GOAL Post 2013-15

Legislative Update from Olympia 29 April 2013

SESSION ENDS, NO BUDGET

THREE FIREARM-RELATED BILLS PASS

INSLEE CALLS SPECIAL SESSION, TO BEGIN 13 MAY

FOCUS: BUDGET AND GUNS

GUN CONTROL PRESS CONFERENCE

OBAMA ET AL PROMISE RE-VISIT OF GUN BILL(S)

GOAL POST TO CONTINUE THROUGH SPECIAL SESSION

NRA CONVENTION IN HOUSTON 3-5 MAY

The 2013 Regular Legislative session ended Sunday evening, 28 April without passage of a biennial budget, the principal function of the long session. Both chambers passed budgets, but were far apart in details. The GOP-controlled Senate passed a balanced budget, the House budget called for more than $1 BILLION in tax increases.

Of the more than 30 firearm-related bills filed in the regular session, only three made it out of the legislature to the Governor’s desk. HB 1383, clarifying stalking protection orders, HB 1612, creating a “firearm offender registry” similar to the sex offender registry, and SB 5282, requiring DSHS to provide certain mental health data to the Washington State Patrol. Overall, we got a major pass this session, especially given the environment when it started back in January, exactly a month after the Newtown, Connecticut, school shooting.

Governor Inslee has called for a 30-day Special Session to begin on Monday, 13 May. While the governor listed specific issues he wanted addressed in the special session, once they convene the legislature can choose to go anywhere they want. Gun control — background checks as a minimum — are on the governor’s list. How well they’ll do in the special session remains to be seen. In the regular session they couldn’t even agree to pass a bill out of the Democrat-controlled House. The Senate is likely less receptive to the issue. But we won’t know until they convene.

A coalition of gun control advocates and “religious leaders” held a press conference today in downtown Seattle to announce their plan to run an Initiative to the Legislature later this year. The initiative will allegedly focus on universal background checks, but if past history is any indication, that will be their cover for more comprehensive gun control measures (just as today’s Seattle Times article about the conference referred to I-676 as a “trigger lock” initiative — when only one section of 28 in that initiative dealt with trigger locks — it’s called bait & switch). As always, the devil is in the details. I’ll provide more information about the initiative process, and the initiative itself, some time next month after the actual language is filed.

President Obama, Vice President Biden and several Democrat leaders in the U.S. Senate have appeared on television and in other fora since the failed votes on S. 649 ten days ago to commit to reviving the gun control bill and force it through Congress. No schedule has been set at this time, meaning they’re still working in the background to urge Senators to change their votes to support the measures. Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey, co-author of the Manchin-Toomey compromise amendment, says he’s done with the issue and will not pursue another vote. The bill could come back for a vote next week, or next month… or never. But SOME FORM of new and more intrusive gun control is a major goal of the Obama administration.

This would normally be the last regular issue of the GOAL Post until next year’s regular (2014) session. Due to the special session, I will resume publishing GOAL Post after the start of the session in about three weeks.

The NRA annual meetings and convention is being conducted in Houston this weekend, 3-5 May. I’ll be working the Second Amendment Foundation booth (#2955) on the exhibition floor. If you’re attending the convention, stop by and say hello.

BILL STATUS:

The following firearm-related bills remain under consideration in the 2013 session

Bill # Subject Sponsor Status

SHB 1383 Stalking protection orders Goodman (D-45) To Governor

SHB 1612 Firearm offender registry Hope (R-44) To Governor

SSB 5282 DSHS/WSP info exchange Carrell (R-28) To Governor

Key to abbreviations: SB = Senate Bill, HB = House Bill, Jud = Judiciary, L&J = Law & Justice, HS&C = Human Services & Corrections, Trans = Transportation, Approp = Appropriations, Early Learn = Early Learning and K-12 Education, W&M = Ways & Means

GOAL POSITION ON BILLS

HB 1383 NEUTRAL

HB 1612 CONCERNS

SB 5282 SUPPORT

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

None

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE: You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Toll free!!! The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993. Also toll free!!!

1-800-562-6000 TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at “www.leg.wa.gov”. Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site (http://www.adobe.com). You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573. Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the “roll call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill. The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to “[email protected]”. Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at “[email protected]” or by telephone at (425) 985-4867. Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at “[email protected]” with the words “Unsubscribe GOAL Post” in the subject line. I will remove your name immediately. Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists. If you received GP via a lit, you must contact that list’s admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Monroe 4-5 May

Monroe 8-9 June

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”

Article 1, Section 24

Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2013 Gun Owners Action League of WA

GOAL Post                                                                            2013-14
Legislative Update from Olympia                                                      19 April 2013

 

HAPPY PATRIOTS DAY!

BILLS MOVE, BILLS DIE

GOAL POST DELAYED NEXT WEEK

GUN CONTROL FAILS IN U.S. SENATE — THIS TIME

OBAMA VOWS TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT

SEATTLE ANTI-GUN GROUP THREATENS INITIATIVE — NEXT YEAR

GRASSROOTS TRAINING EVENT 30 APRIL

On a cool spring morning just outside Boston 238 years ago today, events were set in motion that would literally change the world.  Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson best summed it up in his Concord Hymn, the first stanza of which reads:

“By the rude bridge that arched the flood.

Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood,

And fired the shot heard ’round the world.”

Written nearly a century after the incident, it’s understandable that Emerson got a few of the details wrong.  It wasn’t at the Old North Bridge in Concord that the first shot of the American Revolution was fired, it was six miles away in Lexington, along the road from Boston to Concord, where British (government) troops first encountered armed colonists.  The troops’ mission was to seize stores of gunpowder and shot believed to be held in Concord.  But their first run-in came at tiny Lexington, where militiamen of the local “minute company” (militiamen  ready to respond on a minute’s notice) stood guard on the village green.  The British commander reportedly ordered them to “Disperse, damn ye, ye rebels.”  A single shot rang out, followed by a ragged volley.  The train was set in motion, motion that didn’t end until 1783 and the Treaty of Paris.

That first lone shot was probably fired by a nervous militiaman with his finger on the trigger (in violation of basic firearm safety rules), facing what was at the time the world’s best army.  I would have been nervous, too.  But it serves as a reminder that little events can trigger(!) bigger things and lead us to something no one could have imagined on that sleepy April morning.

As the remainder of this GOAL Post will show, this is the time to keep one’s finger off of the trigger and keep using that pen, keyboard or cellphone to tickle our elected representatives and remind them of their duty.

The legislature is winding down its 2013 regular session.  The second chamber cut-off (House bills out of the Senate, Senate bills out of the House) was two days ago, and now it’s clean-up on the budget and either concurrence votes or conference committees on bills that were amended in the opposite chamber.

HBs 1383 and 1612 and SB 5282 passed the Senate and House respectively, with amendments.  HB 1612 and SB 5282 await a concurrence vote in the chamber of origin or a conference.  Then on to the Governor if concurrence is given.  The House concurred in the Senate changes to HB 1383 and that bill is on its way to the Governor.  (Basically, the other side has to agree on the changes made before a bill can go to the Governor.)

HB 1840 and SB 5452 appear to have died without a respective Senate and House floor vote, as did SB 5865.

