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It is time to think about our next step after the success of House Bill 1016. I think we should organize to amend the law restricting short barreled rifles (SBR and short barreled shotguns (SBS). As the law already allows the police and military to use them, we cannot expect the same kind of support from WACOPS and WASPC.
First we need a bill. RCW 9.41.190 now reads;
This may take several years like it did to allow silencer use, but we have proved to ourselves that we can change the law in WA. We will need to prove that the violent use of registered SBS and SBR is very rare in WA. We can do this by contacting every county sheriffs office and prosecuting attorney to get a list of cases and incidents involving SBS/SBR. After getting this list, we will need to investigate each case and determine whether or not the firearm was registered and legally possessed at the time it was used during the crime. This can be an expensive process as one county said it would cost $70 per hour to search the records.
We need to schedule face to face meetings with each legislator and ask them what their views are on SBS/SBR and what it would take to get their vote. Face to face meetings work much better than letters or e-mail. Chances are we will need to educate most of our representatives to ensure they understand that these firearms are legal in the USA and rarely used in crime. We also need to make them understand that they are just as useful as their full size counterparts.
There are lots of other things we need to discuss. Let's hear them.
Ranb
First we need a bill. RCW 9.41.190 now reads;
Section (3) should be amended to read;RCW 9.41.190
Unlawful firearms Exceptions.
(1) It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, own, buy, sell, loan, furnish, transport, or have in possession or under control, any machine gun, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle; or any part designed and intended solely and exclusively for use in a machine gun, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle, or in converting a weapon into a machine gun, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle; or to assemble or repair any machine gun, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle.
(2) This section shall not apply to:
(a) Any peace officer in the discharge of official duty or traveling to or from official duty, or to any officer or member of the armed forces of the United States or the state of Washington in the discharge of official duty or traveling to or from official duty; or
(b) A person, including an employee of such person if the employee has undergone fingerprinting and a background check, who or which is exempt from or licensed under federal law, and engaged in the production, manufacture, repair, or testing of machine guns, short-barreled shotguns, or short-barreled rifles:
(i) To be used or purchased by the armed forces of the United States;
(ii) To be used or purchased by federal, state, county, or municipal law enforcement agencies; or
(iii) For exportation in compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations.
(3) It shall be an affirmative defense to a prosecution brought under this section that the machine gun, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle was acquired prior to July 1, 1994, and is possessed in compliance with federal law.
(4) Any person violating this section is guilty of a class C felony.
(3) It shall be an affirmative defense to a prosecution brought under this section that the machine gun was acquired prior to July 1, 1994, and is possessed in compliance with federal law and that the short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle is possessed in compliance with federal law.
This may take several years like it did to allow silencer use, but we have proved to ourselves that we can change the law in WA. We will need to prove that the violent use of registered SBS and SBR is very rare in WA. We can do this by contacting every county sheriffs office and prosecuting attorney to get a list of cases and incidents involving SBS/SBR. After getting this list, we will need to investigate each case and determine whether or not the firearm was registered and legally possessed at the time it was used during the crime. This can be an expensive process as one county said it would cost $70 per hour to search the records.
We need to schedule face to face meetings with each legislator and ask them what their views are on SBS/SBR and what it would take to get their vote. Face to face meetings work much better than letters or e-mail. Chances are we will need to educate most of our representatives to ensure they understand that these firearms are legal in the USA and rarely used in crime. We also need to make them understand that they are just as useful as their full size counterparts.
There are lots of other things we need to discuss. Let's hear them.
Ranb