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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Just a little over a month ago, I sent you a “Gun Rights Update” co-authored with my seatmate, Rep. Dan Kristiansen. Now that the committee and floor cutoffs for House bills have come and gone, I'd like to provide another update on gun bills in the House — both dead and alive.
ALIVE LIST
- House Bill 1100 – Concerning concealed pistol license renewal notices. Passed the House 96-0 on Feb. 27.
- House Bill 1384 – Concerning sexual assault protection orders. Passed the House 76-21 on Feb. 20. I voted for this bill.
- House Bill 1501 – Protecting law enforcement and the public from persons who illegally attempt to obtain firearms. Passed the House 84-13 on March 3. I voted for this bill.
- House Bill 1612 – Reducing access to lethal means to prevent suicide. Passed the House 88-9 on March 3. I voted for this bill.
- House Bill 1944 – Exempting certain law enforcement officers from the hunter education training program. Passed the House 98-0 on March 6.
- House Bill 1965 – Addressing fingerprinting and palm printing requirements in the context of firearms license applications. Passed the House 96-0 on Feb. 28.
DEAD LIST
- House Bill 1004 – Protecting the constitutionally guaranteed right to the lawful possession of firearms during a state of emergency. Died in House Judiciary Committee.
- House Bill 1015 – Prohibiting restrictions on the carrying of a concealed pistol by persons with a valid concealed pistol license in certain facilities. Died in House Judiciary Committee.
- House Bill 1122 – Creating the crime of reckless endangerment for those who leave or store a firearm in a location accessible to children and requiring warnings by dealers. Died in House Rules Committee.
- House Bill 1134 – Banning the sale of assault weapons and large capacity magazines. Died in House Judiciary Committee.
- House Bill 1174 – Requiring the superintendent of public instruction to develop an elective firearms safety and hunter education course for high school students. Died in House Education Committee.
- House Bill 1181 – Prohibiting the creation and maintenance of a database concerning pistol sales or transfers. Died in House Judiciary Committee.
- House Bill 1190 – Prohibiting a government database of law abiding owners of legal firearms. Died in House Judiciary Committee.
- House Bill 1270 – Improving public safety by encouraging the voluntary purchase and voluntary use of firearm safety products. Died in House Finance Committee.
- House Bill 1380 – Repealing background check provisions for gun sales and transfers relating to Initiative Measure No. 594. Died in House Judiciary Committee.
- House Bill 1381 – Increasing reciprocity for concealed pistol licenses. Died in House Judiciary Committee.
- House Bill 1387 – Enhancing background checks and licensure for assault weapons and large capacity magazines. Died in House Judiciary Committee.
- House Bill 1483 – Giving the Washington State Patrol the option to destroy forfeited firearms. Died in House Rules Committee.
- House Bill 1933 – Concerning the transfer of firearms at nonprofit fund-raising activities. Died in House Judiciary Committee.
- House Bill 1529 – Concerning recommendations from the joint legislative task force on the use of deadly force in community policing. Died in the House Public Safety Committee.
- House Bill 1592 – Concerning dealer deliveries to active law enforcement officers. Died in House Judiciary Committee.
- House Bill 1725 – Establishing an exemption from background check requirements for firearms sales or transfers between concealed pistol license holders. Died in House Judiciary Committee.
- House Bill 1731 – Makes changes with respect to background check requirements for firearms sales or transfers. Died in House Rules Committee.
- House Bill 1769 – Supporting law enforcement's efforts to implement the recommendations of the joint legislative task force on the use of deadly force in community policing. Died in the House Public Safety Committee.
- House Bill 1900 – Providing funding for the hunter education training program operated by the department of fish and wildlife through the issuance of national rifle association special license plates. Died in House Transportation Committee.
Please be aware that any bill can be “resurrected” while the Legislature is in session. I will continue to fight for the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. I will also continue to uphold and defend the Washington State Constitution which says, “The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired.”
I invite you to click on the links to these measures to get more information about them. Please contact my office if you have any question, comments or concerns. My contact information is below.
Sincerely,
John Koster