Given the historical number of gun bills filed in January, good and bad, we approach the end of the session with almost no forward motion for any of the bills.  Three passed out of 30+ filed.  Given hostile control of the House, that’s a plus in my estimation, although you don’t win wars fighting defense.

The legislative session ends on Sunday, 28 April.  Rather than distribute a GOAL Post next Friday night, followed by a wrap-up a few days later, I’ll just hold off of sending it out until Monday.  At that point the fat lady will have sung, the gavel will have come down, and there will be no surprises.

The big news of the week is the action (or inaction) on S. 649 (“Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act”), Majority Leader Harry Reid’s flagship background check/gun trafficking/school safety bill on the floor of the U.S. Senate.  A total of nine amendments were voted on for S. 649.

Seven of the nine failed, including the Manchin-Toomey compromise background check substitute, the Grassley background check substitute, and amendments to ban assault weapons (Feinstein) and ban magazines (Lautenberg), along with pro-gun amendments to mandate nationwide recognition of CPLs and to ensure veterans receive due process before they are stripped of their gun rights.  Under the rules of the Senate, it took 60 votes to pass an amendment.  Most of the amendments offered fell 2-6 votes short of passage.  Encouraging was the fact that the amendment that fared the worst was Dianne Feinstein’s assault weapon ban, receiving only 40 votes.  One Republican (Mark Kirk of Illinois) voted FOR the Feinstein amendment, 15 Democrats voted against it (of course Washington’s two Senatrixes, Murray and Cantwell voted anti-gun every time).  About 5-6 Senate Democrats, mostly from western, southern or rural states, sides with Republicans to defeat the gun control amendments.

Two amendments did pass Thursday, one that would cut some federal law enforcement grant money to any state that releases sensitive or confidential information on gun owners, and the second to fund additional mental health programs.

Later on Thursday Reid pulled S. 649 from further consideration, likely killing the bill… for the present.  He has promised to bring it back to the floor when he has the votes to pass it.  The Wednesday/Thursday votes were just one battle; the war continues.

President Obama held a televised temper tantrum shortly after Wednesday’s votes on S. 649, calling the NRA’s characterization of some of the bill’s amendments “lies.”  He vowed to continue pressure to promote his gun control agenda, through the use of executive orders where he could (an executive order cannot directly go against a vote of Congress).  Hell hath no fury like a president scorned….

Other gun control fanatics, such as Vice President Joe Biden, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and others, also lost it in their public criticism of the votes on S. 649.  Like the President, all vowed to do whatever it takes to attain their agenda.  There are reports of an advertising campaign planned in the states whose Democrat Senators voted on our side, to pressure the Senators to change their votes.

The newest Seattle-based gun control group, the “Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility.” is also making vows:  to run some form of gun control initiative NEXT year.  Look for the usual Seattleite fat-cats to pour money into the program, just as they did in 1997.  This time around, don’t be surprised if Mayor Bloomberg kicks in a few million — he just threw 12 million for broadcast advertising in selected states to push S. 649.  The mayor is a billionaire with money to burn.

The discussion to date has been on background checks, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see them overreach and throw in a few extra items from the gun grabbers’ wish list.  And that will work to our advantage.   The more trash they put in there, the easier it is to pick apart and defeat.

The Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and the Gun Owners Action League are joining with the Leadership Institute to conduct a grassroots training program at the Pierce County Library in Tacoma on Tuesday, 30 April.  The evening event will focus on several topics to include the legislative process, persuasive communications, traditional citizen (grassroots) lobbying and “new generation lobbying” — employing social media and other new methods of outreach.

Cost to attend is $10 and additional information may be obtained from Phil Watson, Special Projects Director at the Second Amendment Foundation, (425) 454-7012.  You may also register directly at https://www.leadershipinstitute.org/Training/register.cfm?ID=22877

BILL STATUS:

Bill #	Subject	Sponsor	Status	Goal Position
SHB 1383	Stalking protection orders	Goodman (D-45)	To Governor	Neutral
SHB 1612	Firearm offender registry	Hope (R-44)	Passed Senate	Concerns
SHB 1840	Firearms/restraining orders	Goodman (D-45)	Died in S. Rules	Support
SSB 5282	DSHS/WSP info exchange	Carrell<(R-28)	Passed House	Support
SSB 5452	Stalking protection orders	Conway (D-29)	Died H. Rules	Neutral
SB 5865	Use tax exemption for non-profits	Roach (R-31)	Died S. Rules	Support

Key to abbreviations:  SB = Senate Bill, HB = House Bill, Jud = Judiciary, L&J = Law & Justice, HS&C = Human Services & Corrections, Trans = Transportation, Approp = Appropriations, Early Learn = Early Learning and K-12 Education, W&M = Ways & Means

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

None

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE:  You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  Toll free!!!  The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993.  Also toll free!!!

1-800-562-6000   TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA:  Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at “www.leg.wa.gov“.  Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format.  You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site (http://www.adobe.com).  You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573.  Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000.  You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted.  By reading the “roll call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill.  The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT:  If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to “[email protected]“.  Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights.  Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s).  PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL.  I can be reached at “[email protected]” or by telephone at (425) 985-4867.  Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals.  Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at “[email protected]” with the words “Unsubscribe GOAL Post” in the subject line.  I will remove your name immediately.  Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists.  If you received GP via a lit, you must contact that list’s admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Puyallup             27-28 April

Monroe                 4-5 May

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”

Article 1, Section 24

Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2013 Gun Owners Action League of WA

GOAL Post                                                                                    2013-13
Legislative Update from Olympia                                                      12 April 2013

SSB 5282 PASSES HOUSE IN AMENDED FORM

SB 5465 DIES

SECOND CHAMBER CUT-OFF NEXT WEDNESDAY

17 DAYS LEFT IN SESSION

INITIATIVES

MISSOURI CPL FIASCO

S. 649

POLICE-ONE SURVEY — COPS ARE PRO-GUN

GRASSROOTS TRAINING EVENT 30 APRIL

SSB 5282 (State Patrol mental health data base) has passed out of the Senate, but it was amended while there.  If the House concurs in the Senate amendment, it goes to Governor Inslee for his signature.  If the House does NOT concur, it goes to a conference committee for resolution of differences.

SB 5465 (use tax exemption for non-profits) died in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

The remaining bills (HBs 1383, 1612, 1840 and SB 5452) must pass out of their second chamber by next Wednesday.  All four are awaiting a floor vote.

There are 17 days left in the 2013 regular legislative session.  By the State Constitution, the legislature must adjourn no later than midnight, Sunday 28 April.  If necessary, the Governor may call a special session to last no more than 30 days to resolve major issues.

At least one pro-gun initiative has been filed with the Secretary of State.  A second anti-gun initiative may be filed as well.  More on these at the end of the session.

Gun owners in Missouri report a very disturbing development.  In 2011 and again in January of this year, the Social Security Administration asked the state of Missouri to turn over to them the complete listing of individuals with a Missouri concealed carry license.  The reason?  To compare with lists of individuals drawing Social Security Disability payments because of mental illness.  One report claims they also asked for and received biometric identifying data of the licensees.  (Missouri does not issue a separate concealed pistol license, it places an “endorsement” (code) on the driver’s license, although those who don’t want this “mark of Cain” on their d/l’s can get a separate state ID with the endorsement.)

