By CARLEEN JOHNSON | THE CENTER SQUARE
After a vigorous hours-long debate that began the night before, Washington State Democrats in the House of Representatives on Saturday morning voted to pass legislation that would require would-be gun owners to obtain a permit before purchase. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1163 passed along a 58-38 party-line vote – that is, with no Republican support.
The bill would also have prospective gun owners complete a state-recognized firearm safety training course within the past five years to qualify for a permit. In addition, the bill requires enhanced background checks conducted via the Washington State Patrol’s firearms background check program, including state and federal databases.
“It would ensure that everyone who decides to purchase a firearm, understands the capability of the machinery they hold in their hands,” said Rep. Darya Farivar, D-Seattle, just ahead of a final vote. “It makes sure that people understand that this machinery can rob people of their safety, their freedom, and their life.”
Republican lawmakers decried the bill, to no avail, as an unconstitutional attack on the individual right to keep and bear arms.
Republicans offered up 27 amendments to the bill. All but one were rejected.
Rep Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, told The Center Square during a Monday interview that he believes the bill as passed is unconstitutional.
“Probably the most egregious thing that’s wrong with it is it indirectly establishes a gun owner registry and this has always been a non-starter or a hill to die on,” Walsh elaborated.
He noted that federal courts have generally rejected any kind of permit to exercise a constitutional right.
“Fees and costs associated with applying for and receiving this permit are equivalent to a poll tax,” Walsh continued. “It shows the arrogance of the anti-gun radicals in Olympia.”
Among the failed amendments was one by Rep. David Stuebe, R-Washougal, a Marine Corps veteran, to modify the bill to exclude military veterans from the permit requirement.
“Their training and what they actually bring to our community is their knowledge and their expertise,” he said. “They are taught to respect firearms. They understand the safety of the weapon.”
Rep. Strom Peterson, D-Edmonds, thanked Stuebe for his military service but then urged a “no” vote.
“While veterans are very adept at the use of firearms, veterans are also much more susceptible to suicide by firearms,” Peterson said, suggesting forcing someone to take a little more time before they could purchase a firearm could prevent suicide.
Other Republican members who have served in the military pushed back.
“Show me the data or the trend line that [in] states with more restrictive gun policies, veterans are in safer hands,” Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, said. “Show me the communities where these policies are in place where veterans are better off. You can’t find it … because that’s not what makes veterans safe. What makes veterans safe is a community. A brotherhood and a sisterhood that looks out for them.”
Rep. Andrew Engell, R-Colville, introduced an amendment to limit the scope of the underlying bill to urban areas of the state, like King County, where there are more gun crimes.
“This is where a larger portion of the people support this type of policy,” Engell said in making the case for his failed amendment.
Just ahead of the final vote on the bill Saturday, Walsh, too, delivered passionate remarks about his own family’s experience with firearms.
“My daughters may carry firearms to protect themselves. They may carry a Glock 19 … and if they did, I would tell them not to advertise that,” he said. “My daughters have not been raped. My daughters have not been molested. My daughters have not been killed.”
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Walsh predicted that if the bill passes the Senate and is signed into law by the governor, it will be challenged in court.
I love how Democrats are always behind increased gun sales with their policies.
Are Democrats secretly behind the NRA? Sure seems like it.
Remember what happened during the alcohol prohibition? Yeah, untaxed liquor sales was the result.
Yeah, how is that war on drugs goin?
Watch as more people get armed.
Either Democrats don’t understand reverse psychology or they do and they actually want more people to have guns.
This world truly is absurd sometimes.
Their policies U-Haul rentals and real estate business too…in Red states.
Trading success for failure until there is only failure.
…shall not be infringed.
Forcing people to get permits to engage in a constitutionally recognized liberity is… unconstitutional.
Imagine requiring folks to get a permit to go to chruch, or engagein free speech, etc.
