Take Action: New gun bill 1588 close to passing

[bearpaw]

Wash. state bill to end private firearm sales dangerously close to passing
•   GUN CONTROL
•   FEBRUARY 9, 2013
•   BY: MIKAEL THALEN  HTTP://WWW.EXAMINER.COM/ARTICLE/WASH-STATE-BILL-TO-END-PRIVATE-FIREARM-SALES-DANGEROUSLY-CLOSE-TO-PASSING
 
HB 1588 is the legislation that would end private firearm sales in Washington state. This bill would require ALL people privately selling firearms to friends or family to pay a $20 fee to have a gun dealer or law enforcement agency process the request with absolutely no guarantee of timely processing either.

Concealed Pistol License (CPL) holders who are exempt from having to undergo background checks when purchasing from a licensed dealer, would now be required to pay the fee and wait as well when conducting a private sale despite going through the extensive FBI check to obtain the CPL in the first place.

The bill, written by Representatives Jamie Pederson (D), has picked up 36 sponsorsincluding Republican Mike Hope (R) from the 44th district. The bill is scheduled for a hearing in front of the House Judiciary Committee this Wednesday, February 13 at 8 a.m. Four of the bill's sponsors are currently committee members.

Ironically in an interview with the Seattle Times, Representative Hope admitted to occasionally carrying a gun at the Capitol while also saying he wanted guns banned there. "I would love to see it set up just like a courthouse, where we have to go through security in order to get to the chambers,” Hope said.

In light of recent shootings, politicians have been clammering to pass new gun laws despite gun sales being up and gun crime being down for the 5th year in a row according to FBI crime statistics. Even more so, violent crime has been dropping since 2007. Even the head of President Obama's new gun violence task force Joe Biden admitted that new gun control laws will do almost nothing to stop gun crime, as the statistics show.

The bill is incredily close to being given a vote to a gun control supporting majority. Two other bills,SB 5625, HB1588's companion measure, and HB1676, which criminalizes not "properly storing" firearms in specific situations, have also been introduced.

Supporters of the 2nd amendment are urged to contact House Judiciary Committee members and the bill's sponsors, in opposition of these measures.





Copy and paste the email addresses for the House Judiciary Committee:

jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov; drew.hansen@leg.wa.gov; jay.rodne@leg.wa.gov; steve.oban@leg.wa.gov; roger.goodman@leg.wa.gov; mike.hope@leg.wa.gov; laurie.jinkins@leg.wa.gov; steve.kirby@leg.wa.gov; brad.klippert@leg.wa.gov; terry.nealey@leg.wa.gov; tina.orwall@leg.wa.gov; maryhelen.roberts@leg.wa.gov; matt.shea@leg.wa.gov




My message:

Dear House Judiciary Committee:

Please oppose HB1588 - Requiring Universal Background Checks

House Bill 1588 is the first step toward universal registration and clearly over-reaches and infringes on our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. This bill will only create a massive regulatory scheme and a huge burden for law-abiding citizens.

House Bill 1588 places undue burdens on private commerce and infringes on the citizens right to bear arms by restricting private sales with a registration scheme that has no time limits on processing requests for sales. Furthermore House Bill 1588 places another tax on the private sale of firearms, this is unfair taxation.

Those who urge passage of so-called “universal background checks” and other anti-gun laws fail to grasp the fundamental truth that new laws will only affect law-abiding citizens and not criminals. Criminals do not obey the law in the first place and obviously will not comply with additional laws.

Supporters of this legislation should be working on legislation that will make the purchase of firearms by felons and mentally unstable persons illegal. But that's already a law and it has not worked. How is creating more laws affecting legal gun owners going to work any better? I strongly suggest legislators find ways to enforce existing gun laws that already prohibit felons and mentally ill persons from owning guns.

The NRA has offered good advice on policing our children for their safety. These gun free school zones provide the perfect environment for mass killings, House Bill 1588 does nothing to address this lack of safety for our children.

It's painfully obvious the real concern of the supporters of House Bill 1588 is to take advantage of school shootings to infringe on the 2nd Amendment rights of law abiding citizens. House Bill 1588 does nothing to resolve the problems associated with gunfree zones and mass shootings by criminals, please oppose HB1588.

Best Regards,

[TopOfTheFoodChain]

Email sent. Thanks for the heads up. 

