa.gov; javier.valdez@leg.wa.gov; kevin.vandewege@leg.wa.gov; keith.wagoner@leg.wa.gov; judy.warnick@leg.wa.gov; lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov; claire.wilson@leg.wa.gov; jeff.wilson@leg.wa.gov; lynda.wilson@leg.wa.gov; ltgov@ltgov.wa.gov; steve.hobbs@sos.wa.gov

Repeal the income tax initiative, & more

It is worthwhile to have an initiative process like we do in this state.  That way we can introduce People's law to the state government, or review and maybe reverse legislative errors.  The state legislature has been getting out of hand recently.  These initiatives covered here are proposals to reverse or reverse some of the state legislature's more egregious laws.  The legislature may decide to act on these initiative petitions, and avoid public embarrassment of having the People reverse their laws i open election.  Impolite hopes we can encourage them to do what is right.

Initiative 2111 - Concerns taxes on personal income.
Sponsors: People of the State of Washington (not the legislature).

Prohibits the state and local jurisdictions from imposing taxes on any individual person on any form of personal income.  The initiative specifies that "income" has the same meaning as "gross income" as under the federal tax code.
 
If you are "Pro" the initiative, you favor the right of the people to review the legislature's income tax scheme in the general election this fall.

If you would like your position noted for the legislative record on Initiative 2111, click on this link:https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=32072&aId=160093&caId=24423&tId=3

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Initiative 2113 - Concerns vehicular pursuits by peace officers.
Sponsors: People of the State of Washington

Expands authorization for vehicular pursuits by allowing an officer to conduct a vehicular pursuit where there is reasonable suspicion a person has violated the law.

(Current law, as modified by the legislature in 2022, requires "probable cause" for a pursuit.  This has kept police from pursuing an obvious suspect until a court can rule on the pursuit.)

Modifies the risk assessment for vehicular pursuits by providing that an officer may not engage in a vehicular pursuit unless the person poses a threat to the safety of others and the safety risks of failing to apprehend or identify the person are considered to be greater than the safety risks of the vehicular pursuit under the circumstances.

If you are "Pro" the initiative, you favor the right of the people to review the legislature's current, excessive, requirements to enable police pursuit in the general election this fall..

If you would like your position noted for the legislative record on Initiative 2113, click on this link: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=32069&aId=160089&caId=24422&tId=3

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Initiative 2081 - Concerns parental rights relating to their children's public school education.
Sponsors: People of the State of Washington.

Declares 15 rights that parents and guardians of public school children have, including rights to receive or be notified of academic, medical, safety, and law enforcement matters, rights to examine and inspect certain materials and records, and rights to opt their children out of certain activities.

If you are "Pro" the initiative, you favor the right of the people to review the legislature's current restrictions on informing parents of the welfare of their child in the general election this autumn.

If you would like your position noted for the legislative record on Initiative 2081, click on this link: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=32071&aId=160099&caId=24424&tId=3

Anti-Gun Bills Advance Out of Committee

On Monday, February 19th, the Senate Law & Justice Committee held a public hearing on several anti-gun bills. NRA was in Olympia and testified against all three bills. An executive session was held yesterday and the Committee voted along party lines to advance the bill.

The bill will be directed to the Rules Committee where it will be eligible to head to the Senate Floor for final passage. Please contact your Senator now and urge them to OPPOSE these bills by using the Take Action button below.

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 firearms within 24 hours.

House Bill 2021 expands the authorized and/or required destruction of firearms acquired from gun buyback programs held by state and local government entities.

House Bill 2118 also referred to as the “FFL Killer” bill, places costly onerous requirements on law-abiding FFLs that could put them at serious risk of going out of business because of the financial burden to comply.

Please click the Take Action button above to ask Senators to OPPOSE these bills.

More anti-gun action in the legislature

On Monday, February 19^th, the Senate Law & Justice Committee will hold a public hearing on several anti-gun bills. The hearings will take place at 10:30am, and you can register to testify in the hearing in-person or remotely by using this testimony page.

If you are unable to attend this hearing, please use the Take Action button to contact the committee members directly and urge them to OPPOSE these bills.

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 firearms within 24 hours.

House Bill 2021 expands the authorized and/or required destruction of firearms acquired from gun buyback programs held by state and local government entities.

House Bill 2118 also referred to as the “FFL Killer” bill, places costly onerous requirements on law-abiding FFLs that could put them at serious risk of going out of business because of the financial burden to comply.

Legislature to make life more expensive here

There are  bills in the legislature that will make life more expensive for us, by increasing the price of gas, groceries and housing. Those bills include:

• HB 1589 would ban natural gas in new residential and commercial buildings, increasing the costs of housing, energy and goods in our state. Passed the House on a 52-45 vote.
• HB 2301 would increase garbage bill costs by adding new collection service requirements for residents and businesses related to food and yard waste.
• HB 2401 would increase the costs of refrigerants that are important to food producers and grocers by requiring producers of bulk refrigerants to fund a producer responsibility organization to collect and recycle refrigerant gases. Passed the House 57-40.
• HB 1185 would increase the costs for lightbulbs by expanding lightbulb stewardship responsibility for lighting manufacturers to include all lights, not just mercury-containing lights. Passed the House 52-45.
• HB 1433 would increase the cost of housing by authorizing counties and cities to require, before listing a house for sale, that a home energy score report be obtained. Passed the House 55-42.
• HB 2114 is rent control. It would increase the cost of housing by placing arbitrary limits on rent increases.  It would reduce supply of rentable hosing and ultimately encourage landlords to raise rent by the maximum maximum allowed every year.  Passed the House 54-43.

Fix Washington

 

 

Democrat bill SB 5770 to TRIPLE the increase in property tax

Senate Bill 5770 is absolutely tone-deaf and unnecessary.

People have already consistently spoken against raising property taxes for various reasons. We are in the midst of an economic recession and inflationary cycle, and there is little appetite to bear the load of new property taxes.

What is more troubling is that we already have a housing affordability problem, and this bill will directly impact rental properties to the tune of thousands of dollars per unit, in some casesraising taxes by hundreds of dollars a month. SB 5770 heavily impacts the most vulnerable citizens in our state, those on fixed incomes, the elderly, and those working paycheck to paycheck, barely keeping up with inflationary costs.

When the average cost for a single bedroom apartment in the Puget Sound corridor is nearing $1600, adding another hundred dollars to that is simply unfathomable.

In addition, Impolite should note that Seattle property taxes in the top 5 most expensive in big U.S. cities.  The median property tax paid by Seattle homeowners in 2022 was around $6,800. From 2010 to 2021, the tax had risen by 89% or about $3600.  Incidentally, if you rent, you pay this increase.

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Washingtonians are great at keeping our economy rolling along and we deserve to keep as much as we earn!

The state coffers are already full of our hard-earned tax dollars.  We do not need more money to fully fund the already bloated state spending.

Contact your state Senator.  Stop SB 5770.