All Alaskans need to testify Thursday afternoon, House State Affairs Committee, against HB 89, 3:15 PM, red flag firearms laws for Alaska. Make no doubt about it, Josephson, Hannan and Carrick would prefer to include gun registration in the same bill if they thought Alaskans would let them get away with it. Most Democrats would be supportive and grateful if their colleagues would run interference for them to enact gun registration. So-called Republicans Kopp and Stutes would quickly go along with it.
Ok. So crime will suddenly plummet in Washington state……….rrrrrriigght.
It will get tossed by the SC and easily.
Since when do unalienable rights require a permit? I bet they would never suggest getting a permit to have an abortion. And that’s not even a right.
Spot on Dan, killing innocent lives is their religion. Ignoring our constitution and enabling criminals to kill disarmed people is what they’re about. How many terrorists did the biden puppeteers escort into our country?
Call in and testify and write also. It makes a difference.
Why is the Democratic Party obsessed with denying rights? Why do they pretend to care about the rights of minorities, all the while belittling them, and stealing other people’s rights?
The responses to the veteran focused questions and their experience/training with firearms make it obvious those Dems really only want to make possession of a firearm more difficult for everyone. The training and experience of many vets far surpasses any that would be offered anything this bill might require. And I didn’t see anything there re: retired peace officers being exempt. It is all hogwash.
Those wanting to do crimes with firearms are not going to worry about these restrictions.
Nor, unfortunately, somebody intent on suicide. In fact using that argument, the next thing you’ll see (if it’s not in this law) will be yearly psych evals. Those are exceptionally expensive. After all people’s state’s of mind changes. Their health changes. Thoughts of suicide can come from suddenly having incurable disease.
A gun possession permit may not change or effect that at all. And there are other, more assured ways to commit suicide if that is what you really want to do.
The simple fact is these people are against firearms for everyone. Since they can’t do that, their 2nd best option is to regulate them to death. That is what this is. Just like tobacco. Only far worse.
More proof Democraps are the dumbest people on earth
More from the Democratic People’s Republic of Washington.
Democrats view gun owners as Barney Fife types. The officials of the Democrat party are exactly those types when it comes to guns, but they are deluded to think that forcing law abiding citizens to submit to their delusions will benefit anyone.
They’re creating a database of Americans who support the 2nd Amendment so that the deluded ‘Officials’ can extort them, that’s what these criminal ‘officials’ are really doing!
If they are pushing to’ legalize drugs, promoting sex, and encouraging sloth, while simultaneously trying to restrict ownership of means of self defense, they are moving toward tyranny. The first is a way for government to control the population. The latter is a way for the population to control the government.
How can you get gun safety classes and range time if you don’t have your own gun? Will the government buy handguns for you to borrow while you take your gun courses and get permitted before you buy your own gun? Very strange legislation. Democrats are just plain stupid people!
That is exactly why they are pushing these laws.
Ex: In order to get a permit, you must pass a State approved training class within the last five year. How many ranges will have this “state approved” class? When will the classes be scheduled?
.
Try getting a permit in Chicago and you will see exactly where the leftists are going with these laws. Set a requirement, and make it impossible to meet the requirement, deny the permit. Wash, rinse, repeat.
The Left is always and everywhere continuing its assault on the the natural right of the people to keep and bear arms in order to rid the populace of access to arms before “We the People” have had enough and actually use said arms for one of their intended purposes, namely to use them when “any Form of Government becomes destructive” of our “unalienable Rights” and “it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another” and “to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
The overwhelming percentage of People in Washington will absolutely not adhere to any of this nonsensical laws
anywhay, Many of the County sheriffs in the state have totally refused to participate in all these new UC laws anyways, and many commenting here
are all spot on right, gun sales, self builds, and ammunition sales have been off the charts for about 15 years now, many who had Zero guns a few years ago have them now, and many who only had a few guns 10 + years ago now have doubled and even tripled down on their ownership. Many suspect this is a intentional move to expand gun ownership, the state obviously knows the trends of gun and ammo
Sales , and they must also know there is no way to enforce these laws. I’d say gun ownership has more then tripled in the last 1O years, and is getting more day by day. These new laws are all just laws, with no enforcement and no adherence they mean nothing!! just one big waste of time is all it is!!