New legislation to restrict firearms rights.

The following bills have passed the legislature this session and are headed to Jay Inslee's desk for his signature.

Restrictions on carry
Senate Bill 5434 prohibits the possession of firearms in childcare centers, including by Concealed Pistol License holders carrying for self-defense. In addition to leaving law-abiding citizens defenseless against criminals who ignore arbitrary boundaries, the bill requires child care centers to publicly indicate they are “gun-free zones” by posting signs outside the facilities.

Tax-payer funded gun restriction lobby
Senate Bill 6288 creates 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.

Restriction on civil rights (this one is far-reaching)
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 provide proof 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 results in the individual being in contempt of court, thereby putting the individual in a no-win situation.

And finally legislators evade legislative law.
Meanwhile, House Bill 2947 remains in the House Finance Committee.  HB 2947 is nearly the same text as House Bill 2240.  HB 2240 failed to pass by deadline in regular session.  In order to bypass legislative rules, anti-gun legislators added a “buy-back” provision in order to make HB 2947 an appropriations bill that is not subject to the same deadlines.

Since it is tied to the budget, it is not subject to the same deadlines and is still considered active until the legislative session adjourns this Thursday, March 12th. House Bill 2947 bans the manufacture, possession, sale, transfer, etc. of magazines that hold more than fifteen rounds of ammunition. It appropriates funds for the State Patrol to conduct a “buy-back.” Such turn-in events serve as nothing more than propaganda for gun control advocates while failing to promote public safety in any measurable way.