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Washington Republican legislator votes with Democrats to authorize bill leading to gun registration

Washington State Rep. Mike Hope (R) has crossed party lines to vote in favor of HB 1588, which would require background checks on all gun sales, including private party gun sales. His vote enabled the bill to pass 7-6 out of the House Judiciary Committee, where it will now proceed to the full House for a vote. The NRA believes this will create a state list of gunowners, making it easier to ultimately ban guns down the road. Hope, a Seattle Police Officer, formerly had an A+ rating with the NRA. Hope even admits that there is the potential of creating a registration database with this bill. Republicans control the Washington Senate; let's hope cooler minds prevail there.

Read more from Crosscut
Read the NRA's press release

Washington state capitol welcomes firearms

Some excerpts from the article in the San Francisco Chronicle -

Washington's Capitol is one of the few in the country with no restrictions on firearms. Over the years, the state Legislature has proved a friendly place for gun rights. A majority of Washington state lawmakers get high marks from the National Rifle Association, the nation's dominant pro-gun lobby, according to Project Vote Smart, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research group. When gun-rights supporters rallied in Olympia on Friday, a woman's protest sign was confiscated when she tried to enter the statehouse, while a man carrying a rifle walked in with no problem. State officials said signs aren't allowed because they take up too much room. At least one lawmaker in the past apparently thought carrying a gun helped him get a bill passed. Of the 42 states that responded to the survey, only Washington, Texas and Kentucky indicated they had no restrictions on carrying weapons at their capitols.

Read the rest of the article

Stop this gun control bill from passing the Washington state legislature

Washington state nears deal on gun background checks 

Washington lawmakers are beginning to coalesce around a plan that would expand the state’s laws on gun background checks, providing hope for supporters after years of failed efforts.

Read the rest of the article at the Yakima Herald 

Examiner article 

The bill would require all people privately selling firearms to friends or family to pay a $20 fee to have a gun dealer or law enforcement agency process the request with absolutely no guarantee of timely processing either. Concealed Pistol License (CPL) holders who are exempt from having to undergo background checks when purchasing from a licensed dealer would now be required to pay the fee and wait as well despite going through the extensive FBI check to obtain the CPL in the first place. The bill, written by Representatives Jamie Pederson (D), has picked up 36 sponsors including Republican Mike Hope from the 44th district. The bill is scheduled for a hearing in front of the House Judiciary Committee this Wednesday, February 13 at 8 a.m. Four of the bill's sponsors are currently committee members.

 Read the rest of the article at The Examiner with contact information to contact the state legislators