[eastsidemallard74]

I got this automatically back from sending an email:



Thank you for your email and I will keep your thoughts in mind when voting on all the gun legislation this year. Also keep in mind I had a 100 percent voting record with the NRA for the last 4 years, served in the USMC and currently work patrol for the last 14 years as a Seattle Police Officer.
 
Of all the gun legislation that we will vote on this year, I will always vote for what is best to keep guns out of the hands of people that intend to do us harm. Most often this means the mentally ill and felons. I like 1588 for this reason. Also keep in mind we have several more bills to address the comprehensive approach. Tougher sentences, mental health, school design, and many more bills will be discussed.
 
This bill will not hinder people's rights, as law abiding citizens will still be able to purchase guns and won't be prohibited. In fact, the background check actually costs 20-30 bucks less than current background checks completed at gun stores. In addition, we can exempt LEO, CCW, WAC as they already had backgrounds completed making it even easier for a law abiding citizen to purchase a gun.
 
What this bill stops is the free ride felons get to purchase guns. Anything we can do to assist in keeping guns out of the hands of felons I am inclined to support. It is a misconception that this bill establishes a list to register people. It does not and to do so would be a violation of current law. To ensure this doesn't happen, I plan to amend the bill to expunge the paperwork 30 days after the sale has been complete. It is also a misconception that this bill is a tax as described earlier. Further more it is a misconception that it is a regulatory scheme as it only accomplishes what most already do when they buy from their local gun stores.
 
This doesn't impact law abiding citizens only felons.
That is what this is about. Again, I don't support allowing felons to purchase guns and this will help.
 
Thanks again,
Mike Hope
 

[bearpaw]

I copied my message to my local reps and senator, I already got this message back from my senator:

Dear Dale and Tara:

Thank you for your message regarding gun control legislation.

I am very supportive of the Second Amendment and our right to bear arms.  It is a fundamental right, and it is vital that we defend our citizens' responsibility to protect their lives, property, and livelihood. 

Your comments on specific state legislation are appreciated.

Sincerely,

JOHN SMITH
State Senator

[bearpaw]

I got this automatically back from sending an email:



Thank you for your email and I will keep your thoughts in mind when voting on all the gun legislation this year. Also keep in mind I had a 100 percent voting record with the NRA for the last 4 years, served in the USMC and currently work patrol for the last 14 years as a Seattle Police Officer.
 
Of all the gun legislation that we will vote on this year, I will always vote for what is best to keep guns out of the hands of people that intend to do us harm. Most often this means the mentally ill and felons. I like 1588 for this reason. Also keep in mind we have several more bills to address the comprehensive approach. Tougher sentences, mental health, school design, and many more bills will be discussed.
 
This bill will not hinder people's rights, as law abiding citizens will still be able to purchase guns and won't be prohibited. In fact, the background check actually costs 20-30 bucks less than current background checks completed at gun stores. In addition, we can exempt LEO, CCW, WAC as they already had backgrounds completed making it even easier for a law abiding citizen to purchase a gun.
 
What this bill stops is the free ride felons get to purchase guns. Anything we can do to assist in keeping guns out of the hands of felons I am inclined to support. It is a misconception that this bill establishes a list to register people. It does not and to do so would be a violation of current law. To ensure this doesn't happen, I plan to amend the bill to expunge the paperwork 30 days after the sale has been complete. It is also a misconception that this bill is a tax as described earlier. Further more it is a misconception that it is a regulatory scheme as it only accomplishes what most already do when they buy from their local gun stores.
 
This doesn't impact law abiding citizens only felons.
That is what this is about. Again, I don't support allowing felons to purchase guns and this will help.
 
Thanks again,
Mike Hope
 

I would say that his legislation only affects law abiding gun owners and will not affect felons. 

[Greenhorn]

Sent it to all of them, thanks for the info!

[washingtonmuley]

Just sent my letter. Thanks for the info.

[mossy8352]

Letter sent this morning! Thanks Mike

[CP]

I got this automatically back from sending an email:



Thank you for your email and I will keep your thoughts in mind when voting on all the gun legislation this year. Also keep in mind I had a 100 percent voting record with the NRA for the last 4 years, served in the USMC and currently work patrol for the last 14 years as a Seattle Police Officer.
 
Of all the gun legislation that we will vote on this year, I will always vote for what is best to keep guns out of the hands of people that intend to do us harm. Most often this means the mentally ill and felons. I like 1588 for this reason. Also keep in mind we have several more bills to address the comprehensive approach. Tougher sentences, mental health, school design, and many more bills will be discussed.
 
