GregM

SENATE BILL 6396

By Senators Kline, Fairley, Kohl-Welles, and McDermott

AN ACT Relating to banning the sale of assault weapons; amending RCW 9.41.010; reenacting and amending RCW 9.94A.515; adding a new section to chapter 9.41 RCW; and prescribing penalties.


Here we go again


A group of four State Senators has introduced Senate Bill 6396, legislation that would bring California-style gun-control to the Northwest and ultimately ban many semi-automatic firearms commonly owned by Washingtonians.
This legislation would establish far-reaching restrictions on semi-automatic firearms (dubbing them "assault weapons") and ammunition magazines. SB6396 affects every firearm modified to conform with the now-extinct Clinton Gun-Ban plus many other semi-automatic firearms that have no lineage to those rifles or any military-style orientation whatsoever.
Like the failed Clinton Gun-Ban that sunset in 2004, this bill is about demonizing certain firearms based on how they look, not about crime fighting. This gun ban scheme will only punish law-abiding citizens and will do nothing to curb crime or keep criminals from obtaining firearms illegally. This is simply another attack on our Second Amendment rights in Washington State.
Please contact both of your State Representatives and your State Senator TODAY at 800-562-6000 and politely urge them to oppose SB6396.



**MOD EDIT merged all these into one, and stickied it for the time being.

Mrwyld

thanks for info.. here we go again.

Guff

I'll make the call in the morning. It should die quickly, along hopefully with these politicians' careers.

Metonymy

That's the problem. The bill sponsors are the usual liberal democrats from "the greater Seattle area".

Doesn't matter if the bill gets defeated or not, their constituency will re-elect them based solely on the political tag next to their name.

GregM

A link

NRA-ILA :: Washington: Assault Weapons Ban Proposed in Olympia!

Guff

Made the call and sent the message. If I get a response I'll post it up.

BigStick

When was this legislation introduced, and could you post the contact info for our representatives to make it easier for all of us to contact them? Thanks.

GregM

Go to the link I gave and where it says

Please contact both of your State Representatives and your State Senator TODAY at 800-562-6000 and politely urge them to oppose SB6396. More contact information for your legislators can be found here.

click on the word "here" and it will let you input your zip code and will give you back your reps and will even set you up with a page that emails your info and statement to your rep

GregM

Please oppose Senate Bill 6396

Here's why.

All laws only affect people who will obey them. These people are "Law abiding Citizens" There is no reason to fear "Law abiding Citizens"
The people you have to fear are "Non Law abiding Citizens". They don't obey laws. They rob, kill, steal and break every other law there is.
They will not obey Senate Bill 6396 even if you were to pass it.
On the other hand "Law abiding Citizens" do follow laws. They would obey Senate Bill 6396.
So what you would be doing is taking guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens and leaving them in the hands of outlaws. This is not what we want.

Further....
Since the guns this Bill would affect would be illegal, they would fall into the category of being a "black market commodity" This would put an artificially high price on them which would be very lucrative to people like drug dealers and gangs. They would make an amazing amount of money importing these guns from the surrounding states and selling them to other outlaws in this state. These local outlaws would have to come up with the money to buy these guns which would lead to higher rates of crime. (Drugs, Burglary, Prostitution etc) and since this bill would have taken defensive weapons away from "Law abiding Citizens" they would be at the mercy of the outlaws. Law Enforcement simply cannot be everywhere.
Clearly this is not the way to defeat crime

GregM

Prepare for inspection!
Without warrant the local Sheriff will come to your home and search......




....... In order to continue to possess an assault weapon that was
legally possessed on the effective date of this section, the person
possessing the assault weapon shall do all of the following:
(a) Safely and securely store the assault weapon. The sheriff of
the county may, no more than once per year, conduct an inspection to
ensure compliance with this subsection.......


Get active!

James

I made the call and got two out of three positive reply's. Have not heard back from number 3, yet.

GregM

It's even worse than I thought



........In fact, SB 6396 is more far-reaching than it appears on the surface and will absolutely impact a gigantic swath of Washington firearm owners, including concealed pistol license holders, hunters and competitive pistol shooters. As examples, consider the following restrictions that flow from the provisions of this horrendous piece of gun control legislation:

Ø Every semiautomatic AND PUMP-ACTION rifle and shotgun that has a detachable magazine and has a pistol grip located rear of the trigger (yes, that is just about all of them) is defined as an “assault weapon” and is banned under SB 6396!

Ø If you and your child/children are out in the woods plinking with his or her Ruger 10-22 and there are more than 10 rounds in the magazine, you are a FELON!

