Last Friday, April 14, the state House of Representatives and Senate each concurred respectively on House Bill 1143 and Senate Bill 5078. This last action sends these bills to Gov. Jay Inslee for his consideration. We expect the governor to sign HB 1143 and SB 5078 into law because he has not seen a gun control bill he does not like. BUT please take a moment to use our Take Action button to email Gov. Inslee to let him know that you oppose these measures and respectfully ask him to VETO HB 1143 and SB 5078. The governor needs to be reminded bills like these do not hold criminals responsible for their criminal misuse of firearms. Criminals do not respect the law now nor will they respect these.
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.
Senate Bill 5078 creates a special cause of action for individual victims to sue firearms manufacturers for the violent acts of third parties.
House Bill 1234 is also headed to Governor Inslee. If you remember from previous reports, HB 1234 is an affront to this 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.
Use the Take Action button below to email the governor on HB 1143 and SB 5078. It can also be used to email the governor asking him to VETO HB 1234.
Also last Friday, the House refused to concur with the Senate amendments to the gun ban bill, House Bill 1240, and sent it back to the Senate. Yesterday, April 18, the Senate pulled out the prior amendments but amended it again to allow the sale of firearms or parts listed under the bill for 30 days if they were in stock as of January 1, 2023. As with many related bills, they’ve managed to create a confusing mess that will ensnare law-abiding citizens and turn them into criminals overnight. HB 1240 is now back with the House for concurrence again.
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 also goes the additional step of adding “features” of firearms that expand the list to hundreds more.
Please use are take action button below to email your state Representative urging him/her to oppose HB 1240 as it will do nothing to reduce gun violence in Washington and only affect law-abiding citizens. Please use both Take Action buttons to ensure the governor and your state Representative receive your email opposing HB 1143, SB 5078, HB 1234 and HB 1240.
Don’t forget to share this important alert with your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen asking them to also take important action contacting the Governor and their state Representative urging them to VETO and OPPOSE HB 1143, SB 5078, HB 1234, and HB 1240.
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.