Anti-gun activists show up at the hearing to push the five gun control bills up for consideration. (Photo: Q13 Fox)
It’s a new year, which means there is a new opportunity for anti-gunners to push their agenda. Such is the case in Washington state, where lawmakers this week considered a number of proposals that would take a big bite out of the Second Amendment.
“Today the Senate Law and Justice Committee is hearing gun responsibility bills that simply would not have been heard by the previous leadership of the Senate,” said Jeff Potter, program policy director for the Alliance for Gun Responsibilities on Monday.
“Already this session we’ve seen a bill that was killed at the request of the gun lobby last year pass with this committee. So just the fact that we are having these hearings today is just a sea change from where we were just a few years ago,” he added.
The bills considered at the hearing include all of the following, reports Q13 Fox:
- SB 5444 would require an assault weapon license in order to have an assault weapon or a large-capacity magazine. The proposal would also ban non-state residents from buying assault weapons or large-capacity magazines in Washington.
- SB 6146 gives local governments in Washington state more leeway to write their own gun control regulations.
- SB 5463 increases the punishment for anyone who doesn’t store a gun safely. The proposal would also require anyone selling a gun to offer a lockbox, as well.
- SB 5992 relates to trigger modification devices.
- SB 6049 relates to high capacity magazines.
SEE ALSO: Washington State Goes Full California, Proposes Slate of Anti-Gun bills
GunsAmerica reached out to Alan Gottlieb, the Chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and Founder of the Second Amendment Foundation. Gottlieb, whose organizations are based out of Bellevue, attended the event.
“At the hearing I testified on behalf of the more than 20,000 Washington State members of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms against all 5 bills,” said Gottlieb in an email to GA.
“Gun owners turned out in very large numbers to show their opposition as well,” he continued. “I feel good about being able to stop this assault on our rights. However, to win this battle grass-roots gun owners must continue to have their voices heard and stay engaged for the next few months.”
We’ll keep a close watch on these five bills. For those Washington state residents reading this, it’s time to contact your reps if you haven’t already. Speak out and stay engaged, as Alan said.
Yeah, hence the reason I am darn glad I moved to PA from CA many moons ago and miss the great country but am leaving my arse and retirement money in the state that respects 2nd amendment rights! Looks like the whole left coast is going snowflake. Too bad for them ‘cuz they are missing out on a whole lot of tax dollars that we ‘gun crazies’ spend for our hobby and safety!!
Most libs do not know or care that it takes a person to pull a trigger. Just think, the geeks are working overtime trying to take away your control of your car so some hacker can take remote control of your vehicle and kill dozens.
I live in Washington State and these asshole liberals just don’t give up when it comes to trying to ban guns/accessories here in this state. Luckily there is a sizeable portion of free thinking people here so I still have some hope but most from these parts (especially towards the Seattle area) have been domesticated and turned into mindless slaves that feed on whatever BS the government and media overlords tell them to do. They have enacted I594 here to “close the gun show loophole” and another bill just last here which lets police take away your firearms based on people’s word and without due process but there has been no reduction in crime as a result of these bills, it only creates a registration system for the government so that when they release unconstitutional bills such as these, it is easy for them to know where to go confiscate firearms and accessories like bump stocks. The NRA is silent on the subject which is the most disappointing part of it all! I called all the senators and expressed my skepticism and disapproval for these bills and I suggest you do the same. If these laws somehow go into effect and they come and try to confiscate what is rightfully yours, kill every last one of those cocksuckers. DO NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT!
Good thing my knives are safe. Most of the Liberals have a vision of a world that can never exist. Man has been killing each other accidentally or on purpose since Cain and Able. It doesn’t mater what tools are used. Hell, we can beat each other to death with our fists. Maybe we should outlaw hands?
Since we already have compresive “gun control”, the Left Coast states use that phrase as a catch all. Their real aim is total banning of all firearms one step at a time ! These states hide behind the ninth court district court which is made up of radical leftist bent on total government control leading to a police state by any means necessary ! This goal can only be achived by disarming the public !
Quite frankly, this is precisely why we need guns. Wa state has been run by mostly idiots for going on 20 years, and the liberals have ruined Wa. We now are in massive debt over ridiculous social programs, flooded by Mexican illegals in north by farms and, have cartel gangs, and we have been flooded with illegal Asians in the south with violent home invasion gangs, meanwhile dems keep spending on safe places for adicts to do drugs, but cut police budgets… It took 2 hours for a cop to show up after I was hit by a car in a crosswalk… do you think dialing 911 is gonna help? Also, I honestly think democracy is dead. Democracy demads compromise and give and take, yet here in Wa state its liberal mob rule. As a conservative, you have zero voice, your vote is ignored, idgaf what they ban anymore, because they still have to come to this Marines house, and TRY AND TAKE IT. I am appalled that I carried a rifle in defense of my nation, and the very people I protected (the pussy liberals) now dare and try to tell me, what I can and cant have… seems their sense of freedom is broken. Maybe I should propose a prius ban… a fat purple haired dike recently drove into a crowd, so by liberal thinking… it got to be those dangerous fag wagons not the girls fault. Ban high capacity fuel tanks… “You dont need 30” Ban cars all together, its the leading cause of death, but not a peep. The only thing that can unfuck Wa state is either splitting state, or a civil war, it actually will probably take both.
Mike, I was at this rally and I totally agree with you. I’m ready for the reset button
Mike Bolton
“Give Me 🗽 Or Give Me Death!”
As noted in other comments, how is an assault rifle defined. I’m sure the legislators can’t tell you, just ban them all except for your grandpas’ bolt action deer rifle. I’m sure some of these proposals will pass as there is a real NEED to control guns. The amount of people killed by guns pales in comparison to those killed by opioids, alcohol and tobacco but controlling them won’t get you any votes, which is all these people care about.
Reading some of the bills just about everything on a modern rifle including most pistols would classify a firearm as an assault weapon. The law would also make it a crime to have high capacity magazines or transfer an “assault weapon” as defined by “law”.
This is a blatant attempt to take away modern firearms and to make sure firearms cannot be passed on to the next generation. These laws would shut down the sale to private citizens with exemptions for LE/Military.
Well, that’s all pretty sickening.
Chances are that if five pieces of legislation are presented, some if not all of them will make it through their leftist-controlled legislative process.
What do they consider an ‘assault rifle’? It seems the West Coast is the last frontier for these people whose faith in governmental control knows no boundaries.
Anything that goes “bang” is an “assault weapon” to them…