| Social and Economic Policy Limit accessibility of firearms, including assault-style weapons and high capacity clips. Enact safe storage requirements for guns. Issue Team Chair: Cynthia Stewart, cstewart@lwvwa.org |
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| House Bills | House | Senate | After Passage | |||||||||
| Bill # | Bill Name (Brief Title) | League Position | Take Action | In Committee | On Floor Calendar | Passed | In Committee | On Floor Calendar | Passed | Passed Legislature | On Governor's Desk | Signed |
| HB1143 | Concerning requirements for the purchase or transfer of firearms | Support |
x | |||||||||
| HB1144 | Enhancing requirements for the purchase or transfer of firearms | Support |
x | |||||||||
| HB1178 | Concerning local government authority to regulate firearms. | Support |
x | |||||||||
| HB1195 | Prohibiting the open carry of certain weapons in public parks and public hospitals. | Support |
x | |||||||||
| HB1240 | Establishing firearms-related safety measures to increase public safety. | Support |
x | |||||||||
These weekly updates will provide you with a "deep dive" into the progress of each bill, along with more analysis of the potential impact of the bill if it should pass.
- Weekly Report 1.22.23— Read Here
- Weekly Report 1.22.23— Read Here
HB 1143 Concerning requirements for the purchase or transfer of firearms, would require an approved safety training course within five years, fingerprinting, and background check in addition to a 10-day waiting period before a dealer can hand over a firearm. These requirements are similar to those for a concealed weapons permit. Fourteen states have similar requirements and have found that they have reduced fatalities by 14%. The requirements could also interrupt suicide attempts, which are often impulsive decisions. Suicides constitute 75% of gun deaths in Washington. Opponents say the requirements violate Second Amendment protections.
HB 1144 Enhancing requirements for the purchase or transfer of firearms, would require background checks go through the Washington State Patrol rather than local law enforcement agencies.
HB 1178 Concerning local government authority to regulate firearms, would grant local government authority to regulate firearms and where they can be present. This would change the current pre-emption of firearms regulation. Opponents say that the bill would create a patchwork of regulations and gun owners would need to research restrictions in multiple jurisdictions. On the Pro side, different cities and towns have differing conditions regarding use of firearms.
HB 1195 Prohibiting the open carry of certain weapons in public parks and public hospitals.
HB 1240 Establishing firearms-related safety measures to increase public safety, would essentially ban the manufacture, distribution, and purchase of assault-type weapons which have been used in most mass shootings. The weapons specified in the bill are variations of military weapons designed to kill as many persons as possible in the shortest time period. Washington would become the tenth state to ban assault weapons if the bill passes. This is the sixth year a ban on assault weapons has been proposed by the Attorney General.
How To Be Involved
Please follow the weekly legislative newsletter and any action alerts. Contacting legislators as an individual can be impactful. If you are interested in researching and following a particular issue, please contact Pat Griffith at pgriffith@lwvwa.org.