Ø If you are a Concealed Pistol License holder and your semi-auto self-defense pistol contains more than 10 rounds, you are a FELON!

Ø The use of firearms defined as “assault weapons” (see first bullet point) are banned for use in hunting!

Ø Competitive shooters will be impacted as any semi-auto pistol that has a detachable magazine and is equipped with a muzzle brake or compensator is defined as an “assault weapon!”

Ø If you own a firearm(s) defined as an “assault weapon” on the date this bill becomes law, you can keep it if you are willing to allow your Sheriff to come into your home once every year to ensure you store your firearm(s) appropriately!


Danger Will Robinson!

Mrwyld

Just sent my emails today to all of the democtratic folks that are in office here in my area. I'll post a response when I get something from them.

DevilDoc

Email sent to Jay Inslee, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray ...
I just wanted to drop you a note regarding SB6396 "assault weapons ban". I am a veteran, and I am intimately familiar with "Assault Weapons". I am also an avid hunter and sport shooter, so I am also very familiar with commercial firearms. I have seen some of the provisions of this bill and quite frankly, i'm horrified. The bill, however well meaning, bans weapons based on purely cosmetic features. Banning weapons based on their looks is fear based, not evidence based. A quick look at the CDC's mortality reporting shows that the odds of being killed by any rifle, much less an "assault rifle", are astronomical at best. (about 870,000 to 1 by my math) The fight to ban "assault weapons' just appears to be an example of "do something", even if it's not the right thing. Banning pistol grips (better weapon control), muzzle brakes (increased comfort, better weapon control), magazines (convenience) or other cosmetic features, does nothing to address the crime that we ALL want to reduce. The only people affected by laws like this will be the people who weren't breaking laws in the first place. My question to you, is will you be the legislator that shows true leadership, and addresses the problems endemic to our courts and prison system? Or, will you place the blame for violent crime directly into the laps of the law abiding citizens that voted you into office? As a victim of violent crime (assault with a deadly weapon), I watched first hand as the convicted felon on parole who pulled a gun on me, was convicted of 4 new felonies and recieved only 2 years in jail. That is the problem! The average gun owner is not. I would love to answer any questions that you might have, and I am looking forward to you showing effective leadership on this matter in the coming months. Respectfully..

Guff

Well said DD. Let us know if you hear back from any of them.

Mrwyld

DD - If ya don't mind, I may just copy and paste that and use it for my brother in law and father in law. I already sent mine, but not to our main state senators.. your wording is by far better than mine.

saread

Insley, Cantwell and Murray won't be voting on this bill. Need to contact your State representatives, not Congressional representatives.

GregM

If you can, go


The members of the Senate Judiciary Committee must hear from you before they consider SB 6396 at the 10 a.m. hearing on Tuesday, January 26! If at all possible, please attend the Judiciary Committee meeting on Tuesday to personally voice opposition to this misdirected legislation. The hearing will be held in Hearing Room #1 in the Cherberg Building. Arrive at least an hour early to park and sign in. Here is a map of the Capitol campus: http://www.ga.wa.gov/images/campus-map.pdf. The list of committee members and their contact information can be found by visiting Committee Members & Staff.

carryabigstick

Thanks for posting this. I will not be able to make it but I wish I could. I hope there are a lot of people there representing freedom.

BigStick

Thank you for posting the info. I would be there if I was in town, but I will be in NY for work all next week. I will be praying for wisdom and discenment for our politicians though. Keep us informed and hopefully I will be around for the next one.

Guff

I might try to make it down there. Anyone else from the Bellevue area going?

Guff

I reveived a response letter in the mail yesturday from Pre Marcie Maxwell.

The letter says,

"Thank you for calling the legislative hotline regarding gun control legislation introduced recently. This 2010 legislative session is just sixty days, and is focused on the state budget shortfall as well as moving forward with economic recovery for Washington families, businessess, and communities.

I don't serve on a committee that might hear a gun control bill, and it may not come to the House floor for our votes at all. I am the wife of a retired law enforcement officer, and both my husband and son are hunters, so I know there are many responsible gun owners like your family and mine.

I'll keep your comments in mind if this bill moves further.

Best regards,

(Signed in pen) Marcie Maxwell "

I thought it was really cool that she took the time to respond with a letter and not just an email. Nice personal touch. I'll be sure to remember it come election time.

Make those phone calls if you haven't already.

-Guff

SneakySir

Of course it's the day I have my dentist appointment.

I'll try to reschedule.

Jakey poo

Yeah good luck with that

carryabigstick

DevilDoc, I thought your response was very well thought out. Great job.

