ACTION REQUEST: HB1588 "Universal Background Check" Legislation Must be Defeated

[BNAElkhntr]

Just Sent my Email  Come on everybody it took me less than 2 minutes to send this email

[CP]

A response from Rep. Shea:

Dear XXX,
 
Thanks for sharing your concern about our Second Amendment rights.  That's why Rep. Shea co-sponsored HB 1371, The Firearms Freedom Act, as part of the Freedom Agenda (see "Freedom Agenda WA" on Facebook). 
 
A major component of the Freedom Agenda is the Washington Firearms Freedom Act.  This bill, if enacted, will exempt all firearms manufactured in WA State from federal regulation and deal with anticipated new federal regulations, as well.  The Washington bill will even be more robust than the much touted Wyoming bill.  The history of our bill in previous sessions has been to exempt firearms manufactured in Washington that stays in Washington.
 
But it also, in Section 5(4) nullifies any federal law adopted after January 1, 2013 that bans or attempts registration of firearms.  And finally, Section 12(4) specifically prevents any restrictions placed upon law-abiding citizens in a state of emergency.  Those of us who remember the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina recall the door-to-door confiscation of firearms and the sometimes disastrous results.
 
The bill number is House Bill 1371 and can be accessed on your personal computer here.
 
Rep Shea is aware that there could be a slew of gun control bills coming and he is prepared to argue against them on the floor of the House.  He is depending upon the informed citizenry, however, to let the body of the Legislature know how they feel about gun control and, hopefully, be available to testify at committee hearings.  It was just a couple weeks ago that a Democrat legislator withdrew a gun control bill after receiving a blizzard of messages of objection from concerned citizens.
 
Thank you very much for your letter and please consider receiving Rep Shea's regular updates while the Legislature is in session (see below).  You can also follow Rep Shea by checking in on his legislative web site at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/Pages/shea.aspx .
 
Warm regards,
 
Jim Robinson
Legislative Assistant to
Matt Shea
State Representative
4th Legislative District
(360) 786-7984
 
In just a few clicks you can sign up for Rep Shea’s updates:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/subscriptions/member.aspx?chamber=h&member=Shea

[huntrights]

Why it is critically important that we ALL communicate with our representatives about the attacks on any of our rights.

Feedback from Representative Matt Shea ( Please note the BOLD paragraph):

"I could not agree more and I am adamantly opposed to HB 1588.  That's also why I co-sponsored HB 1371 the Firearms Freedom Act as part of the Freedom Agenda (see "Freedom Agenda WA" on Facebook). 

This bill, if enacted, will exempt all firearms manufactured in WA State from federal regulation and deal with anticipated new federal regulations, as well.  The Washington bill will even be more robust than the much touted Wyoming bill.  The history of our bill in previous sessions has been to exempt firearms manufactured in Washington that stays in Washington.

But it also, in Section 5(4) nullifies any federal law adopted after January 1, 2013 that bans or attempts registration of firearms.  And finally, Section 12(4) specifically prevents any restrictions placed upon law-abiding citizens in a state of emergency.  Those of us who remember the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina recall the door-to-door confiscation of firearms and the sometimes disastrous results.

The bill number is House Bill 1371 and can be accessed on your personal computer here http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1371&year=2013

I am aware that there could be a slew of gun control bills coming and I am prepared to argue against them on the floor of the House.  I am depending upon the informed citizenry, however, to let the body of the Legislature know how they feel about gun control and, hopefully, be available to testify at committee hearings.  It was just a couple weeks ago that a Democrat legislator withdrew a gun control bill after receiving a blizzard of messages of objection from concerned citizens.

Thank you very much for your letter and please consider receiving my regular updates while the Legislature is in session (see below).  You can also follow me by checking in on his legislative web site at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/representatives/Pages/shea.aspx

Warm Regards,

Rep. Shea"

The "concerned citizens" Rep. Shea is referring to is ALL OF US.  Please communicate with your representatives as issues are brought to your attention and urge your family, friends, and colleagues to do the same.

[arees]

Here is the email I sent.

Dear House Judiciary Committee:
(Representative Jamie Pedersen, Representative Drew Hansen, Representative Jay Rodne, Representative Steve O'Ban, Representative Roger Goodman, Representative Mike Hope, Representative Laurie Jinkins, Representative Steve Kirby, Representative Brad Klippert, Representative Terry Nealey, Representative Tina Orwall, Representative Mary Helen Roberts, Representative Matt Shea)

I am writing today to respectfully request that you oppose House Bill 1588 (An ACT relating to requiring universal background checks for firearm transfers).

I have taught my son that the scariest thing in the world is a legislator who says "we have to to something."  This sentiment universally leads to a half baked bill that is a knee jerk reaction trying to gain headlines at the expense of good governance.  This bill is an example of that principle in action.

Politicians have spend too much time wringing their hands over the "gun show loophole" while this is not a significant source of guns for criminals.  I suggest you read this article from PBS, an organization that is not known for supporting gun rights.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/guns/procon/guns.html

You will note that the "gun show loophole" does not show up in the article.  What you do find is the failure of the existing background check system either through straw purchases, criminal activities of FFL dealers or simple gun theft.  Adding a background check requirement to private citizens will not address any of the significant sources of guns for crimes nor will it work any better than the already mandatory checks by FFL holders.

