Good news, Feb. 17 and 24 were the deadline dates for bills to respectively report out of the policy committee and the fiscal committee in their house of origin. There were several bills of concern to sportsmen that failed to pass out of committee. These bills (listed below) are essentially dead for the year, but the Sportsmen’s Alliance will continue to monitor their status as gun-control fanatics might try a procedural move to revive them.
House Bill 1130 would have created a special cause of action for individual victims to sue firearms manufacturers for the violent acts of third parties. This egregious bill will only cripple the firearm industry by instituting new policies and procedures that will make it nearly impossible to engage in the lawful sale and/or trade of firearms in the state.
House Bill 1144 failed to pass out of the policy committee and Senate Bill 5232 failed to pass out of the fiscal committee. These bills required an individual who wants to purchase a firearm first to complete an officially sanctioned firearms training course, which must also be done every five years to maintain a permit. It also requires a 10-day waiting period prior to a new gun owner taking possession of their firearm and could make this waiting period longer, or indefinitely, if the state fails to complete background checks during the original 10-day wait.
House Bill 1178 would have repealed Washington’s preemption statute allowing localities to institute their own gun control legislation, leading to a patchwork of gun restrictions.
Bad news, there are still some anti-gun bills still “alive.” Next Wednesday, March 8, is crossover day. Crossover means that if a bill did not pass out of its house of origin, then it is essentially defeated for the year. The below anti-gun bills are still “alive” and there is still time to contact your state Senator and Representative and urge them to OPPOSE these bills. Please use each of the take action buttons to ensure your state Senator and Representative receive your request of opposition on HB 1143, HB 1240, and SB 5078.
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 companion bill to defeated SB 5265, bans a provided list of rifles, including many that are utilized by millions of Americans for self-defense and hunting, and also goes the additional step of adding “features” of firearms that expand the list to hundreds more.
Please use the take action button below to email your state Senator urging them to OPPOSE SB 5078.
Senate Bill 5078, companion bill to defeated SB 1130, creates a special cause of action for individual victims to sue firearms manufacturers for the violent acts of third parties. This egregious bill will only cripple the firearm industry by instituting new policies and procedures that will make it nearly impossible to engage in the lawful sale and/or trade of firearms in the state. Lawful firearm manufacturers and firearm dealers should not be responsible for crimes committed by third parties outside of their control.
Don’t forget to share this message with your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen urging them to also contact their state legislature urging them to OPPOSE HB 1143, HB 1240, and SB 5078.
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.
