Post by: ADAMS on February 04, 2010, 09:31:19 PM
Despite pleas to ban assault rifles, Washington lawmakers don't appear ready to tackle the issue this session.
The legislation focuses on "military-style" assault weapons, which can fire rapidly and carry large magazines of ammunition.
After nearly an hour of passionate debate Tuesday, there weren't enough votes to get this latest attempt out of committee.
Ralph Fascitelli, board chairman for Washington Ceasefire, supports the ban of semi-automatic pistons, pump-action rifles, and shotguns. "If it holds more than 10 bullets, it my mind, it is. If it automatically loads and discharges bullets, it is. If it's original design and intent was to kill humans, it is," said Fascitelli.
He said it's important to make sure the wrong people don't have the opportunity to use assault weapons. "Many crimes are committed by angry, disturbed individuals without a criminal record who turn deadly in a moment of rage when they have access to weapons of war, such as these assault weapons," said Fascitelli.
But gun supporters, like Brian Judy of the National Rifle Association, says this ban wouldn't have kept the assault rifle out of the hands of Christopher Monfort, the man charged with killing Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton.
"I want to give you a bit of breaking news you probably won't hear in the Washington media. That is that 70 million gun owners didn't break the law today. Millions didn't break the law with firearms that are classified as assault weapons under this bill," said Judy.
He added that trying to define assault weapons won't work.
"You can ban all semi-automatic firearms or you can ban none of them, but if you try to carve out some arbitrary sub-set, what you're going to end up with is a confusing and utterly ineffective nightmare of law and regulation," said Judy.
Sponsors said the bill is similar to the federal assault weapons ban that expired in 2004. It would cover an array of different pistols, shotguns and rifles, including semiautomatic rifles with large ammunition magazines and pistol-grip stocks.
The Aaron Sullivan Public Safety and Police Protection Bill is Senate Bill 6396. The bill was named in honor of 18-year-old Aaron Sullivan, who was shot and killed by a SKS 7.62-caliber rifle in Seattle in July.
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=276365 (http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=276365)
Post by: tony04 on February 04, 2010, 10:09:16 PM
Post by: uplandhunter870 on February 04, 2010, 11:54:47 PM
Post by: ADAMS on February 05, 2010, 12:56:28 AM
Post by: GrainfedMuley on February 05, 2010, 03:13:27 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on February 05, 2010, 05:21:26 AM
I would like to see a "Firearm and Hunting Rights" section on this forum where we can keep up on, discuss and take action (like writing letters) on legislation, court decisions, actions by government agencies and other authorities.
We already have a section like this; WDFW Announcements and Hunting Related Activism.
Post by: huntlakewood on February 05, 2010, 06:09:00 AM
Post by: lewy on February 05, 2010, 06:33:52 AM
Post by: ADAMS on February 07, 2010, 03:20:44 PM
Yes we do but such postings are just as likely to be located on the General Discussions forum and others that belong on that forum, like the thread about Christine Gregoire using illegal traps, get moved even though they belong there. (That thread was there for political reasons but got moved to the Trapping forum)
Maybe if it were more dedicated.
I will use it for now on for such posts.