Our own Dave Workman checked with the Department of Licensing in Olympia, who say no such request has been received by Washington.  Maybe not, but it appears Big Brother is spreading his tentacles even further.

I have been told some individuals whose unemployment benefits are running out are applying for SS disability payments due to PTSD related to failed job searches.  That might not be such a smart move if you want to keep your guns!

In the other Washington, an attempt was mounted by Senator Rand Paul (R-TN) and more than a dozen other Republicans to filibuster S. 649 and kill the bill from the outset.  That filibuster failed when 16 Republicans sided with Democrats on a cloture vote (to allow the bill to proceed to debate and amendment).  Two Democrats voted with the remaining 29 Republicans to block the bill.  (I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that both are from rural states and both up for reelection next year.)  In all honesty, the likelihood of a successful filibuster on this bill was slim at best.

From the time of its release in late March, it was clear that S. 649 as filed was in trouble.  NRA-A-rated West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin and A-rated Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey to the rescue!  They reportedly got together on Manchin’s yacht, over drinks, to come up with “acceptable” compromise.

While the “compromise language” has yet to be released, rumors and alleged leaks abound.  One section would contain a specific prohibition against using the data collected in background checks for any form of gun registry, but Schumer is reportedly demanding all transfers be processed through a federally-licensed firearms dealer (FFL), and current law requires ALL transfers to be recorded by the dealer.  When dealers go out of business, their records are required to be turned over to the ATF.  Dealer records (ATF Form 4473 and the dealer’s “bound book”) contain a full description of the buyer AND the firearm.  Another section is supposed to require states to recognize ALL other states’ concealed carry licenses (passed last year by the Republican House but ignored by Harry Reid in the Senate), a provision that has gun control advocates and senior law enforcement officials screaming bloody murder.

The cloture vote took place on 11 April, and full debate on the bill will begin on 16 April.  The final Senate vote on S. 649 should come by the end of April.  It’s future in the House is uncertain, but if several Republicans join Democrats to pass it out of the Senate, passage of some form of the bill in the House is likely.

A recent survey of 15,000 active and retired police officers  by PoliceOne.com revealed rank and file law enforcement officers nationwide overwhelmingly SUPPORT licensed concealed carry by private citizens.  But bureaucrats with badges who “lead” police agencies historically bow to their political masters and oppose most pro-gun measures.

The Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and the Gun Owners Action League are joining with the Leadership Institute to conduct a grassroots training program at the Pierce County Library in Tacoma on Tuesday, 30 April.  The evening event will focus on several topics to include the legislative process, persuasive communications, traditional citizen (grassroots) lobbying and “new generation lobbying” — employing social media and other new methods of outreach.

Cost to attend is $10 and additional information may be obtained from Phil Watson, Special Projects Director at the Second Amendment Foundation, (425) 454-7012.  You may also register directly at https://www.leadershipinstitute.org/Training/register.cfm?ID=22877

BILL STATUS:

The following bills remain under consideration in the 2013 session

Bill #	Subject	Sponsor	Status	Goal Position
SHB 1383	Stalking protection orders	Goodman (D-45)	S. Rules	Neutral
SHB 1612	Firearm offender registry	Hope (R-44)	S. Rules	Concerns
SHB 1840	Firearms/restraining orders	Goodman (D-45)	S. Rules	Support
SSB 5282	DSHS/WSP info exchange	Carrell<(R-28)	Passed House	Support
SSB 5452	Stalking protection orders	Conway (D-29)	H. Rules	Neutral
SB 5865	Use tax exemption for non-profits	Roach (R-31)	Died S. W&M	Support

Key to abbreviations:  SB = Senate Bill, HB = House Bill, Jud = Judiciary, L&J = Law & Justice, HS&C = Human Services & Corrections, Trans = Transportation, Approp = Appropriations, Early Learn = Early Learning and K-12 Education, W&M = Ways & Means

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

None

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE:  You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  Toll free!!!  The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993.  Also toll free!!!

1-800-562-6000   TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA:  Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at “www.leg.wa.gov“.  Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format.  You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site (http://www.adobe.com).  You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573.  Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000.  You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted.  By reading the “roll call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill.  The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT:  If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to “[email protected]“.  Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights.  Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s).  PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL.  I can be reached at “[email protected]” or by telephone at (425) 985-4867.  Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals.  Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at “[email protected]” with the words “Unsubscribe GOAL Post” in the subject line.  I will remove your name immediately.  Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists.  If you received GP via a lit, you must contact that list’s admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Puyallup             27-28 April

Monroe                 4-5 May

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”

Article 1, Section 24

Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2013 Gun Owners Action League of WA

GOAL Post                                                                                          2013-12
Legislative Update from Olympia                                                          5 April 2013

SECOND POLICY COMMITTEE CUT-OFF PASSES

BILLS PASS COMMITTEE

28 DAYS LEFT IN SESSION

UN ATT PASSES

SHOWDOWN ON CAPITOL HILL

GRASSROOTS TRAINING EVENT 30 APRIL

Another milestone passed Wednesday evening with the second chamber policy committee cutoff.  No bills on our tracking list were affected.

Of the six bills still on the list, four (SHBs 1383 and 1840, SSBs 5282 and 5452) are in their respective Rules Committee, awaiting a floor vote.  Two (SHB 1612 and SB 5865) are sitting in Senate Ways & Means for funding approval.  SHB 1840 was amended in Senate Law & Justice to remove offending portions.  There is no reason to oppose the bill at this point.

There are 28 days left in the 2013 regular legislative session.  Per the state constitution, the legislature must adjourn by midnight, Sunday, 28 April, the end of the 105-day long session.

On Tuesday, 2 April, the United Nations General Assembly passed the Arms Trade Treaty (UN ATT) that has been under development for a decade.  Supporters of the treaty continue to claim it will have no impact on gun control within member states and will not infringe on the Second Amendment within the U.S.  The United States voted FOR the treaty, and there is no doubt President Obama will sign it when it is presented to him.  The stumbling block for full U.S. implementation of the treaty’s provisions will be ratification by 2/3 of the U.S. Senate — unlikely at this time (the Senate has yet to vote on ratification of the Inter-American Arms Trade Treaty passed in the 1990s and signed by President Clinton in 1999).

As always, the devil is in the details.  And therein lies the problem.  The treaty in many cases speaks in generalities, addressing various forms of arms control.  There is no doubt that it applies to “small arms” (including “sporting” arms), and there is no doubt it seeks to limit not only INTERNATIONAL trafficking in arms of all kind, but imposing necessary INTERNAL controls to ensure no weapons “leak” into the international market (can you say “Fast & Furious?”).  That covers just about everything a gun control advocate could put on his or her Christmas list:  bans, registration, the whole gun control ball of wax.  One passage reads, “Each State Party (nation) shall establish and maintain a national control system, including a national control list, in order to implement the provisions of this Treaty.”  The treaty also has the potential to restrict U.S. arms support to our allies around the world.

