NRA Action Alert - Tell the House Rules Committee No on HB 1588

[Hunter4Life]

Today HB 1588, legislation that could criminalize private sales of firearms and lead to handgun registration, was amended and reported by the House Judiciary Committee by a 7-6 vote.  HB 1588 is now headed to the House Rules Committee before going to the floor of the state House of Representatives. It is imperative that you contact your state Representatives and the members of the House Rules Committee TODAY and urge them to oppose HB 1588.

I received the automated blast to send this out but was also contacted by one of the members of the NRA lobby team.  This bill has to be killed.  It is a tough fight with the Democrats holding a 15 - 10 edge on the committee, and most of the Democrats are very liberal anti-gun type.  If the 10 Republicans hold, that means we need to flip three Democrats.  Kevin Van De Wege sits on this committee and while he has been 100% anti-hunting, he has been fairly pro-gun to the tune of a B- rating.  Van De Wege represents a rural, pro-gun constituency, so he needs to be hit hard.  Email the legislators on the Hose Rules Committee today.

http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/RUL/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx

[huntrights]

Please contact the House Rules Committee and urge them to oppose HB1588.

Also, please contact your state Representatives TODAY and respectfully express your opposition to House Bill 1588 (You can use the same message sent to the House Rules Committee).

http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/


Please take action and pass this on to others.


Copy and paste option below:

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


frank.chopp@leg.wa.gov; richard.debolt@leg.wa.gov; cathy.dahlquist@leg.wa.gov; susan.fagan@leg.wa.gov; tami.green@leg.wa.gov; jeff.holy@leg.wa.gov; norm.johnson@leg.wa.gov; linda.kochmar@leg.wa.gov; joel.kretz@leg.wa.gov; marko.liias@leg.wa.gov; chad.magendanz@leg.wa.gov; marcie.maxwell@leg.wa.gov; jim.moeller@leg.wa.gov; terry.nealey@leg.wa.gov; tina.orwall@leg.wa.gov; eric.pettigrew@leg.wa.gov; chris.reykdal@leg.wa.gov; maryhelen.roberts@leg.wa.gov; cindy.ryu@leg.wa.gov; david.sawyer@leg.wa.gov; larry.springer@leg.wa.gov; pat.sullivan@leg.wa.gov; gael.tarleton@leg.wa.gov; kevin.vandewege@leg.wa.gov; jt.wilcox@leg.wa.gov


Copy and paste the message or create your own:

Subject:

Please oppose HB1588 - An ACT relating to Requiring Universal Background Checks


Message:

Dear House Rules Committee:

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

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.

HB 1588 could criminalize all private sales of firearms. This bill mandates a $20 fee (tax) to conduct a background check.  All private firearm sales would be required to be brokered by licensed gun dealers and it is unlikely that $20 would cover their cost.  A likely outcome is dealers refusing to process these transactions, potentially bringing all legal private firearm sales to a halt.

If HB1588 was able to be implemented as drafted, it would create a database of all privately sold handguns since ALL dealer handgun deliveries are registered with the state.

This bill is nothing more than a regulatory scheme that would create a huge burden for law-abiding citizens, would be unenforceable, and would be ignored by criminals anyway. It is truly nothing more than a precursor to Universal Firearm REGISTRATION!

Washington currently has strong background check requirements in place. Furthermore, it is already a 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.

Please put a stop to these unprecedented and unjustified attacks on guns and law-abiding gun owners which do nothing to curb violence or prevent criminals from carrying out their malevolent deeds.  Imposing a barrage of useless gun-control regulations and laws onto law-abiding citizens will do nothing but whittle away at our liberty, rights, and freedoms we have fought so hard to obtain and keep.

Sincerely,

[Your contact information]

[csaaphill]

done

[huntrights]

Keep writing and calling these Representatives; they have obviously fallen for the gun-control propaganda or are part of the source.

Reply from Rep. Tarleton:

"I appreciate you taking the time to write about your concerns regarding gun rights in this state and House Bill 1588, which would require universal background checks. Following the tragic events at Newtown, Connecticut and the long list of killings prior to that, I strongly believe we must do more in this country to protect our children and society as a whole. We cannot continue postponing this issue, and I hope to see substantial reforms during this legislative session.
 
I have received many e-mails and phone calls from constituents on both sides of House Bill 1588, and I greatly appreciate hearing your opinion.  But after much consideration, I have come to the conclusion that we should require background checks for anyone purchasing a gun and eliminate the gun show loophole, because it will help our state become an even safer place to live.
 
Thank you again for your e-mail. I hope you will continue to let me know your concerns, so that I can better represent you.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Representative Gael Tarleton
36th District –Space Needle, Monorail, Ballard Locks, Discovery Park, Gates Foundation, MOHAI, Fishermen’s Terminal, Shilshole Bay Marina, the Cruise Ships!
Washington State House
John L O’Brien 334
(360) 786-7860
Committtees: Higher Education, Rules, Technology&Economic Development, Transportation"

[bearpaw]

Is this legislation still in rules committee? I just heard that a gun control bill passed out of committee and is before the full house. I think it was this bill? Do we need to be sending messages to the full house now?

[huntingfool7]

done

[Boss .300 winmag]

done

[Windwalker]

Done- Thanks for all the copy and paste info- makes it fast and easy

[huntrights]

Is this legislation still in rules committee? I just heard that a gun control bill passed out of committee and is before the full house. I think it was this bill? Do we need to be sending messages to the full house now?

It moved from the House Judiciary Committee to the House Rules Committee according to the NRA-ILA.  We need to keep the pressure up.