Guff,That is a nice touch with the letter from Maxwell. Although, she did not really answer whether she would vote for it. I know it sounds like she said she would vote against it, however, there is something that I find evasive about here answer. Not making a big deal about it, just something rubbed me wrong.

Good work west siders, keep it up!

GregM

Please do not hi-jack threads

hubers454

Back to the subject, call your representive now or right them a email, if you can show up but do something any thing we are going to lose our rights

Guff

Called and left a message for Randy Gordon letting him know that I would be at the meeting tomorrow and that my hope is that he votes no on SB 6396.

hubers454

I have been mass Emailing those jerkoffs in Olympia

usmcgunnerm4

The sponsors of this legislation are just a few of the likely suspects in the majority party that introduce bills year in and year out in an effort to erode our constitutional rights. I will of course oppose it.

Senator McCaslin

REDACTED,
I am a strong supporter of the right to bear arms. Consequently, I am strongly opposed to both HB 2477 (Gun Show Strict Liability) and SB6396 (banning so called "assault weapons"). According to the recent Supreme Court decision in Heller the right to bear arms is not just about self defense but is an import check against tyranny. In an effort to get government out of regulating our daily lives I have introduced several bills to protect the right to bear arms including HB 2709 the Washington Firearms Freedom Act. It is hyperlinked for your reference. Thank you for the email and I greatly appreciate your well articulated input.

Sincerely,

Rep. Shea

P.S. Thank you for your service. I too am a combat veteran.

-----Original Message-----
From: REDACTED
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 8:46 AM
To: McCaslin, Sen. Bob
Cc: Crouse, Rep. Larry; Shea, Rep. Matt
Subject: Constituent: OPPOSED!

HOUSE INTERNET E-MAIL DELIVERY SERVICE
SENATE INTERNET E-MAIL DELIVERY SERVICE

TO: Senator Bob McCaslin

CC: Representative Larry Crouse
Representative Matt Shea

FROM: Mr. REDACTED(Constituent)

STREET ADDRESS:
REDACTED

E-MAIL: REDACTED

PHONE: REDACTED

BILL: 6396 (Against)

SUBJECT: OPPOSED!

MESSAGE:

Myself, along with the majority of outdoorsman and lawful gun owners oppose this bill.

As a law enforcement officer, I can ASSURE you that this bill will only affect law abiding citizens, and that criminals will still have an outlet to obtain these firearms. The fact that they will become felons if caught with the weapon has absolutely zero bearing on the decision process in a criminal's mind.

If this bill passes, we are setting the precedent for strict firearm restrictions, on the level that is imposed by the District of Colombia. When law abiding citizens are unarmed, the only individuals left with firearms are those who wish to cause harm for evil purposes.

If this legislation is taken seriously, then we may as well ban all firearms capable of holding more than 10 rounds, such as my service pistol, which carries 15 rounds in the magazine. My personal defense firearm is a concealed carry 10mm pistol, which has the stopping power of a .41 magnum, and is very accurate at 50 yards. This weapon carries 11 rounds in the magazine.

My .22 rifle, is hardly accurate at more than 75 yards, and while the risk of grave bodily harm still exists with any firearm, this weapon is less powerful than my handgun, and probably slightly less accurate, although it would be banned with the passing of this legislation.

In closing, I believe that legislation is necessary to track firearms, rather than abolish them. Lawful gun owners enjoy the sport, and enjoy the beauty of firearms. We respect the weapon, and we are respectful to those who do not. We are educators, firemen, police officers, lawyers, doctors, farmers and mechanics....we represent the people who vote for you, and we are saddened that this bill is even being considered in the great state of Washington.

Very Respectfully,

REDACTED - Police Officer
Combat Veteran; 2000-2004.

NOTE: We are 99% sure that this constituent is in your district

RESPONSE REQUESTED: REDACTED has requested a response to this message.

jfcrossland

This legislation doesn't have legs. This is reactive and short sighted. Experience shows that gun bans take guns out of the hands of people that obey the law.

Guff

Sadly won't be able to make it out there this morning, so I did a last ditch email to my three reps, one of whom is on this committee.

Dear Rep. Gordon, Maxwell and Clibborn,

SB 6396 does nothing to prevent violent crime in our society so much as it disarms law abiding citizens who have the constitutional right to bear arms.

Semi-automatic rifles are NOT the same thing as assault rifles. Do not allow the sensationalist media and those who would be quick to strip away our freedoms fool you into thinking they are the same thing. A semi-automatic rifle, no matter how scary it might look, will only fire one bullet per trigger pull. An assault rifle on the other hand has selective fire, meaning a person can fire a single bullet, a burst of three rounds, or even fully automatic with one pull of the trigger. Just because a semi-automatic rifle has the outside appearance of a military rifle does not mean it’s the same thing. A person can put the shell of a Ferrari on the outside of a geo-metro, but it still doesn’t mean they're driving a Ferrari.