This bill will not hinder people's rights, as law abiding citizens will still be able to purchase guns and won't be prohibited. In fact, the background check actually costs 20-30 bucks less than current background checks completed at gun stores. In addition, we can exempt LEO, CCW, WAC as they already had backgrounds completed making it even easier for a law abiding citizen to purchase a gun.
 
What this bill stops is the free ride felons get to purchase guns. Anything we can do to assist in keeping guns out of the hands of felons I am inclined to support. It is a misconception that this bill establishes a list to register people. It does not and to do so would be a violation of current law. To ensure this doesn't happen, I plan to amend the bill to expunge the paperwork 30 days after the sale has been complete. It is also a misconception that this bill is a tax as described earlier. Further more it is a misconception that it is a regulatory scheme as it only accomplishes what most already do when they buy from their local gun stores.
 
This doesn't impact law abiding citizens only felons.
That is what this is about. Again, I don't support allowing felons to purchase guns and this will help.
 
Thanks again,
Mike Hope
 

As the bill currently reads there are no exemptions for CPL, LEO, WAC family members or anyone else.   It would make a criminal out of anybody that passed on a family heirloom firearm to their son, daughter, grandson, etc.

[bearpaw]

   My wife just said the same thing, we would be criminals for giving our kids any gun.

[buckfvr]

Problem here in Wa.    Politicians that support our views are scarce in Olympia.  We have a few that go to battle for us, but in large, our state is sold out by Murray, Cantwell, and even our Congress men and women.  They all strive to further their careers, and will go with the flow in D.C., rather than risk a shortened career.  We only hear what they want us to hear.....I dont believe m any of them represent us and our way of thinking....logically. 

I too, write many letters only to recieve form letters in return from aides, I have no doubt.  THey are disconnected from us and out  of touch.  Trouble is, the vast majority of this state supports the current administration, state and federal.  We are in a very uphill battle on a muddy slope.

[X-Force]

Email Sent.

[thatkidwho]

Email sent. I emphasized that this will only affect law abiding citizens.

[bearpaw]

another message back already from one of my local legislators:

Dale:

Thank you for your email. I will oppose this bill should it come before me for a vote.

Take care,
Joel


JOEL KRETZ
Republican Deputy Leader

[lokidog]

I got this automatically back from sending an email:



Thank you for your email and I will keep your thoughts in mind when voting on all the gun legislation this year. Also keep in mind I had a 100 percent voting record with the NRA for the last 4 years, served in the USMC and currently work patrol for the last 14 years as a Seattle Police Officer.
 
Of all the gun legislation that we will vote on this year, I will always vote for what is best to keep guns out of the hands of people that intend to do us harm. Most often this means the mentally ill and felons. I like 1588 for this reason. Also keep in mind we have several more bills to address the comprehensive approach. Tougher sentences, mental health, school design, and many more bills will be discussed.
 
This bill will not hinder people's rights, as law abiding citizens will still be able to purchase guns and won't be prohibited. In fact, the background check actually costs 20-30 bucks less than current background checks completed at gun stores. In addition, we can exempt LEO, CCW, WAC as they already had backgrounds completed making it even easier for a law abiding citizen to purchase a gun.
 
What this bill stops is the free ride felons get to purchase guns. Anything we can do to assist in keeping guns out of the hands of felons I am inclined to support. It is a misconception that this bill establishes a list to register people. It does not and to do so would be a violation of current law. To ensure this doesn't happen, I plan to amend the bill to expunge the paperwork 30 days after the sale has been complete. It is also a misconception that this bill is a tax as described earlier. Further more it is a misconception that it is a regulatory scheme as it only accomplishes what most already do when they buy from their local gun stores.
 
This doesn't impact law abiding citizens only felons.
That is what this is about. Again, I don't support allowing felons to purchase guns and this will help.
 
Thanks again,
Mike Hope
 

As the bill currently reads there are no exemptions for CPL, LEO, WAC family members or anyone else.   It would make a criminal out of anybody that passed on a family heirloom firearm to their son, daughter, grandson, etc.

This guy is a turncoat *censored*.  The background check when purchasing a firearm at retail costs nothing, going through an FFL for a private purchase costs $20 or more last time I used one a few years ago.

How do you contact the NRA to put some pressure on this guy to do the right thing?