Next week the U.S. Senate will take up S. 649, Majority Leader Harry Reid’s omnibus gun control bill.  While the bill language has been posted on the Congressional web site (www.thomas.loc.gov), the only sure thing is what you see on the Congressional web site right now will not be the version finally voted on at the end of floor action.  I gave a detailed description of the first draft of the bill in last week’s GOAL Post.

Despite sequester-driven cash shortages, President Obama has embarked on a nationwide tour to try and generate public pressure on Senators to pass S. 649.  Sunday evening, 60 Minutes will bring out Newtown/Sandy Hook family survivors in an attempt to generate further support.  The administration is pulling out all the stops to push as restrictive a bill as they can get through the system.

Reportedly Senators Schumer (D-NY) and Manchin (D-WV) and considering watering down the bill to try and get more Republican votes.  Illinois “Republican” Mark Kirk, a long time gun control advocate, has already agreed to vote for the bill, no matter what it contains.  Schumer/Manchin are hoping they can lure maverick Republicans like John McCain (R-AZ) and Susan Collins (R-ME) to roll over as well.

The bottom line is that “universal background checks” is code for “universal gun registration.”  Once the data is collected, the reason for its collection is irrelevant.  They know who you are and what you own.  And while gun registration doesn’t automatically lead to confiscation, it is a necessary precursor to any effective confiscation program  A few years ago, the California Rifle & Pistol Association ran billboards promoting concealed carry with the message, “Society is safer when criminals don’t know who is armed.”  Society is also safer when GOVERNMENT doesn’t know who is armed.

The Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and the Gun Owners Action League are joining with the Leadership Institute to conduct a grassroots training program at the Pierce County Library in Tacoma on Tuesday, 30 April.  The evening event will focus on several topics to include the legislative process, persuasive communications, traditional citizen (grassroots) lobbying and “new generation lobbying” — employing social media and other new methods of outreach.

Cost to attend is $10 and additional information may be obtained from Phil Watson, Special Projects Director at the Second Amendment Foundation, (425) 454-7012.  You may also register directly at https://www.leadershipinstitute.org/Training/register.cfm?ID=22877

BILL STATUS:

The following bills remain under consideration in the 2013 session

Bill #	Subject	Sponsor	Status	Goal Position
SHB 1383	Stalking protection orders	Goodman (D-45)	S. HS&C	Concerns
SHB 1612	Firearm offender registry	Hope (R-44)	S. W&M	Concerns
SHB 1840	Firearms/restraining orders	Goodman (D-45)	S. Rules	Support
SSB 5282	DSHS/WSP info exchange	Carrell<(R-28)	H. Rules	Support
SSB 5452	Stalking protection orders	Conway (D-29)	H. Rules	Concerns
SB 5865	Use tax exemption for non-profits	Roach (R-31)	S. W&M	Support

Key to abbreviations:  SB = Senate Bill, HB = House Bill, Jud = Judiciary, L&J = Law & Justice, HS&C = Human Services & Corrections, Trans = Transportation, Approp = Appropriations, Early Learn = Early Learning and K-12 Education, W&M = Ways & Means

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

None

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE:  You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  Toll free!!!  The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993.  Also toll free!!!

1-800-562-6000   TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA:  Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at “www.leg.wa.gov“.  Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format.  You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site (http://www.adobe.com).  You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573.  Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000.  You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted.  By reading the “roll call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill.  The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

 

THE OTHER WASHINGTON

UN ATT HEADED FOR A VOTE

Activity has been slow in Olympia this week.  There were no surprises in the three public hearings conducted this week.  As a space filler, I’m adding material on developments in D.C. and at the United Nations.  SSB 5282 passed out of House Judiciary and now sits in House Rules awaiting a floor vote.

Next Wednesday is the second chamber policy committee cut-off.  Bills that don’t make it out of their policy committee are considered dead for the remainder of the session, although budgetary bills can always move.

I’m adding SB 5865 to the list.  I should have included it earlier.  The bill, by our own Senator Pam Roach (R-31) exempts the use tax now required from fund raising activities by not-for-profit organizations such as the Friends of NRA, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, etc.  (And probably Washington Ceasefire, too.)  The bill was heard in the Senate Ways & Means committee this week and may be voted on next week.  This is one of those budget bill exceptions to the cut-off.

Three and a half months since the Newtown shooting incident.  Poll numbers in support of additional gun control continue to decline (administration probably wishes it had acted more quickly).

Congress is halfway through a two week Easter  recess…  it returns 8 April.

The focus remains the Senate.

President Obama was back on television Thursday surrounded by sycophants and victims (i.e. dancing once again in the blood of the victims) whining about the lack of action.  We can expect a full bore gun control PR campaign from the White House for the foreseeable future.

New York City Mayor Michael “I was a Democrat before I was a Republican before I was an Independent” Bloomberg has pledged $12 MILLION for an advertising campaign targeted to swing states to get the votes to pass the Senate bill.  Two of the ads feature a rural-looking “hunter” who says he has no objections to background checks.  They don’t ask his opinion of gun registration.

Reid has elected to build one omnibus gun bill (S. 649) to take to the Senate floor for a vote.  The bill carries the innocent sounding title “Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013.”  The full text of the bill is available at:  http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113s649pcs/pdf/BILLS-113s649pcs.pdf

The bill runs 44 pages and contains a number of things on the wish list of gun control advocates.  It requires ALL transfers of a firearm to be conducted by an FFL, with full record-keeping as required by current law.  It DOES allow direct gifts to immediate family members without the check, the “loan” of such firearm for a period of up to seven days — PROVIDED the firearm does not leave the lender’s property, and the loan of a firearm at a range or for the purpose of shooting in a match, or while hunting, again with restrictions.  The bill authorizes the Attorney General to set an unspecified transfer fee for FFL processing.

To address “gun trafficking, the bill requires reporting “lost or stolen” firearms to both the Attorney General and local law enforcement with 24 hours of discovery of the loss.  The trafficking section also expands the definition of “strawman sale,” increases penalties to 15 and 25 years in federal prison for violations, adds forfeiture of  any property related to trafficking and ties money laundering and racketeering (RICO) statutes to trafficking crimes.

One good section of the bill: it prohibits “Fast & Furious”-style operations by Department of Justice agencies (but not OTHER federal agencies such as CIA or other Homeland Security elements) UNLESS permission is granted by the Attorney General or his/her designee.

As filed, the bill NOT contain an “assault weapon” or magazine ban, but Reid will allow votes on separate amendments to accomplish the same.  Without doubt several other amendments, good and bad, will be offered.

And let there be no doubt in your mind that this “universal background check” language opens the door to firearm registration.  The data is all there on the dealers records:  buyer identification information and a full description of the firearm.  Retired (out of business) FFL records are ALREADY in a federal data base (NOT a “gun registration” data base, a “tracing” data base — maybe someone can explain the difference).  Current FFL records could be automated almost overnight — the mechanism is already there.

Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and James Imhofe (R-OK) have sent a letter to Majority Leader Reid saying they will “oppose” ANY gun control bill in the Senate.  Whether this opposition amounts to a filibuster remains to be seen.  Several Republicans have expressed an interest in S.649.

