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Here's an update from Marion Bishop, a moderator in the Facebook "Washington 2022 Legislative Action Group - Save your civil rights" group. Here's the original post:
www.facebook.com
Or if you don't do Facebook, here it is:
2022 WA Legislative Session - Week 3 Summary and Week 4 Help Needed
Most important info first: All the 2A-relevant bills are still alive and progressing through the legislative process. The supporters of these bills are betting that we're going to burn out. We need all of us - even those who have already done so - to call/write your Senators/Reps and voice your opposition to these bills. I'm sure many of us are feeling burnt out, but continued vocal opposition will be critical over the next couple of weeks. Scroll past the Week 3 Summary for more info.
Welcome to another in a series of threads discussing the 2A-relevant bills being discussed during this year's Washington state legislative session, which runs from 1/10 to 3/10. In these threads we will be providing an overview of the bills and how to take actions against the bad ones.
Week 3 Summary
On Thursday (1/27), despite overwhelming public opposition, SB 5568, repealing state preemption of open carry at municipal facilities, was amended and voted out of the Senate Law & Justice Committee. The bill was amended so that municipal parks are explicitly included, meaning if the bill is passed, cities/towns will have the authority to ban open carry in parks. Many of us enjoy hiking, so this bill would affect those of us who, for a number of reasons, hike with a firearm. SB 5217, the AWB bill, was rescheduled and not debated this week, however the bill could still be scheduled next week. SB 5078, the ban on standard capacity magazines, was not pulled for a floor vote, but remains first on the Senate calendar. This bill could be pulled for a floor vote as soon as next Wednesday or Friday, so overwhelming, continued opposition to our elected officials is needed.
You can still take action against these bad bills. For now, you can comment on these bills and have comments sent to your representatives:
Comment on SB 5217 (banning "assault weapons")
Comment on SB 5568 (repealing state pre-emption of open carry at government-owned buildings and facilities (e.g. parks))
Comment on SB 5078 (banning standard capacity magazines)
In the House, two concerning bills have been voted out of the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee and could be scheduled for a floor vote sometime next week. These bills are HB 1630, which would ban firearms at school board meetings regardless of location, at election-related sites, and other facilities used for government meetings, and HB 1705 which will ban 80% receivers (and inadvertently, a whole lot more).
You can comment on these bills and have comments sent to your representatives:
Comment on HB 1630 (banning firearms at facilities being used for school board meetings and other facilities used for government body meetings)
Comment on HB 1705 (banning unfinished receivers (i.e. "ghost guns")
Week 4 Help Needed
The bills in the Senate (SB 5078, SB 5217, and SB 5568) are our priority for next week. Legislators have seen how many of us are paying attention and are hoping our scrutiny subsides. We need all hands on deck, even if you have already done so, to call/email your senator and the members of the Law & Justice Committee in opposition. We are especially looking for support from women, LGBTQ, and BIPOC individuals to help dispel the assumption that the gun-owning community in Washington is some monolithic white, rural, male entity. If you are interested in testifying, please reach out. We expect there will be more public hearings within the next couple of weeks. We are also asking that you invite two like-minded friends to take the same actions.
My recommendation, especially when reaching out to Democrat legislators, is to highlight the racist history of gun control and disproportionate impact on poor and BIPOC communities. Arguments on the bills' clear technical issues and unconstitutionality are less likely to hold water with them, but are of course worth mentioning. More talking points and information are available here. If you have Republican legislators, reach out to them, let them know it is a priority for you that these bills do not pass, and thank them for their opposition.
It is also worth pointing out to your legislators that gun control loses votes and this is an election year for 24 senators. Senate seats in legislative districts 6, 7, 8, 13, 15, 21, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, and 48 are up for grabs this year, so consider that talking point if you reside in one of the aforementioned legislative districts.
If you are in a weak Democrat/swing district, it is even more critical to reach out. A list of legislators we are focusing on is as follows:
Kevin Van de Wege (D) - LD 24 - [email protected] - 360-786-7646
Steve Conway (D) - LD 29* - [email protected] - 360-786-7656
Mark Mullet (D) - LD 5 - [email protected] - 360-786-7608
John Lovick (D) - LD 44* - [email protected] - 253-275-1405
T'wina Nobles (D) - LD 28 - T'[email protected] - 360-786-7654
Annette Cleveland (D) - LD 49 - [email protected] - 360-786-7696
Emily Randall (D) - LD 26* - [email protected] - 360-786-7650
Mona Das (D) - LD 47* - [email protected] - 360-786-7692
Claire Wilson (D) - LD 30* - [email protected] - 360-786-7658
Andy Billig (D) - LD 3 - [email protected] - 360-786-7604
Legislative districts with an asterisk (*) have their senate seats up for reelection this fall.
As usual I would like to plug WCRA's Discord server as great a great resource for staying informed.
Numbers matter and we must keep the pressure on. It unquestionably helps our cause to have overwhelming amounts of testimony opposing these bills. Keep your comments civil, articulate, and brief. For written testimony I would advise keeping it to one paragraph.
Please reach out if you have questions and thank you for stepping up to defend your rights. We have stopped bad legislation in the past few years and with your help, will continue to do so.
