Guidance for Hunter Education instructors regarding I-594

[Hi-Liter]

The only "transfer" that would be illegal would be between an adult student and another student.

So, then passing a firearm between adults to cross an obstacle would be a violation.

Technically, yes.

And that is the sticking point for me.

I already responded to Whipple that as long as it did not interfere with gun handling for all students I would schedule classes.

But if they cannot find a way that every student during fence crossings can hand a firearm to another regardless of age then that might be it for me. It is a friggin bunch of crap that students with unloaded firearms, in a hunter ed class could not be passing guns back and forth because of age. 

At some point enough is enough for volunteers to tip toe around.

If that happens I will cancel classes and put on my phone machine that I  no longer doing classes because of 594 restrictions call your law makers.

T

A transfer of a firearm between an adult student and the instructor violates WA law tomorrow. How are students suppose to handle a firearm properly for training purpose, an air/pellet gun-Really.

Did you not read the memo, or do you not agree with their attorneys?

" Transfers of firearms between Hunter Education Instructors and Hunter Education students are also exempt from the background check/transfer requirements of I-594, when the Hunter Education Instructors are in formal volunteer status for WDFW and acting within the scope of their authority for purposes of the Hunter Education Program.

Yeah I read it. I saw what you pointed out.

I guess adults will have to hand off the guns during the HE course to "ghosts" 

[Bob33]

I don't like the new law at all. However, I think the odds of a student in an authorized hunter education course be cited for an illegal "transfer" by handing a firearm to another student in the same course, both under the direction of a WDFW authorized instructor is almost nil.

Even if instructors are comfortable with this, I wonder how many students/parents will not be?

[pianoman9701]

I don't like the new law at all. However, I think the odds of a student in an authorized hunter education course be cited for an illegal "transfer" by handing a firearm to another student in the same course, both under the direction of a WDFW authorized instructor is almost nil.

Even if instructors are comfortable with this, I wonder how many students/parents will not be?

I won't be at all comfortable with this.

[Bob33]

I don't like the new law at all. However, I think the odds of a student in an authorized hunter education course be cited for an illegal "transfer" by handing a firearm to another student in the same course, both under the direction of a WDFW authorized instructor is almost nil.

Even if instructors are comfortable with this, I wonder how many students/parents will not be?

I won't be at all comfortable with this.

I understand, although you wouldn't be treaking the law - the student(s) would.

[Hi-Liter]

I don't like the new law at all. However, I think the odds of a student in an authorized hunter education course be cited for an illegal "transfer" by handing a firearm to another student in the same course, both under the direction of a WDFW authorized instructor is almost nil.

Even if instructors are comfortable with this, I wonder how many students/parents will not be?

I won't be at all comfortable with this.

I understand, although you wouldn't be treaking the law - the student(s) would.

That is what you call a yo-yo law. Laws are all for one and one for all. As stated before this will be challenged.

[Song Dog]

Been teaching Hunters Ed for over twenty years, just resigned today.

[Fl0und3rz]

Been teaching Hunters Ed for over twenty years, just resigned today.

Thanks for your service.

[ghosthunter]

I don't like the new law at all. However, I think the odds of a student in an authorized hunter education course be cited for an illegal "transfer" by handing a firearm to another student in the same course, both under the direction of a WDFW authorized instructor is almost nil.

Even if instructors are comfortable with this, I wonder how many students/parents will not be?

Hunter Ed staff will not allow that. It is either legal or not. Once they decide on a policy that it is not legal ,you as a instructor are required to make sure the policy is adhered to in your classes. Or risk de-certification.

[ghosthunter]

There is already a policy manual a 1/2 inch thick. How much more can be piled on?

[Bob33]

I don't like the new law at all. However, I think the odds of a student in an authorized hunter education course be cited for an illegal "transfer" by handing a firearm to another student in the same course, both under the direction of a WDFW authorized instructor is almost nil.

Even if instructors are comfortable with this, I wonder how many students/parents will not be?

Hunter Ed staff will not allow that. It is either legal or not. Once they decide on a policy that it is not legal ,you as a instructor are required to make sure the policy is adhered to in your classes. Or risk de-certification.

If the transfers are done at an established shooting range, or between students under age 18 it is legal. If neither of these conditions is met, it would be best to not allow firearm transfers between students.

[Elk329]

There is already a policy manual a 1/2 inch thick. How much more can be piled on?

This is included at the last of the E-mail.
Hopefully they don't add another 1/4 of an inch.

We will be releasing more detailed information soon, and will do our best to address all the situations that you as instructors will encounter.  Please continue to check the Hunter Education Instructor website for updates. If you need the login ID or password, please call Jan at or email her
We will also be slightly modifying the Hunter Education Instructor Policy Manual to provide additional clarity around the transfer of firearms for hunter education purposes. More information will be provided in the near future.
Again, thank you for all that you do.

[huntrights]

I-594 created a bad law that will continue to result in unintended consequences until it can be amended or repealed, or perhaps they were intended consequences.  It's a shame that we have to wait two years for a simple majority to fix this mess legislatively; a 2/3 super majority would be difficult to obtain prior to the two-year limit.  Hopefully some judicial/legal remedies can be imposed to fix some of the major issues with I-594 in the near future.

This is what happens when those who vote get their heads filled with propaganda funded by a few anti-gun billionaires.

[Dave Workman]

But it seems to defeat the purpose of I-594 and the limited set of exemptions.

Uhh, pay attention to that letter and read "the small print" about firearm exchanges and students over 18 years of age....

[Dave Workman]

Been teaching Hunters Ed for over twenty years, just resigned today.

Contact me off list, ASAP please

[Fl0und3rz]

But it seems to defeat the purpose of I-594 and the limited set of exemptions.

Uhh, pay attention to that letter and read "the small print" about firearm exchanges and students over 18 years of age....

Yeah, I saw that.  The point is that I-594 authors provided an unworkable exemption for HEP, and the WDFW (an agency with LE authhority) chose to use the more generous LE exemption, in effect, advocating the the HEP conduct "straw transfers" to facilitate hunter education, the raison d'etre of I-594.

I find that ironic.