Washington State D-Rep. Brian Blake
Washington State Legislators have amped up rhetoric for stricter gun laws in Washington state with 5 proposals: SB-5992, SB-6049, SB-5463, SB-5444, and SB-6146 that would not only shake up gun owners, but the entire industry in our state.
Of the five proposals, SB-5992 is the one that is moving through the fastest. The bill would ban all "trigger modification devices." The bill defines "trigger modification device" as any part, or combination of parts, designed or intended to accelerate the rate of fire of a firearm, but does not convert the firearm to a machine gun, not just bump stocks.
The wording has brought concern that any alteration to a firearms trigger whether it be a shortened trigger reset or lighter trigger pull would therefore be illegal. The bill is highly favored to pass with currently 21 bill co-sponsors supporting the bill and Democrats saying they have the majority votes to pass.
An amendment was recently added stating, ""Trigger Modification Device" does not include modifications designed to improve trigger control or firearm accuracy and which also increase the rate of fire by a small or negligible amount." The bill clairflies anything that raises rate of fire to exceed five shots per second as illegal.
Speaking with South Bend Police Chief Dave Eastham about the definition of "Trigger Modification Devices" and it possibly being misinterpreted to incorporate non-rate increasing trigger modifications and he agreed with that statement saying, "yes it it could."
SB-6049 would ban all large capacity magazines which is defined in the bill as, "an ammunition feeding device with the capacity to accept more than ten rounds of ammunition, or any conversion kit, part, or combination of parts, from which a device can be assembled." The bill would grandfather-clause in all owners who before the time of the bill is enacted to keep there magazine or such items defined as large capacity.
"The law does absolutely nothing. Anyone who is trained or practices can reload with another mag in less than 3 seconds," Chief Eastham tells us. "So if you carry three ten round magazines what difference would this law even make, except infringe upon Second Amendment rights."
SB-5463 would make it a state law that gun owners protect public safety by requiring all firearms be responsibly stored. The law is vague and enforcement options are extremely limited, but violations of the offense that result in damage or injury would constitute a harsher penalty.
SB-5444 proposes enhanced background checks and licensure for assault weapons and large capacity magazines. The proposal would mean anyone wishing to purchase any weapon classified as a "assault weapon" by the terms within the bill, would have to pass a similar background check and license processes as a concealed weapon permit holder.
Chief Eastham tells us, "More people are killed every year with a hammer or blunt objects than a rifle, and that's a fact. We just don't hear about it. The law is completely unnecessary and is another infringement on Second Amendment rights."
Statista.com published a chart in 2016 showing that 472 people were killed by blunt objects while 374 were killed by rifles. Handguns however, did hold the highest number with over 7,000 murders accredited to them. 3,077 murders were committed with an unspecified type of firearm.
Lastly, SB-6146 would give local governments authority to regulate firearms themselves. This law would make it possible for different jurisdictions throughout the state to impose and or implement their own firearms rules or restrictions.
Washington State D-Rep. Brian Blake tells us, "I strongly oppose Washington state residents civil liberties being infringed on. Residents shouldn't have to worry about violating laws as they go across the state from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. I strongly oppose any new gun laws, we should be enforcing the ones we already have."
All the bills are currently on the table with SB-5992 (Trigger Modification) believed to swiftly pass and become law as its already moving through the House floor.
The other four bills are in the early stages of discussion, but SB-6049 (Large Capacity Magazines) and SB- 5444 (Assault Weapons) are believed to pass in the near future as House and Senate Democrats have stated they have the vote counts to pass the bills into law. Governor Inslee has already made it clear he will sign all five if they make it to his desk.
"Washington state is leading the nation on gun violence prevention efforts," according Governor Jay Inslee in a press release from the Alliance for Gun Responsibility . "We have made significant progress over the past four years with bipartisan action in the Legislature and voter-driven ballot initiatives."
He continued, "Yet, we still have gaps and loopholes in the existing laws that we must address. Until we do, tragic events like the Las Vegas massacre will continue to claim lives. I urge the Legislature to consider the common sense gun responsibility bills heard today and work across party lines to take meaningful action this session."
The Alliance for Gun Responsibility has stated that if the proposed measures do not pass state legislator, they will look to fund a ballot measure for next fall to take the issue to state voters.
In 2016 roughly 10,500 people were killed by firearms in the U.S., approximately 0.003% or 1 in 30,700 people of the U.S. population of just over 323,000,000.