Gun Owners Financial Discrimination and Insurance Mandate Introduced in Olympia

Washington State legislature introduced legislation that requires gun owners show they have "financial responsibility" and liability insurance.

Washington anti-gun legislators continue their attack on law-abiding gun owners by introducing legislation to move the goal posts on lawful gun ownership. Last week, House Bill 1504 was introduced, requiring gun owners prove they are "financially responsible" to own firearms by maintaining liability insurance or face civil penalties. This misguided legislation amounts to an ongoing tax to exercise your inherent right to self-defense. 

Please contact your legislators NOW by using the TAKE ACTION button below, and urge them to OPPOSE this discriminatory bill!

 

HB 1504 requires individuals to prove they are "financially responsible" by obtaining and maintaining liability insurance or a bond before purchasing or possessing a firearm. The legislation lays out the coverage amounts, requiring at least $25,000 in coverage per incident of “accidental discharge causing death, injury or property damage,” and gun ranges to carry $1 million of general liability insurance. Individuals can "self-insure" but must carry $25,000 in coverage for each firearm. Excluding ordinary citizens and limiting this basic constitutional right to only the wealthiest Washingtonians. Failure to comply with this mandate amounts to a Class 1 civil infraction and monetary fines. 

The glaring gap of this legislation is the fact that criminals will not comply with the mandate, nor could their illegal acts ever be covered under any insurance policy.

Olympia's gun control plans

Today, January 13^th, the Washington Legislature convened for the 2025 session. Multiple gun control bills were pre-filed for the session, including Senate Bill 5098, a "gun-free zone" bill, which has a committee hearing tomorrow morning.

Other anti-gun bills to keep an eye on this session are:

1. HB 1163 & SB 5140 are companion bills for a permit to purchase scheme, enhancing requirements relating to purchase, transfer, and possession of firearms.
2. HB 1132 creates arbitrary waiting periods for firearms and ammunition.
3. HB 1152 implements storage requirements in vehicles and residences.
   
4. SB 5099 implements additional FFL requirements – a piggy-back on last year's "FFL killer" bill, that includes requirements for steel bars, lighting, insurance requirements and tests for employees (that has yet to be developed), and insurance mandates for businesses.