By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
The week of Jan. 15 will be a big one for gun control legislative hearings in Washington state, where the most important event will likely be a Tuesday, Jan. 16 hearing on several House bills before the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee.
On the agenda are five gun control measures, HB 1902, Enhancing requirements for the purchase or transfer of firearms (permit-to-purchase plus training requirement); HB 1903 – Reporting lost or stolen firearms; HB 2021 – Concerning the disposition of privately owned firearms in the custody of state or local government entities or law enforcement agencies; HB 2054 – Concerning bulk purchases and transfers of firearms (one-gun-per-month), and HB 2118 – Protecting the public from gun violence by establishing additional requirements for the business operations of licensed firearms dealers. According to the House hearing calendar, remote testimony will be available on all of these bills.
There is a possibility the committee will hold a Friday executive session on all of these bills.
On the Senate side, the Senate Law & Justice Committee will hold a hearing Monday, Jan. 15, on Senate Bill 5444, concerning carrying firearms in so-called “sensitive places.” This measure seeks to expand the definition of such places to include public parks, zoos and public libraries and bus stations. The committee is also scheduled to hold an executive session on Jan. 18 (Thursday) concerning this bill and SB 5985 , which deals with the firearms background check program.
Of all these measures, the most controversial are HB 1902 and HB 2054, because they are seen by grassroots activists as unconstitutional under both the state and federal constitutions. A permit-to-purchase requirement was part of Oregon Measure 114, which was ruled unconstitutional late last year by a circuit court judge. The ruling is now being appealed by the state. Critics contend this bill erroneously treats the right to keep and bear arms with a government-regulated privilege. Opponents say there should be no permit requirement in order to exercise a constitutionally-protected right.
Likewise, the Second Amendment community contends no government should be allowed to limit the number of firearms one can own or purchase during a 30-day time period. Once again, critics argue such a limit is an impairment of the right to bear arms under the state constitution.
See https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/house for information about viewing and providing public testimony at committee meetings. See https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSI/Senate for testimony options.
Also, Washington residents can utilize the Legislative Hotline to reach their representatives in Olympia. That number is 800-526-6000.
