Just received a reply from Rep. Mike Hope, Repub. sponsor of HB 1588

[Greenhorn]

Here is a copy of the reply I just got from Representative Mike Hope (R) about HB 1588.  He is still going full steam ahead.  The NRA is conspicuously absent from his list of supporters.  I haven't quite formed my reply yet, but it is not going to be a favorable one.

Hi –

Thank you for contacting me regarding House Bill 1588. Many of you have highlighted important issues with the bill and because of our work the current version of the bill is nothing like the original. HB 1588 is still a work in progress; I am talking with Allen Gottlieb of the 2nd Amendment Foundation of Washington and together we are working to make sure your rights are protected. Some groups that are in favor of this new language includes: Second Amendment Foundation, Ceasefire, Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Organization, Nurses Union, Hospital Association, Washington Education Association and domestic violence advocates.

 
I have attached a link to my video explaining why I support this bill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2kNs6C-qq8&feature=youtu.be#


Also, I have attached a graph showing the results of a poll in which 600 people in Washington were asked their opinion on a law requiring everyone who buys a gun to undergo a background check.

 
Thanks again for your thoughts and concerns.


Sincerely,


Mike Hope

State Representative
44th Legislative District

[Greenhorn]

Here is my short reply to him.


Dear Rep. Hope,

Sorry, but I still cannot support HB 1588.  You are only trying to appease the gun control advocates because of the outcry after the Sandy Hook school shooting.  This bill that you support would have done nothing to prevent that shooting.  Why don't you work on a bill that would prevent school shootings instead?  You need to ask yourself why doesn't the NRA support my bill and why is it so heavily supported by unions?  You of all people should know that the way you stop a bad guy with a gun is by a good guy with a gun.  The felons and mentally ill that you seek to weed out from gun ownership are not going to follow any gun law that you make if they don't want to.  You have started down a slippery slope that only leads to more people control by the government in the future.

P.S. You mentioned in your video that 78,000 felons and mentally ill have been turned away by background checks, it sounds to me like the system is working fine the way it is.  What percentage do you think went on to get a gun by some other means?  It seems to me that you are going to punish many law abiding gun owners without being able to stop a single school shooting from happening again.

Sincerely,

[Windwalker]

Good on ya!

I wrote a much longer letter (too long)- to summarize a portion of it-

I would still like to see this bill die – I understand your desire to just do something – we would all like a magic wand to vaporize criminal activity-
That said, I have a few comments I would like you to consider.
 
 This bill violates the privacy of the purchaser- now their private personal information- driver’s license, home address and possibly social security number are in the hands of another person with no constraints for safe keeping or ramifications for disclosure!

Now- imagine you are a female torn between obtaining the means to protect yourself from a miscreant or the ramifications of giving a stranger private information with no means to safe guard it. I believe this is a very real concern that should be addressed!

Inversely, the burden of liability now lies on the seller for disclosure of personal information- if the purchaser’s information is obtained from the seller’s possession- stolen or intentional.  How is the copied/recorded information to be kept in safe keeping? Another example how unenforceable this will become.

I would submit- Once an NICS is clear- the spirit of this bills intention is complete. No information should be kept. Again, unenforceable as criminals by description are not constrained by law but use it to their advantage.
 
 (v) The dealer or chief of police or sheriff conducting the background check may not retain a copy of the firearms transaction record (ATF form 4473), which shall be returned to the seller after the completion of the background check. The seller may retain a copy of the firearms transaction record (ATF form 4473) as proof of compliance with the requirements of this section.

 (c) If the purchaser produces a valid concealed pistol license issued under RCW 9.41.070, the seller may make a copy of the concealed pistol license, or otherwise record the license number and other information contained on the concealed pistol license, and retain this information as proof of compliance with the requirements of this section.

Current destruction of NICS records became effective when a final rule was published by the Department of Justice in The Federal Register, outlining the following changes. Per Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 25.9(b)(1), (2), and (3), the NICS Section must destroy all identifying information on allowed transactions prior to the start of the next NICS operational day.

I went in to more idiosyncrasies one at a time about the Second Amendment and financial burden taken on by law abiding citizens for no return on their money. Fiscal Notes: 'impact on staff workload cannot be determined'  At a time of tightening budgets, legislation of this magnitude should disclose tax payer’s burden and probability/consequential outcome. yadayada- with the hope of tossing enough food for thought his way that it might undermine his 'do something' theory on whole shebang and bug him enough to change his thinking a bit. Just have to get that niggling shadow of doubt to do its work now. Once I figure out who the weak links are next in line will send them some niggling also.

[Greenhorn]

Wow, good points Windwalker!

[Mudman]

Whatever!   GUN control is gun control.  Give an inch take a mile.  What did this Hope guy do before he was elected?  Every gun will have a paper trail(registry) in a few years.  Hey if you trade guns does that make you exempt?

[csaaphill]

Whatever!   GUN control is gun control.  Give an inch take a mile.  What did this Hope guy do before he was elected?  Every gun will have a paper trail(registry) in a few years.  Hey if you trade guns does that make you exempt?

hes a cop so go figure no offence to them just saying.

[csaaphill]

fyi can't watch a video made by a someone who violates his oath.

[csaaphill]

watched it sucks lol.
Not that I would sell anything I have but If I did I probably wouldn't do that crap.
Had a FFL before Clintons crap and knew not to sell anything to anyone I didn't feel comfortable with.
Actually never sold anything only had it because I was into gunsmithing.
Making people go to the police to obtain a 4473, or whatever to say sell a shotgun through Nickle, or some other advertising is jumping through hoops and an infringement period.
Wish the NRA would not have caved back when they were passing the Brady bill.