Arm-twisting, by Majority Leader Reid AND by the White House has already begun, with threats, with promises of “protection” to red-state Democrats, with offers of “favorable” amendments to Republicans to get them to vote the bill forward.  If you liked the way Obamacare was shoved down Senators’ and Representatives’ throats, you LOVE the  upcoming gun bill(s).  Another “we have to pass the bill to see what’s in it” moment (if THAT’S not an impeachable statement by a Speaker of the House, I don’t know what is).

UN ATT

The United Nations General Assembly is expected to debate and pass it’s long awaited Arms Trade Treaty in the next week or two.  Originally, the U.S. demanded consensus (agreement by all nations) on the language of the bill.  The U.S. withdrew that demand last week.   Like many treaties, it’s full of generalizations and passages subject to interpretation.  Like the Inter-American Arms Treaty (CIFTA) of 1999, the treaty is SUPPOSED to control INTERNATIONAL trade in arms from warships, combat aircraft, tanks, armored vehicles (like the ones DHS is passing out to the states) down to small arms and ammunition (including “sporting arms”).

It clearly opens another door to full firearms registration.  One section reads, “Each State Party (nation) shall establish and maintain a national control system, including a national control list, in order to implement the provisions of this Treaty.”   There is language included that implies nothing in the treaty will infringe on national laws and customs,  but that’s all eyewash.

Should ATT be ratified (there is no question the US will vote FOR it in the UN General Assembly and  President Obama will sign it), the door is wide open to almost any gun control regulation supporters can dream up.

President Clinton signed a similar but narrower treaty, the Inter-American Arms Treaty (CIFTA) in 1999.  The U.S. Senate has yet to vote on that one, despite a request by President Obama for a ratification vote in 2009.

It’s interesting that supporters CLAIM the major effect of the UN ATT is to protect countries from arms transfers to rebel groups within their own borders.  All the talk of “2,000 deaths per day” by all of these weapons ignores the fact that most of the 2,000 are THEIR OWN CITIZENS, being MURDERED BY THEIR OWN GOVERNMENTS.

But we have nothing to worry about…  DHS has more than 1 BILLION rounds of ammunition and 2,700 armored vehicles on hand to protect us and defend U.S. sovereignty.

KEEP IN MIND WE’RE ONE MASS SHOOTING OR OTHER HIGHLY VISIBLE SHOOTING INCIDENT AWAY FROM BROAD AND EXTREME GUN CONTROL MEASURES AT ALL LEVELS FEDERAL AND/OR STATE.  AS LONG AS THEY’RE IN SESSION, WE’RE AT RISK.

BILL STATUS:

The following bills remain under consideration in the 2013 session

Bill #	Subject	Sponsor	Status	Goal Position
SHB 1383	Stalking protection orders	Goodman (D-45)	S. HS&C	Concerns
SHB 1612	Firearm offender registry	Hope (R-44)	S. L&J	Concerns
SHB 1840	Firearms/restraining orders	Goodman (D-45)	S. L&J	Oppose
SSB 5282	DSHS/WSP info exchange	Carrell<(R-28)	H. Rules	Support
SSB 5452	Stalking protection orders	Conway (D-29)	H. Jud	Concerns
SB 5865	Use tax exemption for non-profits	Roach (R-31)	S. W&M	Support

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

SHB 1612   Senate Law & Justice    Senate Hearing Room “1”

2 April         5:30 p.m.                        John A. Cherberg Bldg

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE:  You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  Toll free!!!  The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993.  Also toll free!!!

1-800-562-6000   TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA:  Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at “www.leg.wa.gov“.  Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format.  You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site (http://www.adobe.com).  You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573.  Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000.  You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted.  By reading the “roll call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill.  The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT:  If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to “[email protected]“.  Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights.  Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s).  PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL.  I can be reached at “[email protected]” or by telephone at (425) 985-4867.  Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals.  Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at “[email protected]” with the words “Unsubscribe GOAL Post” in the subject line.  I will remove your name immediately.  Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists.  If you received GP via a lit, you must contact that list’s admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Monroe                 6-7 April

Puyallup             27-28 April

 

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”

 

Article 1, Section 24

Constitution of the State of Washington

 

 

Copyright 2013 Gun Owners Action League of WA

GOAL Post2013-9

Legislative Update from Olympia – 15 March 2013

CHAMBER CUT-OFF PASSES

FOUR MORE BILLS DIE, FIVE REMAIN

HB 1588 DEAD — MAYBE

POLICY COMMITTEE CUT-OFF 3 APRIL

This past Wednesday at 5 p. m. , all bills had to pass out of their original chamber or be considered dead for the session. Four of the bills we are tracking died, five remain in play. The clock simply runs out, and a significant portion of bills die, good and bad. More than 2,000 bills were filed to date; fewer than half made it past the chamber cut-off. That number will likely be cut in half again by the end of the session. Many are filed, but relatively few make it to the Governor’s desk. But it isn’t over until the gavel goes down on Day 105.

Most of the drama this week was over HB 1588, the bill that mandates background checks on ALL firearm transfers within Washington. Democrats fell a few votes short of the needed 50 votes to get it out of the House, despite pressure from Governor Inslee and reportedly at least one telephone call to a legislator from former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords (D-AZ), injured in a shooting in Tucson, AZ, fourteen months ago. (Representative Giffords is becoming the Jim Brady of her generation, despite her earlier NRA A-rating, brought out to showcase whatever gun control bill is up for discussion or a vote. )As a last minute maneuver, the bill sponsor tried to attach a referendum clause to the bill, which would have thrown it to the voters in November. At that point, six Democrats who supported the earlier version of the bill withdrew their support — they wanted no part of an off-election-year referendum on guns.

Democrats control the House with a 55D-43R margin. One Republican, Rep.  Mike Hope (R-44) was committed to voting FOR the bill. Thus they needed 49 Democrat votes to pass 1588. At least six righteous Democrats just said “no” (it could be a few more; because a vote was never taken, we won’t know the exact shortfall). The next time someone asks why GOAL supports SOME Democrats, there’s your answer. There are always exceptions to the stereotypes. On both sides.

According to some news reports, HB 1588 was the Democrats’ #1 priority bill for this year. Rest assured it will be back in one form or another. If they can’t find a way to resurrect it during this session, we’ll may see it on the ballot later this year as an Initiative to the People. The Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility (WAGR), our state’s newest nanny-state gun grabbing organization, has more than enough money at its disposal to buy its way onto the ballot just as they did in 1997 with I-676. More Seattleites dictating THEIR agenda to the rest of the state. Whether they will do so in an off-year election where turnout is very small remains to be seen.

Over the next 2 1/2 weeks bills will continue to be heard in the other chamber’s policy committees. April 3rd is the next cut-off date.

Earlier this week a senior legislative staffer called me to ask what I meant by the position “concerns” on some bills (several legislators and staffers in Olympia are on the GOAL Post distribution list). “Concerns” means just that:  while I have no problem with the stated intent of the bill, I believe it is written in such a manner that it takes away prosecutorial or judicial discretion. We’ve all heard the horror stories about “zero tolerance” policies in schools, children being expelled for drawing a picture of a gun, and the school principal defends him or herself with the response, “I’m sorry, I know it’s silly, but my hands are tied. It’s the rule. “It’s these “no exceptions, no loopholes” policies — and laws — that get the wrong person in trouble. School administrators, bureaucrats and politicians love “zero tolerance/no exception policies it gives them cover.

