WA State Suppressor Law Change

[GreyWolf]

I got this link by way of a WA friendly on an other forum-

http://www.the-minuteman.org/content/2011/January/11/Suppressor-Laws-Washington-HB-1016-2011-12-Barron-Barnett

Wanted to know who all has been keeping up with this & what your thoughts are on it?

Thank you.

[jaymark6655]

I am for it, what is the point of owning one if you can't use it.

[lumpyd]

Maybee i read this wrong but wont this also make assisted opening knifes illeagal?

[TheMinuteman]

Maybee i read this wrong but wont this also make assisted opening knifes illeagal?

Sorry to be brash, but I was trying to get to bed, and after posting my comments the account finally came through.  All I wanted to say was NO, the law currently outlaws assisted opening knives.  For details on what exactly is in the bill currently read my response.

Don't take it harshly, I'm sleepy and was annoyed that all I wanted to do was post a response you did read it wrong, had to create an account, then wait, all just to do this.  So I'm a little bit frustrated.  I've spent a lot of time in that section of the RCWs and most people don't realize what's in there.

-B

[GreyWolf]

Mr. Barnett,

Thank you for "The Minute Man" it is a great site! I just signed up to be a member.

As I'm sure you know now, your blog is being referenced all over the place and I hope you don't mind. It is a huge help having intelligent people fighting for us, "regular Joe gun owners" that might not even know the fight is on. I personally just moved back to WA and am trying to plug myself back into the state and what's new around me. Good to see you on this forum, I hope to see you around!

Can you give us any info on what else "we the people" of WA can do, as of today?

Thank you for your time!

       

[TheMinuteman]

I'm glad you like it.  Signing up current will just save you from having to enter your info when commenting.  I did contemplate running a forum, then I remembered how many already exist. 

I've been seeing steady traffic from the original post since I put it up a couple weeks ago.  The past couple times I wrote my legislators but didn't blog it.  This time I figured I'd blog it with a general purpose letter people could use.

IIRC this is the 3rd or 4th time it's come up in the Washington legislature, and it's never made it this far.  I would drop emails or calls to the rules committee, it's on their desk currently to decide if there will be a second reading.

[shockeere]

This is way cool. Thanks for posting. Great blog too!

[Todd_ID]

As an update on this.... HB 1016 passed through all the steps of the House and passed with an 88-4 vote.  It is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee with a "Do Pass" recommendation already having been given to the similar bill that was started in the Senate.

Here's the House Bill 1016 page: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1016&year=2011
Here's the Senate Bill 5112 page: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5112&year=2011

The SB 5112 will be allowed to die now that HB 1016 made it to the Senate.  Keep your fingers crossed that the Senate passes it on through since the House voted so strongly in favor of it.  As long as our gubernor doesn't kill it (highly unlikely with the support of law enforcement that the bill has), then we are about to be able to use suppressors in Washington!

[bearpaw]

FYI - Similar legislation is working it's way through the Montana legislature. I don't know how many other states.

[Todd_ID]

FYI - Similar legislation is working it's way through the Montana legislature. I don't know how many other states.

Isn't the MT and ID legislation to enable residents to buy suppressors made in their respective states without the Federal Tax Stamp?  Basically they're saying that the Tax Stamp is through the ICC and if a suppressor never goes across state lines, then the ICC has no jurisdiction.  Basically a state's rights proclimation against the feds being too heavy handed.

WA's laws now don't allow anyone to use one at all in WA, and this bill will change that to be that you can use one that you legally own, meaning one you paid the tax stamp on.

[TheMinuteman]

FYI: SB 5112, the senate companion bill has a scheduled public hearing March 9th at 1:30PM.  At the HB 1016 public hearing no one spoke against the bill.  However this doesn't mean we shouldn't show up and give our support.  Especially since the second reading of the bill by the Senate Judiciary has been scheduled.

It's getting really close guys, keep up the positive pressure, it's working.

[Hornseeker]

The Montana Bill is simply to allow suppressor use for hunting....

In a way... i have a prob with it. If I'm out hunting and I hear gunshots a certain direction, I will commonly go the opposite way, knowing things were disturbed over there... and sometimes I USE them thinking there will be animals using an escape route from those shots...

Anyhow, I have horrible ears and HATE shooting guns without ear protection nowadays...I very well MAY put a suppressor on my rifle just to save my ears... and finally.... not sure I would be cause they do add a LOT of length and a little weight. A 30 cal can will add 7-10 inches to your barrel.....

[GreyWolf]

No problems with it here! The price of a can & Fed tax is the hurdle for me but if I weigh it against my hearing, it's a no brainer. I think less guys would have bad ears if they were always legal.

I also think that with the use of suppressors for hunting, the less animals hear gunshots the less noise created hunting pressure on the habitat.

Hornseeker, while I see your dilemma, your can might ad 7"-10" to your barrel, mine will only ad 5"-7" to my 16" or 18" barrel & the cans weigh less then some scopes... just trying to help you make the right choice 

[Wanttohuntmore]

Has anyone here heard a suppressed rifle shooting supersonic ammo?  I cannot see where it would help unless you're shooting sub sonic ammo, which I wouldn't in a hunting rifle.  I can see using sub sonic suppressed guns near urban areas, for hunting small game.  I think a 45 acp in a rifle configuration, suppressed, would be just the ticket for close to town yotes!

[TheMinuteman]

It officially passed and has been signed by the gov.