Washington 2024 Legislative Action Group - Save your civil rights | 2022 WA Legislative Session - Week 3 Summary and Week 4 Help Needed | Facebook
2022 WA Legislative Session - Week 3 Summary and Week 4 Help Needed **Most important info first: All the 2A-relevant bills are still alive and progressing through the legislative process. The...
www.facebook.com
Or if you don't do Facebook, here it is:
2022 WA Legislative Session - Week 3 Summary and Week 4 Help Needed
Most important info first: All the 2A-relevant bills are still alive and progressing through the legislative process. The supporters of these bills are betting that we're going to burn out. We need all of us - even those who have already done so - to call/write your Senators/Reps and voice your opposition to these bills. I'm sure many of us are feeling burnt out, but continued vocal opposition will be critical over the next couple of weeks. Scroll past the Week 3 Summary for more info.
Welcome to another in a series of threads discussing the 2A-relevant bills being discussed during this year's Washington state legislative session, which runs from 1/10 to 3/10. In these threads we will be providing an overview of the bills and how to take actions against the bad ones.
Week 3 Summary
On Thursday (1/27), despite overwhelming public opposition, SB 5568, repealing state preemption of open carry at municipal facilities, was amended and voted out of the Senate Law & Justice Committee. The bill was amended so that municipal parks are explicitly included, meaning if the bill is passed, cities/towns will have the authority to ban open carry in parks. Many of us enjoy hiking, so this bill would affect those of us who, for a number of reasons, hike with a firearm. SB 5217, the AWB bill, was rescheduled and not debated this week, however the bill could still be scheduled next week. SB 5078, the ban on standard capacity magazines, was not pulled for a floor vote, but remains first on the Senate calendar. This bill could be pulled for a floor vote as soon as next Wednesday or Friday, so overwhelming, continued opposition to our elected officials is needed.
You can still take action against these bad bills. For now, you can comment on these bills and have comments sent to your representatives:
Comment on SB 5217 (banning "assault weapons")
Comment on SB 5568 (repealing state pre-emption of open carry at government-owned buildings and facilities (e.g. parks))
Comment on SB 5078 (banning standard capacity magazines)
In the House, two concerning bills have been voted out of the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee and could be scheduled for a floor vote sometime next week. These bills are HB 1630, which would ban firearms at school board meetings regardless of location, at election-related sites, and other facilities used for government meetings, and HB 1705 which will ban 80% receivers (and inadvertently, a whole lot more).
You can comment on these bills and have comments sent to your representatives:
Comment on HB 1630 (banning firearms at facilities being used for school board meetings and other facilities used for government body meetings)
Comment on HB 1705 (banning unfinished receivers (i.e. "ghost guns")
Week 4 Help Needed
The bills in the Senate (SB 5078, SB 5217, and SB 5568) are our priority for next week. Legislators have seen how many of us are paying attention and are hoping our scrutiny subsides. We need all hands on deck, even if you have already done so, to call/email your senator and the members of the Law & Justice Committee in opposition. We are especially looking for support from women, LGBTQ, and BIPOC individuals to help dispel the assumption that the gun-owning community in Washington is some monolithic white, rural, male entity. If you are interested in testifying, please reach out. We expect there will be more public hearings within the next couple of weeks. We are also asking that you invite two like-minded friends to take the same actions.
My recommendation, especially when reaching out to Democrat legislators, is to highlight the racist history of gun control and disproportionate impact on poor and BIPOC communities. Arguments on the bills' clear technical issues and unconstitutionality are less likely to hold water with them, but are of course worth mentioning. More talking points and information are available here. If you have Republican legislators, reach out to them, let them know it is a priority for you that these bills do not pass, and thank them for their opposition.
It is also worth pointing out to your legislators that gun control loses votes and this is an election year for 24 senators. Senate seats in legislative districts 6, 7, 8, 13, 15, 21, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, and 48 are up for grabs this year, so consider that talking point if you reside in one of the aforementioned legislative districts.
If you are in a weak Democrat/swing district, it is even more critical to reach out. A list of legislators we are focusing on is as follows:
Kevin Van de Wege (D) - LD 24 - [email protected] - 360-786-7646
Steve Conway (D) - LD 29* - [email protected] - 360-786-7656
Mark Mullet (D) - LD 5 - [email protected] - 360-786-7608
John Lovick (D) - LD 44* - [email protected] - 253-275-1405
T'wina Nobles (D) - LD 28 - T'[email protected] - 360-786-7654
Annette Cleveland (D) - LD 49 - [email protected] - 360-786-7696
Emily Randall (D) - LD 26* - [email protected] - 360-786-7650
Mona Das (D) - LD 47* - [email protected] - 360-786-7692
Claire Wilson (D) - LD 30* - [email protected] - 360-786-7658
Andy Billig (D) - LD 3 - [email protected] - 360-786-7604
Legislative districts with an asterisk (*) have their senate seats up for reelection this fall.
As usual I would like to plug WCRA's Discord server as great a great resource for staying informed.
Numbers matter and we must keep the pressure on. It unquestionably helps our cause to have overwhelming amounts of testimony opposing these bills. Keep your comments civil, articulate, and brief. For written testimony I would advise keeping it to one paragraph.
Please reach out if you have questions and thank you for stepping up to defend your rights. We have stopped bad legislation in the past few years and with your help, will continue to do so.