An example: Two of the bills still making their way through the system expand the prohibition on firearm possession for individuals subject to different forms of restraining or protective orders. The intent of these laws is to protect people. Great.  I was taught as a child that boys don’t hit girls. And I’ve honored that rule. But for every case where a nutjob goes off the deep end and guns down his or her significant other, there are thousands of individuals subject to these orders that are NOT a danger, and that are being denied the fundamental right of self-defense. And let’s not forget that in many of these domestic cases, the potential threat goes BOTH ways. Laws that are guaranteed to catch EVERY lawbreaker will invariably also catch individuals that may have technically violated that law, but who had no criminal intent.

BILL STATUS:

The following bills remain under consideration in the 2013 session

Bill #	Subject	Sponsor	Status
SHB 1096	Juvenile illegal firearm possession	Hurst (D-31)	Died
SHB 1383S	talking protection orders	Goodman (D-45)	S.  HS&C
SHB 1588	Background checks	Pedersen (D-43)	Died
SHB 1612	Firearm offender registry	Hope (R-44)	S.  L&J
SHB 1839	Background checks	Goodman (D-45)	Died
SHB 1840	Firearms/restraining orders	Goodman (D-45)	S.  L&J
SSB 5282	DSHS/WSP info exchange	Carrell (R-28)	H.  Jud
SSB 5452	Stalking protection orders	Conway (D – )	H.  Jud
SB 5831	Bans double tax on clay pigeons	Rivers (R-18)	Died

Key to abbreviations: SB = Senate Bill, HB = House Bill, Jud = Judiciary, L&J = Law & Justice, HS&C = Human Services & Corrections, Trans = Transportation, Approp = Appropriations, Early Learn = Early Learning and K-12 Education, W&M = Ways & Means

GOAL POSITION ON BILLS

HB 1383               CONCERNS

HB 1612               CONCERNS

HB 1840               OPPOSE

SB 5282                SUPPORT

SB 5452                CONCERNS

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

SSB 5282              House Judiciary  House Hearing Room “A” 21 Mar 1: 30 p. m. John L.  O’Brien Office Building

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE: You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Toll free!!!The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993. Also toll free!!!

1-800-562-6000TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at “www. leg. wa. gov <http: //www. leg. wa. gov>”. Bills are available in Acrobat (. pdf) format. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site (http: //www. adobe. com). You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573. Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http: //www. tvw. org/(you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the “roll call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill. The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to “jwaldron@halcyon. com <mailto: jwaldron@halcyon. com>”. Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at “jwaldron@halcyon. com <mailto: jwaldron@halcyon. com>” or by telephone at (425) 985-4867. Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at “jwaldron@halcyon. com” <mailto: jwaldron@halcyon. com>with the words “Unsubscribe GOAL Post” in the subject line. I will remove your name immediately. Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists. If you received GP via a lit, you must contact that list’s admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Puyallup23-24 March

Monroe6-7 April

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men. ”

Article 1, Section 24

Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2013 Gun Owners Action League of WA

FROM: GOAL [[email protected]] (Joe Waldron)
TO: undisclosed-recipients
SENT: Fri 3/8/2013 7:45 PM
SUBJECT: GOAL Post 2013-8

GOAL Post 2013-8
Legislative Update from Olympia 8 March 2013

CHAMBER CUT-OFF THIS COMING WEDNESDAY
SSB 5282 PASSES SENATE
LITTLE OVERT ACTIVITY ON BILLS
BACKROOM ACTION
VOTE ON SJM 8006

At 5 p.m. next Wednesday, all bills that have not passed out of their respective chamber (House bills out of the House, Senate bills out of the Senate) will die for the session. Not all bills get a vote. The clock typically runs out on several of them before they reach the chamber floor. Especially bills that are considered controversial, and that leadership doesn’t feel they have sufficient votes to pass (50 “aye” votes in the House, 25 in the Senate) — why waste the chamber’s time when bills are stacked up?

SSB 5282 (Carrell (R-289)) passed the Senate today on a unanimous vote. SSB 5282 requires improved exchange of information between the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Washington State Patrol regarding individuals who lost their eligibility to possess a firearm due to some forms of commitment.

Of the other five firearm-related bills we’re still tracking, there has been little visible activity. As they sit in their respective Rules Committee awaiting their turn for a vote, there is frequently back room action taking place. This is the time floor amendments are drafted, often to appease bill opponents and try to muster enough votes for the bill to pass. Recall Senator Feinstein’s statement in a 60 Minutes interview back in 1994 on the Clinton “assault weapon” ban: “If I could have gotten the votes, I’d ban them all.” So as the chamber deadline approaches, there’s a lot of negotiating and arm-twisting going on in the back rooms.
Specifically with regard to SHB 1588, there have been at least two amended versions offered internally, the first in an attempt to appease gun owners, the second backing AWAY from that version when the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) objected. (A side note about WASPC: there are 39 county sheriffs who are members of WASPC, but many times that number of city police chiefs. The police chiefs, who are dependent on mayors and city councils for their jobs, usually drive WASPC’s legislative agenda.)

The principal sticking point with 1588 is record retention — gun registration. Another issue from our standpoint is the provision that would waive the collection of sales tax for private sales conducted via FFLs. That provision was put in a separate section of the bill, making it a prime target for veto by Governor Inslee. (Another side note: Before he was Governor, Jay Inslee was a Congressman representing the 1st Congressional District in the north Seattle suburbs. Before he was the 1st District Congressman, he was Congressman in the 4th Congressional District, central Washington from the Canadian border to the Oregon border. In 1994, Jay Inslee cast a vote FOR the Clinton “assault weapon” ban — by some reports the deciding vote. He was fired by his constituents in the 1994 elections. How do you think Governor Inlsee feels about gun owners?)

Following next Wednesday’s chamber cut-off, the focus shift to the opposite chamber, when House bills go through the Senate and Senate bills through the House. It’s Yogi Berra’s deja vu all over again: policy committee hearings, fiscal committee action if the bill warrants it, then into Rules awaiting a chamber floor vote.

SJM (Senate Joint Memorial) 8006 passed the Senate today on a 40-8 vote. This is the watered down version of SB 5660 that died in committee two weeks ago, It recommends (vice mandates) adoption of the NRA’s “Eddie Eagle” gun avoidance program for young children. Eddie Eagle has been presented to millions of children across the United States and is credited with saving several lives. Amazingly 8 Senators voted AGAINST this bill. A similarly-worded memorial was passed by the legislature UNANIMOUSLY fifteen years ago.