This bill simply targets law abiding citizens because you have failed to find any means to target the criminals that are the problem.  Targeting the "gun show loophole" is a smokescreen to hide the fact that our government, at least partly under your control, has failed to enforce the existing laws.  If any of you were serious about addressing criminal access to guns through legal purchases we would be prosecuting people for providing false information to the existing background check system.  That is not happening so you are not serious about solving the real problems.

Washington currently has strong background check requirements in place. Furthermore, it is already a federal felony for any private person to sell, trade, give, lend, rent or transfer a gun to a person they know or should have known is not legally allowed to own, purchase or possess a firearm. It should be noted that every year, tens of thousands of people fail to pass the background checks required for firearm purchases, yet only a fraction are prosecuted for providing false information. Before lawmakers begin creating more onerous rules and regulations, they should start enforcing the laws that are currently on the books.

Those who urge passage of so-called “universal background checks” fail to grasp the fundamental truth that this will only affect law-abiding citizens and not criminals. Criminals do not obey the law in the first place.

Sincerely,

[CP]

A response from Senator Shin:

Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts and concerns about fire arms legislation. Knowing how you feel about important issues such as this helps me better represent you in Olympia.

Federal-level recommendations to regulate weapons, as well as to enhance care in mental health and school safety have been proposed. I will follow this issue closely in the State Senate, where I intend to confer with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.  Our goal, as a state is to prevent firearm tragedies while protecting constitutional rights.

Washington State is in a unique position to lead the nation and prevent gun tragedies.  Any bill up for consideration in the legislature must prioritize safety and accountability while promoting responsibility.

Sincerely,


Paull H. Shin
State Senator
21st Legislative District

[csaaphill]

typical basically saying they will wait to see what the majority want first before commiting.

[huntrights]

Washington: Your Immediate Action is Needed to Defeat Numerous Anti-Gun Bills

http://www.nraila.org/legislation/state-legislation/2013/2/washington-your-immediate-action-is-needed-to-defeat-numerous-anti-gun-bills.aspx

[bigtex]

State lawmakers near deal on expanded gun background checks

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington lawmakers are beginning to coalesce around a plan that would expand the state's laws on gun background checks, providing hope for supporters after years of failed efforts.

Gun measures have flooded the Legislature this year, with some lawmakers proposing that teachers have the ability to carry firearms and others looking to add new fees to gun transactions. The universal background checks plan, however, has emerged as the most surprising proposal that has bipartisan support.

Ralph Fascitelli, who leads the gun control group Washington Ceasefire, said the organization didn't believe earlier this year that the idea had a chance of passing the Legislature. That has changed in just the last couple weeks.

"We are increasingly optimistic," Fascitelli said.

While the measure is supported by many Democrats, the background checks plan also picked up support from Republican Rep. Mike Hope of Lake Stevens, Republican Sen. Steve Litzow of Mercer Island and Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom, a Democrat who has aligned himself with Republicans this year. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs also supports the idea.

Background checks are already required when purchases are made at federally licensed gun shops. The bill would expand that requirement to sales between private parties.

Litzow said the bill would do nothing to prevent law-abiding citizens from owning guns.

"It's a common-sense approach to making sure that those who shouldn't own a gun aren't purchasing a gun," Litzow said.

Litzow said he also thinks there is broader support for efforts to change the mental health system, such as making sure there are counselors in schools and increasing capacity so that people can help get loved ones the care they need. Litzow also supports an effort to create penalties for people when children get their accessible guns and injure themselves or others.

The background checks bill is first getting a hearing in the state House next week.

Hope, a Seattle police officer, said the private transactions are occurring all the time and are attractive for criminals who can avoid a background check. He noted that when his employer recently held a gun buyback program, some people were on the streets buying weapons from people who were waiting in line.

"That's exactly what we want to go after. We don't know who's buying the gun," Hope said.

Don Pierce, legislative director at the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, said curbing violence is only going to be accomplished through a combination of proposals and that the background checks are part of that.

"Part of the solution is to keep guns out of the hands of felons and the mentally ill," Pierce said.

Hope said he expects the bill will pass the House. A spokeswoman for Gov. Jay Inslee said the office hasn't examined the specific language of the background check proposal but is supportive of the idea.

Perhaps the greatest obstacle to the bill would come in the state Senate, where the bill has been assigned to a committee dominated by pro-gun lawmakers. Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, expressed skepticism of whether the background check proposal would help, arguing that the state needs to focus instead on treating the mentally ill. She said she opposes bills that would limit the rights of gun users, such as an assault weapons ban or a limit on magazine capacity.

"You can be in the House and can be supporting some of the bills that will take our freedoms away, but they will die in the Washington state Senate," Roach said.

Fascitelli, the gun control proponent, said he's not very confident the bill would make it out of committee, either. But he's hopeful the Senate will be able to bypass that process and bring the measure straight to the floor.

Litzow said he hasn't yet discussed the gun bill with members of the Senate committee. He wasn't sure about the idea of bypassing the panel.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/State-lawmakers-near-deal-on-expanded-gun-background-checks-190523451.html

"I don't think that's necessary at this point," Litzow said

[csaaphill]

keep going people