A group of charges that would expand gun store, restrict bulk purchases of guns and ammunition, and possibly require weapons consumers to obtain permits are once more being considered by Democratic lawmakers in Olympia.
Public hearings held by the House Civil Rights &, Judiciary Committee on Tuesday drew many to the Capitol, with most of those who showed up in person in support of the ideas, while more than 2, 000 persons signed in website, mainly in opposition.
House Bill 1152, a bill that would establish precise rules for gun owners to effectively and properly store them in houses and/or vehicles, was the first item that the committee discussed.
A Class 1 civil crime and a fine of up to$ 1, 000 may be imposed for breaches of the storage requirements set forth in the act. Fines may be higher for those whose guns were obtained by someone who is not lawfully allowed to possess firearms because of improper storage. In those circumstances, users may experience a Class C criminal if the firearm is used to inflict personal harm or death on a third party, or a total offense if a prohibited person uses the firearm to commit a murder.
” Public protection and responsible gun rights go hand in hand. The majority of rifle owners take safety really, and this act builds on that shared benefit to solve the pressing public security issue — unprotected firearms”, bill sponsor Rep. Beth Doglio, D-Olympia, told the committee. ” When firearms are not stored securely, the risks to our communities, particularly to children, are undeniable”.
Others spoke in opposition.
Teddy Chow, a prosecuting attorney, said he feared the measure would further victimize those who have their firearms stolen.” Punish the thief, and not the person from whom it was stolen.
If passed, new gun storage requirements would take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
A second bill, House Bill 1132 sponsored by Rep. Darya Farivar, D-Seattle, and other Democratic lawmakers, would do two things: limit the number of firearms a person can purchase at one time to one every 30 days, as well as limit the sale of ammo sold to a single buyer at 100 rounds of.50 caliber ammo or 1, 000 rounds of all other types of ammo in a 30-day period.
Farivar said there are currently no restrictions, but that the “need for action is urgent”.
” The fact of the matter is that ordinary people are not buying 12 guns or 12, 000 rounds of ammunition a year”, she said.
Others were not convinced.
Allen Ernst, a competitive shooter, claimed that practicing for more rounds in a month is necessary to improve.
He claimed that restricting my ability to purchase ammunition in any amount violates the rights that are clearly set forth in the Washington state constitution.
Law enforcement and private security companies are subject to some exceptions in the legislation. Violations could result in a Class 1 civil infraction, punishable by up to a$ 500 fine, or a misdemeanor for repeat violations.
The legislation would become effective 90 days after the session ended on April 27.
Lawmakers are also considering House Bill 1163, sponsored by Rep. Liz Berry, D-Seattle, and other Democratic lawmakers.
The bill would essentially establish a “permit to purchase” system in Washington and forbid dealers from transferring or selling firearms to those without a permit. Additionally, the legislation mandates that those who want to purchase a gun attend the required firearms safety training course.
Washington currently does not have a permit-purchase system, but it does have a 10-day waiting period for firearm purchases.
Kirk Struble, the regional director for Ducks Unlimited, testified against the bill on Tuesday, saying it would impose “redundant training” for hunters and that it” creates significant barriers” for lawful firearms transfers. He claimed that this bill could reduce the number of new hunters in Washington because hunters are already required to take safety courses.
But others, like Alex McCourt, an assistant professor and public health lawyer for Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, say “permit to purchase” laws can save lives. He told the committee that increasing numbers of studies have demonstrated that gun violence has been reduced through homicide, suicide, mass shootings, and law enforcement officer shootings.
” Our research has shown that the combination of permit to purchase systems and point of sale background checks can be quite effective,” he said.
If adopted, the law would go into effect Nov. 1, 2026. The Senate is currently hearing a companion bill, but it hasn’t yet had a public hearing.
There are also other gun bills.
The committee heard a bill that would reinstate the right for some people to own a gun, despite not being a measure aimed at limiting gun ownership. Felony sex offenses, animal cruelty, and felony offenses that could lead to sentences of at least 20 years are some of the offenses that the bill does not allow the public to petition for reinstatement.
House Bill 1118 is sponsored by Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton, a formerly incarcerated lawmaker who said the bill could help people like her regain their right to own a firearm. The bill was the only piece of legislation heard Tuesday in the committee that had Republican co-sponsors signed on in support, including Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, and Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet.
Daniel Mitchell, on behalf of the Washington Civil Rights Association, spoke in favor of the proposal. He claimed that a recent Supreme Court decision found that the Second Amendment is violated by permanently removing firearms rights for nonviolent crimes. Although there are numerous laws that should prohibit people from possessing firearms, he claimed that forgiveness is the foundation of our constitutional republic.
But again, others were not convinced.
The bill was opposed by Anne Anderson, who spoke for the Washington State Narcotics Investigators Association, and that there has been a lot of work done in the Legislature to pass gun safety laws in the state.
She said,” It defies logic to turn things around and grant people who pose a known threat” gun rights.
If passed, the law would go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns.
The House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee will hold an executive session on Friday for all four bills that were heard on Tuesday in the House.
Following the House hearing, the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, a nonprofit that “works to save lives and eliminate the harms caused by gun violence”, held a news conference alongside Democratic lawmakers including Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, and Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle. The organization claims that despite being in favor of all the gun control laws put forth this year, it has also made significant efforts to pass the permit to purchase bill this legislative session.
The Senate Law &, Justice Committee heard Senate Bill 5099 Tuesday morning. The legislation will be approved in a Thursday executive session vote on the legislation, which would add requirements for state licensed firearms dealers. Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, is the prime sponsor of the bill and also a former law enforcement officer. The bill is also being sponsored by Thirteen additional Democratic senators.
Lawmakers are also considering Senate Bill 5098, sponsored by Valdez and other Democratic senators, which would place restrictions on carrying guns in places like public buildings, parks and playgrounds, and county fairs.
The Senate Ways & Means Committee received the bill after it was voted out of executive session last week.
Republicans, during a Tuesday news conference, said they do not believe Washington needs any more gun control measures, as they believe it already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country.
The most recent gun control measures come after the majority of Democrats voted to outlaw the sale of “high-capacity” magazines in 2022 and to ban assault weapons in 2023.
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