On Sunday, April 23, the Washington 2023 legislation session adjourned sine die. This means the legislative session is completed. It was a tough session for Washington sportsmen.
On Friday, the Senate confirmed all nine members of the state Fish and Wildlife Commission, some by bipartisan support and others, like the infamous Lorna Smith, by a Democrat party-line vote.
On the legislative side, a bill repealing Washington’s firearm preemption law was defeated.
Sadly, Gov. Jay Inslee signed some of the worst gun-control schemes into law yesterday, April 25, regardless that there are lawsuits pending on similar laws in California, Delaware and Illinois. Below are the bills the Governor signed into law.
House Bill 1143 requires a permit to purchase a firearm and institutes a 10-day waiting period before a person can take possession of their legally purchased firearm or longer if the state fails to complete the background check within 10 days. The state police will also maintain a “registry” of gun owners.
House Bill 1240 bans the sale, offer for sale, transfer, import, distribution and manufacturing of a provided list of rifles, including many that are used by millions of Americans for self-defense and hunting, and goes the additional step of adding “features” of firearms that expand the list to hundreds more.
Senate Bill 5078 creates a special cause of action for individual victims to sue firearms manufacturers for the violent acts of third parties.
There is one bill still pending Gov. Inslee’s consideration. House Bill 1234. If you remember from previous reports, HB 1234 is an affront to the basic protection of innocent until proven guilty as it requires an accused pet owner prior to adjudication to fund 30 days of the cost of care for any animal seized and to continue posting additional bonds until the charges have been adjudicated. Failure to pay the cost of care, before proven guilty, would result in the forfeiture of the animal. And even if the charges are dropped or if the accused is found not guilty, a person might get a refund of their cost of care money, and they might have the animal returned.
If you have not already contacted the Governor, please use our Take Action button to ensure he hears your opposition and VETO request for HB 1234.
Even though the 2023 legislative session is over, the Sportsmen’s Alliance will continue to monitor activities like the fish and game meeting in the Evergreen State to ensure sportsmen are represented. It is important to stay vigilant and actively involved to defend our hunting, fishing, and trapping heritage for present and future generations to enjoy.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