BILL STATUS:

The following bills remain under consideration in the 2013 session
Bill #

Subject

Sponsor

Status
SHB 1096

Juvi illegal firearm possession

Hurst (D-31)

H. Rules
SHB 1383

Stalking protection orders

Goodman (D-45)

H. Rules
SHB 1588

Background checks

Pedersen (D-43)

H. Rules
SHB 1612

Firearm offender registry

Hope (R-44)

H. Rules
SHB 1839

Background checks

Goodman (D-45)

H. Rules
SHB 1840

Firearms/restraining orders

Goodman (D-45)

H. Rules
SSB 5282

DSHS/WSP info exchange

Carrell (R-28)

Passed Senate
SSB 5452

Stalking protection orders

Conway (D-

S. Rules
SB 5831

Bans double tax on clay pigeons

Rivers (R-18)

S. Rules
Key to abbreviations: SB = Senate Bill, HB = House Bill, Jud = Judiciary, L&J = Law & Justice, HS&C = Human Services & Corrections, Trans = Transportation, Approp = Appropriations, Early Learn = Early Learning and K-12 Education, W&M = Ways & Means

GOAL POSITION ON BILLS
HB 1096 CONCERNS
HB 1383 CONCERNS
HB 1588 OPPOSE
HB 1612 CONCERNS
HB 1839 SUPPORT
HB 1840 OPPOSE
SB 5282 SUPPORT
SB 5452 CONCERNS
SB 5831 SUPPORT

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED: None

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE: You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Toll free!!! The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993. Also toll free!!!
1-800-562-6000 TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at “www.leg.wa.gov”. Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site (http://www.adobe.com). You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573. Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at the TVW web site).
By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the “roll call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill. The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to “[email protected]”. Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at “[email protected]” or by telephone at (425) 985-4867. Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at “[email protected]” with the words “Unsubscribe GOAL Post” in the subject line. I will remove your name immediately. Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists. If you received GP via a lit, you must contact that list’s admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):
Puyallup 23-24 March
Monroe 6-7 April

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”
Article 1, Section 24
Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2013 Gun Owners Action League of WA

GOAL Post                                                                                             2013-7

 

Legislative Update from Olympia                                               1 March 2013

 

 

FISCAL COMMITTEE CUT-OFF PASSES

CHAMBER CUT-OFF MARCH 13TH

LIMITED ACTIVITY ON BILLS OF INTEREST

NEW ANTI-GUN GROUP WITH $$$$$

 

Admin note:  the extra “S” in front of some bills (e.g. SHB or SSB) means a substitute bill was passed by the committee.  Substitutes typically are used to amend language in the original bill, frequently based on public testimony.  As you can see in the Bill Status section, few bills pass in their original form.

Today was the last day for bills that had a major fiscal impact to pass out of one of the fiscal committees (Appropriations, Ways & Means, etc).  Three of the nine gun bills still ubder consideration fall into this category.      SHB 1096 and SB 5831 appear to have passed out of their respective fiscal committees today.  SSB 5376 appears to have died in Senate Ways & Means.  (I say “:appears” because on-line posting of bill status has been slower than usual this session.)

All of the bills we are tracking are now resting in their respective Rules Committee, the holding place for bills awaiting a floor vote.  The chamber cut-off is in 12 days, 13 March.  At that time if a bill hasn’t been passed by the original chamber (House or Senate), it is considered dead for the session.  Once a bill passes out of its original chamber, it goes to the other side for the same series of policy committee hearings/action, fiscal committee action if required, and then up for another floor vote.

While awaiting a floor vote, additional amendments may be drafted and offered.  Without doubt such activity is taking place right now with SHB 1588, the universal background check bill.  It will be interesting to see what changes are offered in an attempt to gain enough votes to pass it out of the House.  SSB 5452 moved one step forward in Senate Rules and will likely be voted on early next week.  The other bills have until 13 March.

The Seattle Times this week reported formation of a new “citizens” group to promote gun control in Washington.  Dubbed the “Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility,”  the group appears to be backed by current and former Seattle City Councilcritters, as well as by Seattle fat-cat Ward Hanauer.  Where their money is a coming from is another matter.  Habauer is the initial sugar-daddy, but like the 1997 anti-gun initiative I-676, it’ll likely be Seattle-centered “limousine liberals in tasseled loafers” as the Spokane Spokesman Review called them, or liberal anti-gun foundations using their tax-exempt dollars to attack YOUR rights.  It wouldn’t surprise me to find New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s fingerprints on it as well.

They’ve hired a high-powered lobbyist, their own “hired gun,” Zach Silk, who ran last year’s successful legislative gay marriage lobbying campaign.  Ostensibly created to lobby the legislature to pass “responsible” gun legislation, they’re also threatening a initiative later this year if they can’t coerce Olympia into giving in to their demands.

A similar “citizens group” did the same thing in 1997 — after their pet bill to mandate gun storage failed, they ran an initiative calling for licensing of everyone in Washington who “possessed” a handgun (far broader than “owned”).  Seattle media polling indicated 65% support for the initiative, but a funny thing happened at the only poll that counts: on election day the initiative was defeated 71–29%.

 

 

BILL STATUS:

The following bills remain under consideration in the 2013 session

 

Bill #        Subject                                           Sponsor                       Status

SHB 1096   Juvi illegal firearm possession      Hurst (D-31)          H. Rules

SHB 1383   Stalking protection orders             Goodman (D-45)   H. Rules

SHB 1588  Background checks                        Pedersen (D-43)     H. Rules

SHB 1612   Firearm offender registry              Hope (R-44)          H. Rules

SHB 1839   Background checks                        Goodman (D-45)  H. Rules

SHB 1840   Firearms/restraining orders            Goodman (D-45)  H. Rules

 

SSB 5282   DSHS/WSP info exchange               Carrell (R-28)       S. Rules

SSB 5376   Juvi illegal firearm possession         Kline (D-37)         Died S. W&M

SSB 5452   Stalking protection orders               Conway (D-           S. Rules

SB 5831   Bans double tax on clay pigeons        Rivers (R-18)       S. Rules

Key to abbreviations:  SB = Senate Bill, HB = House Bill, Jud = Judiciary, L&J = Law & Justice, HS&C = Human Services & Corrections, Trans = Transportation, Approp = Appropriations, Early Learn = Early Learning and K-12 Education, W&M = Ways & Means

 

 

GOAL POSITION ON BILLS

 

HB 1096      CONCERNS

HB 1383     CONCERNS

HB 1588     OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED

HB 1612     CONCERNS

HB 1839     SUPPORT

HB 1840     OPPOSE

 

SB 5282     SUPPORT

SB 5376     CONCERNS

SB 5452     CONCERNS

SB 5831     SUPPORT

 

 

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

None

 

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE:  You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  Toll free!!!  The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993.  Also toll free!!!

 

1-800-562-6000   TDD 1-800-635-9993

 

 

OTHER DATA:  Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at “www.leg.wa.gov“.  Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format.  You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site (http://www.adobe.com).  You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573.  Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000.  You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

 

By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted.  By reading the “roll call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill.  The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

 

 

GET THE WORD OUT:  If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to “[email protected]“.  Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights.  Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s).  PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL.  I can be reached at “[email protected]” or by telephone at (425) 985-4867.  Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals.  Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

 

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at “[email protected]” with the words “Unsubscribe GOAL Post” in the subject line.  I will remove your name immediately.  Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists.  If you received GP via a lit, you must contact that list’s admin to unsubscribe.