Two countries we should be looking at are Australia and the UK, both of which have banned firearms completely (though it didn't start that way). Violent crime has increased as a direct result. Why is that? Violent criminals no longer have anything to fear. Violent criminals will always commit violent crimes. Instead of focusing on the instruments they use (and semi-auto rifles are rarely used) while committing their crimes, why not focus attention on keeping these violent, often repeat offenders away from society and locked up like they should be.

Violent criminals are released every day back into society before their sentence is completed to make room for non-violent drug offenders. When will this madness end, and when will our elected lawmakers wisen up? I hope that you three have the wisdom and courage to stand up for the rights of law abiding citizens.

If you truly care about the safety and well being of your constituents vote NO on SB 6396.

Thank you,

Jeff Gramling

Guff

I got the following back from Rep. Gordon (copied and pasted, excuse the formatting problems),

Jeff, Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your concerns over SB 6396 - which would prohibit a person from manufacturing, possessing, purchasing, selling, or otherwise transferring certain assault weapons or certain assault weapon conversion kits. I appreciate hearing your views on this issue very much and I understand your thoughts and frustrations. When I took my oath of office, I swore to uphold the Constitution - all of it, including the Second Amendment. Although I have not yet had the opportunity to study this bill in detail, I have reviewed some of its provisions that are troublesome - including the one calling for annual inspection by authorities to determine if firearms are properly stored. I consider this an unnecessary intrusion into homes by the government. I will keep your comments firmly in mind if and when this bill comes before me for a vote. From what I am hearing in this short session, I do not believe this bill is going to move forward. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your views with me. Sincerely, Randy GordonState Senator41st Legislative District If you would like to sign up for my electronic newsletter, please click here or please visit my website at: Sen. Randy Gordon - Washington State Senate Democrats

DevilDoc

I emailed several other people.. The only person who really responded was Sen Eric Oemig. He said (paraphrase) "I hear you loud and clear.. I swore to uhold the constitution, ALL of the constitution, and I support your right to keep and bear arms.. This sort of bill is introduced every year, but never goes anywhere. I don't expect this to pass either." Pretty cool response, actually. Still waiting on other responses.

GregM

I went down to Olympia this morning for the committee meeting on SB 6396
The main room was full so I had to go to an over flow room and watch the proceedings on TV Here's what I learned


This man is EVIL
He is sarcastic, condescending, smug, controlling and generally an extreme liberal asshole who given the chance will take not only guns, but everything else we have, away.

From his web page
Senator Adam Kline: About Adam
I was a foot-soldier in our generation's battles, and the experience seems to have set the tone for the rest of my life. Back to college at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and still in the spirit, I decided to take that year off from study and work in an SDS-sponsored organizing project in East Baltimore's slums. (Remember SDS--Students for a Democratic Society? We were radical, we were belligerent, and sometimes we were self-righteous. But you know something? By and large, we were right.) In a mixed African-American and Native American neighborhood, we practiced the art of neighborhood organizing, careful not to tread too heavily in other folks' turf, and mindful that our job was just to help the neighbors come together and focus on their common problems. It was a year well spent for a young man interested in social policy, and the lessons I learned are still with me.

He attempted on every occasion to shut up the people who were there to oppose his point of view as well as other reps that did not favor his position
This guy is the Uber Obama zombie
He must go





This woman is GOOD
She was instrumental in getting the NRA rep a chance to speak
She was told to shut up on several occasions by Kline
She is our pal. She is a keeper

Blogger: User Profile: State Senator Pam Roach




The NRA guy wiped the floor with Kline
The second guy to speak (on our side) was told to shut up by Kline but nailed him several good ones.

We must work to get rid of Kline.

koorbloh

cool, now we know who the players are...what's the end result of the meeting?

GregM

I'm not sure what the next procedural step is.
The whole committee meeting was only about an hour and then they moved to the next Senate Bill and everyone in the room I was in left.

I'm on the NRA mailing list so I am guessing they will do some more mailouts when whatever happens next, happens

There were several times when someone said something to Kline and the whole building erupted in hurrays and applause. He yelled at every one for it.

What a jerk

Mrwyld

I'm wondering if we can find the video from this online. I'd really be interested in it. Thanks for attending and providing us with the info. Dude looks like a dbag to me anyways..

GregM

Here's Pam's page if you want to thank her for being our voice
SRC - Senator Pam Roach, 31st District, Auburn

This is a better page than the first one I linked to.

migxdm

thanks for the link i mailed her!