[arees]

Here is my email, I am running out of politeness.

Dear House Rules Committee:

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

This email will also act as a hypocrisy check.  Any lawmaker who responds with a reference to Newtown will be clearly identified as a hypocrite.  There is nothing in this bill which, if enacted in Connecticut prior to Newtown, would have had any impact on that tragedy.

This bill will have no impact on:
   1) Mentally deficient shooters who have had no previous criminal record.
   2) Crimes of passion committed by shooters with no previous criminal record.
   3) Crimes committed by career criminals who will simply purchase firearms through illegal channels.
   4) Firearms purchased by the mentally ill because these records are universally not reported to the background check database.

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.

HB 1588 is nothing more than a headline grab by law makers that have nothing productive to contribute and no understanding of the sources of firearms used in crimes.

If you support this bill and have any integrity, please respond with "I am just grabbing headlines and don't care about effective legislation."

[huntingfool7]

I called the Second Amendment Foundation.  SAF OPPOSES HB 1588
My email to 97.3-

Good morning,

This morning on Luke Burbanks show, he had a guest on that misrepresented (I believe intentionally) the Second Amendment Foundation as supporting HB 1588.  Which requires background checks on private firearm sales.  You can reach the Second Amendment Foundation at (425)454-7012

There is an attempt to make background checks sound like they are supported by the gun community.  There is no way that HB 1588 can be enforced without requiring gun registration.  We in the firearm community realize that historically gun nregistration is the first step to confiscation.
Outlaws will not be effected by this legislation.  This bill will do nothing to prevent crime.

[huntrights]

I called the Second Amendment Foundation.  SAF OPPOSES HB 1588
My email to 97.3-

Good morning,

This morning on Luke Burbanks show, he had a guest on that misrepresented (I believe intentionally) the Second Amendment Foundation as supporting HB 1588.  Which requires background checks on private firearm sales.  You can reach the Second Amendment Foundation at (425)454-7012

There is an attempt to make background checks sound like they are supported by the gun community.  There is no way that HB 1588 can be enforced without requiring gun registration.  We in the firearm community realize that historically gun nregistration is the first step to confiscation.
Outlaws will not be effected by this legislation.  This bill will do nothing to prevent crime.

Gun control proponents are trying to propogate the illusion that the majority of people/groups want this type of guncontrol legislation passed.  I listened to several speakers make this propaganda type of statement during the testimony being given during the House Judiciary Committee public hearing.  These people will stop at nothing to push their anti-gun agendas.


We must work harder than ever to have our voices heard loud and clear.  Keep writing and calling your Senators and Representatives.  We must be relentless in the defense and protection of our rights and freedoms.

[huntrights]

This helps us identify who our friends are.

Reply from Rep. Richard DeBoldt:


Thank you for your e-mail regarding HB 1588.   I wanted to let you know that I support our Second Amendment right to bear arms.  Washington State already has some of the most strict gun laws in the Nation and requiring universal background checks for firearms transfer is not the solution nor is banning guns.  I am focused on finding solutions to keep our children safe and working towards a result that does not take away the rights and freedoms of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and those around them.  If HB 1588 somehow makes its way to the House Floor I definitely will be voting "nay".  Again, thank you for taking the time to contact my office.  Your input is important to me.

Sincerely,

Representative Richard DeBolt
Republican Leader
20th Legislative District
(360) 786-7896
richard.debolt@leg.wa.gov
http://houserepublicans.wa.gov/members/richard-debolt/

[Boss .300 winmag]

Only reply I got stating how they voted.



Thank you for contacting me. I voted against the bill in committee and will do the same if it comes up for a vote in the floor.

Terry

Representative Terry Nealey

16th Legislative District

office: 360.786.7828 |Terry.Nealey@leg.wa.gov

Visit my Web site: www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/nealey

And this reply.

Thank you for contacting the office of Representative Chad Magendanz, 5th legislative district.  Hearing from and communicating to our constituents is our number one priority.

Representative Magendanz and his staff will review your correspondence. 

[Hunter4Life]

The Second Amendment Foundation doesn't support SHB 1588.  Alan Gottlieb, founder of SAF, has made the following statement:

“First you should know that I do not support Washington House Bill 1588 as it is currently written."

He made the following additional comments:

“My support for a state universal background check bill must include a substantial victory for gun owners that includes, but is not limited to repealing, prohibiting and destroying the current state handgun registration system and the data base of several million records of gun owners and their firearms that include the type of handguns and the serial numbers.

“This would be a huge victory for our gun rights. We would be the first state to repeal a gun registration system. Think about that and what it means for your privacy as a gun owner and the fact that we all know historically that registration leads to confiscation.

“In addition, if you have a carry permit you will be exempt from additional background checks. No checks would be required for transfers between family members. If you are a member of an organization like the Washington Arms Collectors that does a background check for membership, you would be exempt from additional checks to buy a firearm at their gun shows.

“There are other inclusions that must be made as well that are good for our rights and freedom that need to be in a final bill to have my support.

“My guess is that the gun grabbers will not go along with these provisions and kill the bill. If they do the “blood” so to speak is on their hands, not ours.

“There are other smart, tactical, political and morally justified reasons why I have taken this position that I do not want to make public at this time. We do have enemies and I am not going to telegraph our strategy to them by spelling out our battle plans.

“I enjoy winning our freedoms more than the fight. I wish I can say that about some of my critics who have pre-judged without knowledge what it is that I am doing.

“Anyone who knows me knows that for the past forty years my efforts have expanded and protected our right to keep and bear arms from local city councils all the way to the United States Supreme Court.”

Alan Gottlieb