GOAL Post |
2015-10 |
Legislative Update from Olympia |
13 March 2015 |
CHAMBER CUT-OFF
THREE BILLS STILL ALIVE
PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED
ON/OFF/ON AGAIN ATF AMMO BAN
The original chamber cut-off passed Wednesday evening. Eight bills died at that point (see “BILL STATUS” below).
Three bills remain under consideration for the remainder of the session, ESHB 1731 (mental health/guns), SSB 5381 (return of firearms) and SB 5658 (reporting mental health commitment). The only bill of concern remains ESHB 1713. As originally introduced, it would have treated any person deemed to have a chemical dependency (alcohol!) the same as a mental health involuntary commitment, with loss of firearm rights. The bill was amended in the House Judiciary committee(SHB 1713), and finally on the House floor (ESHB 1713). The current version is better than the original, but is still unacceptable, as it incorporates federal disqualifiers (firearms prohibitions) into state law.
Two public hearings on bills are scheduled in the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday (SSB 5381) and Wednesday (SSB 5658).
In a fine example of a federal kubuki dance, early in the week the ATF announced it was backing down on its reclassification of M855 ammunition as armor piercing — and thus adding it to the “ban” list. Then on Thursday, they announced they were reviewing ALL 5.56x45mm surplus ammunition because it posed a potential danger to police officers (allegedly because of the increasing number of AR-based handguns on the market). But not commercial .223 ammunition. Exactly what is the difference between 5.56mm M193 and commercial .223 55gr FMJ ammunition? Both use the same projectile, the original 55 grain FMJ bullet introduced with the M16 family of firearms back around 1963. Law enforcement organizations have publicly stated that 5.56 military surplus ammunition does NOT pose a unique threat to officers… but what do they know?
Apparently what happened is the ATF received overwhelming opposition to its M855 ban, from industry, from law enforcement, from the public and from Congress, so they backed down. But someone forgot to give the memo to the White House, and President Obama still wants a 5.56mm ammo ban. So the games continue. Meanwhile we’re looking at another shortage of 5.56mm ammunition as gun owners clean dealers’ shelves. Again. (Everyone DOES keep 500 rounds on hand for all the guns you own, yes?)
BILL STATUS:
| Bill # | Subject | Prime sponsor | Status |
| *ESHB 1713 OPPOSE |
Mental health/guns | Cody (D-34) | Passed House, S. HumServ |
| *HB 1731 OPPOSE |
Return of firearms held by law enforcement | Ormsby (D-3) | Died |
| *SB 5036 NEUTRAL |
Penalizes criminal misuse of body armor | O’Ban (R-28) | Died |
| *SSB 5381 NEUTRAL |
Return of firearms held by law enforcement | Billig (D-3) | H. Judiciary |
| SB 5500 SUPPORT |
Allows retired LEOs to carry on school grounds | Roach (R-31) | Died |
| SB 5539 SUPPORT |
Exempts LEO’s from three day waiting period | Roach (R-31) | Died |
| SSB 5579 SUPPORT |
Exempts licensed security guards from b/g checks | Dammeier (R-25) | Died |
| SB 5615 SUPPORT |
Exempts military members from b/g checks | Benton (R-17) | Died |
| *SB 5658 NEUTRAL |
Reporting of mental health commitment | Dansel (R-7) | H. Judiciary |
| SB 5831 Support |
Restoration of firearm rights | Honeyford (R-15) | Died |
| SSB 6015 Support |
NRA License Plate | Roach (R-31) | Died |
* indicates change in status this week
ESHB = Engrossed Substitute House Bill, SHB/SSB = Substitute Bill (bill amended in committee), HB = House Bill, SB = Senate Bill, H. Aprop = House Appropriations, H. Jud. = House Judiciary, S. L&J = Senate Law & Justice, S. HumSer = Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Housing
HEARINGS SCHEDULED:
| SSB 5381 17 Mar 2015 |
H. Judiciary 1030 |
House Hearing Room A | John L. O’Brien Office Bldg |
| SB 5658 18 Mar 2015 |
H. Judiciary 0830 |
House Hearing Room A | John L. O’Brien Office 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.
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“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
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