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Sen Roach is a good person. I meet with her on the Hound Hunting/Bear Baiting issue way back in the day.
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Senator Roach,
For the last several years I have been trying to get the law changed to allow Washington residents the right to use their legally owned sound suppressors. I met with Representative Pedersen this year in Seattle and was told that the reason the bill kept dying in committee each session was that no one told him it was a priority. I have been told by one of the bill sponsors that the bill has a chance to get a hearing next session.
If in the unlikely event that this bill makes it to the Senate, it faces an even more difficult hurdle in committee with Senator Kline. When I wrote to Senator Kline in support of bill 1604, his reply was rather bizarre. He implied that silencers were not legal for commerce (they are in WA) and that the Brady Law would allow them to be sold "no questions asked" at gun shows and make their way to the criminal underworld. He would not reply to my e-mail asking for clarification on his position.
I wrote to My Senator (Tom Sheldon) asking for his support in this matter and that he try to talk to Senator Kline about his deceptive comments, but Mr. Sheldon has not replied to my e-mails. I wrote to Senator McCaslin, the ranking minority committee member, but he said, If Senator Kline opposes the bill, and apparently he does, the bill is dead. It appears that Mr. McClasin also opposes bill 1604 if he is not willing to do anything to support it.
Am I correct in assuming that other Judiciary committee members are able to influence the chairman in some way to push bills they support and get them a hearing and then on to the Senate floor for debate and a vote? Surely if the chairman was as powerful as Mr. McClasin implies, then there would not be any need for a Judiciary committee, just the chairman.
Are you willing to push bill 1604 in committee and ensure it gets a hearing if it is passed by the House next session? If not, can you tell me why you oppose use of suppressors by those who pay the $200 tax and obtain ATF approval to purchase or make one?
So far, even those legislators that do not oppose the bill are unwilling to tell me why they will not actively support it, except to claim it is a hot button issue or somehow controversial. I suspect that the Senators and Representatives that make these claims do not actually support the idea of using a muffler on a gun but lack the backbone to come out and tell me.
I made a short video on DVD that describes the legalities of sound suppressor use on firearms in the United States. I would like to send you a copy. What address is best, the Olympia or District office addresses listed on your webpage?
I am discussing bill 1604 on various forums online. I would like to use our e-mails in the discussion unless you object. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Randall Bragge
Dear Randy,
Thank for you email. I am on the Judiciary committee and there is no way that this bill would be heard unless the plan would be along the way to amend it into something really terrible for gun owners. In a hostile legislature you are lucky when bills don't come up! You have no control over the bills once they are "in the system" and the majority party can have their way with them. Bottom line: not a good time. Leave well enough alone in this political climate,
Pam
Are you willing to push bill 1604 in committee and ensure it gets a hearing if it is passed by the House next session? If not, can you tell me why you oppose use of suppressors by those who pay the $200 tax and obtain ATF approval to purchase or make one?
Leave well enough alone in this political climate