 

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

 

Puyallup             23-24 March

Monroe                 6-7 April

 

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”

 

Article 1, Section 24

Constitution of the State of Washington

 

 

Copyright 2013 Gun Owners Action League of WA

GOAL Post2013-6

Legislative Update from Olympia 22 February 2013

NEW BILLS INTRODUCED

POLICY COMMITTEE CUT-OFF — MOST GUN BILLS DIE

FISCAL COMMITTEE CUT-OFF NEXT FRIDAY

Two additional firearm-related bills were filed over the past week.SB
5739, by Sen. Ed Murray (D-43), would allow counties or cities to ban
firearms in public parks and other recreation areas.SB 5831, by Sen. Ann
Rivers (R-18), would prohibit double taxation of clay pigeons bought by
non-profit gun clubs who collect sales tax when selling rounds of
trap/skeet.SB 5739 was NOT scheduled for a public hearing.SB 5831 will
be heard in Senate Ways & Means next Tuesday (2/26).

Today is the first major culling of bills filedTo date, more than 2,800
bills have been filed for this legislative biennium (2013-14).Bills that
did not make it out of their original policy committee by the end of
business today are theoretically considered dead for the remainder of
the session.They may be reconsidered during any special session or in
the 2014 session.I say theoretically because the cut-offs are an
arbitrary date adopted at the beginning of a session.If sufficient
pressure is brought to bear, a bill may be resurrected.

The 2013 session sets a record: more than 30 firearm-related bills have
been filed.This is a first in the 20 years I have been lobbying in
Olympia.Eleven of the 30 are good bills, most of the rest are either
overtly bad or containing sections that do not protect the rights of gun
owners.

At this time it appears at least 18 bills failed to make the cut-off and
should be considered dead for the session.These include most of the
pro-gun bills and some of the bad ones as well.Again, a committee chair
has full discretion as to which bills he or she moves or lets die.

Ten firearm-related bills remain under consideration.In this issue of
GOAL Post I have listed ALL of the bills and their current status.Next
week I will delete those bills that died in committee.

Bills that have a fiscal impact on the state require a second hearing in
one of the legislative fiscal committees (House Appropriations or Fiscal
or Senate Ways & Means).This is to allow the legislature to identify
where the funding will come from to fund the bill’s requirements. Or
that’s the way it’s supposed to work!The last opportunity for these
bills to be heard in their original chamber (House or Senate) is next
Friday, 1 March.

Bills in the House or Senate Rules Committees sit there until leadership
decides they want to bring them to the floor for a full vote.In many
cases, they’re waiting on drafting of floor amendments.

While SB 5660, the bill that would require the Superintendant of Public
Instruction to develop a firearms safety education program along the
lines of the NRA’s “Eddie Eagle” program failed to pass out of
committee, a similar Senate Joint Memorial (SJM 8006) did
pass.Unfortunately, a Memorial can only recommend a course of action,
not require it.

BILL STATUS:

House Bill numbering begins with 1000; Senate Bills with 5000.The
following bills have been filed so far in the 2013-14 biennium:

Bill #SubjectSponsorStatus

HB 1096Juvi illegal firearm possessionHurst (D-31)H. Approp

HB 11471^st degree juvi unlawful possess.Goodman (D-45)DIED H. Jud

HB 1184Range protectionTakko (D-19)DIED H. Jud

HB 1318CPL renewal noticeTaylor (-15)DIED H. Jud

HB 1371WA Firearms Freedom ActTaylor (R-15)DIED H. Jud

HB 1383Stalking protection ordersGoodman (D-45)H. Rules

HB 1561Short barreled riflesBlake (D-19)DIED H. Jud

SHB 1588Background checksPedersen (D-43)H. Approp

HB 1612Firearm offender registryHope (R-44)H. Rules

HB 1676Mandatory safe storageKagi (D-32)DIED H. Jud

HB 1703Gun “safety” training and taxJinkins (D-27)DIED H. Jud

HB 1729Street gangsWarnick (R-13)DIED H. Jud

HB 1788Firearms/school employeesPike (R-18)DIED H. Jud

SHB 1839 Background checksGoodman (D-45)H. Rules

HB 1840Firearms/restraining ordersGoodman (D-45) H. Rules

HB 1908Firearms on school propertyScott (R-39)DIED H. Jud

SB 5282DSHS/WSP info exchangeCarrell (R-28)S. Rules

SB 5376Juvi illegal firearm possessionKline (D-37)S. W&M

SSB 5452Stalking protection ordersConway (D-S. Rules

SB 5478Firearms/mental health courtKeiser (D-33)DIED S. L&J

SB 5479Safekeeping of firearmsKeiser (D-33)DIED S. L&J

SB 5485Mandatory safe storageKline (D-37)DIED S. L&J

SB 5604NRA license platesHatfield (D-19)DIED S. Trans

HB 5625Background checksKline (D-37)DIED S. L&J

SB 5635Restoration of firearm rightsKline (D-37)DIED S. L&J

SB 5660Firearm safety educationChase (D-3)DIED S. Early Learn

SB 5710Mandatory safe storageKohl-Welles (D-46) DIED S. L&J

SB 5711Background checksKline (D-37)DIED S. L&J

SB 5737Ban on sale of “assault weapons”Murray (D-43)DIED S. L&J

SB 5739Ban on guns in parksMurray (D-43)DIED S. L&J

SB 5831Bans double tax on clay pigeonsRivers (R-18)S. W&M

Key to abbreviations:SB = Senate Bill, HB = House Bill, Jud = Judiciary,
L&J = Law & Justice, HS&C = Human Services & Corrections, Trans =
Transportation, Approp = Appropriations, Early Learn = Early Learning
and K-12 Education, W&M = Ways & Means

GOAL POSITION ON BILLS

HB 1096CONCERNS

HB 1383CONCERNS

HB 1588OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED

HB 1612CONCERNS

HB 1839SUPPORT

HB 1840OPPOSE

SB 5282SUPPORT

SB 5376CONCERNS

SB 5452CONCERNS

SB 5831SUPPORT

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE:You may reach your Representatives and Senator by
calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.Toll free!!!The
hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993.Also toll free!!!

1-800-562-6000TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA:Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules
and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at
“www.leg.wa.gov http://www.leg.wa.gov>”.Bills are available in Acrobat
(.pdf) format.You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader
from Adobe’s web site (http://www.adobe.com).You may also obtain hard
copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room
FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573.Copies of bills may also be
ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800)
562-6000.You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at
http://www.tvw.org/(you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at
the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill,
you can see how individual committee members voted.By reading the “roll
call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on
any bill.The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is
available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT:If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail,
send a message to “[email protected]
[email protected]>”.Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you
believe may have an interest in protecting our rights.Better yet, make a
couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin
board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s).PERMISSION IS HEREBY
GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED
IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO
GOAL.I can be reached at “[email protected]
[email protected]>” or by telephone at (425)
985-4867.Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to
individuals.Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the
Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me
at “[email protected]” [email protected]>with the words
“Unsubscribe GOAL Post” in the subject line.I will remove your name
immediately.Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun
lists.If you received GP via a lit, you must contact that list’s admin
to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Puyallup23-24 February

Puyallup23-24 March

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself,
or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall
be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize,
maintain or employ an armed body of men.”

Article 1, Section 24

Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2013 Gun Owners Action League of WA