D.W. Drang
Member
GOAL Action Alert 2003-2
GOAL Chairman: Bruce Turner
GOAL Legislative Liaison: Joe Waldron
21 March 2003
WARNING: THIS IS A TWO-PART ALERT
TWO PRO-GUN BILLS SURVIVE CHAMBER CUT-OFF
GRASSROOTS PUSH NEEDED FOR SUCCESS
Democrat LEADERSHIP WILL DETERMINE FATE OF BILLS
As we begin the final phase of the legislative session, two pro-gun bills are all that remain “in play.†SB 5083, a bill establishing a reciprocity procedure to allow Washington to recognize the concealed pistol licenses of other states (and other states to recognize Washington licenses) hass passed the Senate on a unanimous 49-0 vote!
In the House, the bill was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee for action. SB 5910, a bill prohibiting nuisance lawsuits against shooting ranges, passed the Senate on a 41-8 vote.
As can be seen by the Senate votes, both bills had strong bi-partisan support. A majority of Democrats, as well as all Republicans, voted FOR both bills. This will be a major factor in pushing for action on both bills in the House, which killed ALL House gun bills, pro and anti.
April 4th is the next major hurdle. Both bills must pass their
respective committees by 5 p.m. on Friday, 4 April. A major factor in whether either bill moves is pressure by House leadership. There are three Democrat House leaders who have a pro-gun history: Representative Lynn Kessler (D-24), House Majority Leader; Representative Brian Hatfield (D-19), Majority Floor Leader; and Representative Bill Grant (D-16), Democrat Caucus Chair.
PART ONE
We need to telephone, e-mail, or snail mail all three leaders and ask them to use their influence to move SBs 5083 and 5910. In fact, Representative Kessler was the prime sponsor HB 1657, the House counterpart to SB 5910 (range protection). Seven other Democrats were co-sponsors of the bill. HB 2077, another CPL reciprocity bill similar to, but not the same as SB 5083, had six Democrat co-sponsors, including Speaker Pro Tem John Lovick (D-44) and Floor Leader Hatfield.
Points to be made include the fact that both bills passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support; both bills had either Democrat co-sponsors or the House version had Democrat co-sponsors; while opponents will attempt to characterize both bills as controversial, it should be noted that at this time 25 states grant reciprocity for concealed pistol licenses, and 44 states have shooting range protection laws, many of them much stronger than that afforded by SB 5910. If the Democratic Party wants to reach out to Washington’s one million+ gun owners, this is the time to do so.
Contact information for these individuals:
Rep. Lynn Kessler (360) 786-7904 [email protected]
Rep. Brian Hatfield (360) 786-7806 [email protected]
Rep. Bill Grant (360) 786-7828 [email protected]
Rep. John Lovick (360) 786-7892 [email protected]
PART TWO
Next, we need to convince the two House committee chairs involved that the bills have extensive grassroots support and deserve a hearing and executive action. The same points should be made as with the Democrat leaders.
House Judiciary Committee
Rep. Pat Lantz, chair (360) 786-7964 [email protected]
House Local Government Committee
Rep. Sandra Romero, chair (360) 786-7940 [email protected]
Note I have not included the Legislative Hotline numbers. While this is a cheap and easy way to get your message to the affected legislators, it’s passed on third hand and does not carry the same effect as a direct contact with the Representative’s office.
"The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of
himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men."
Article 1, Section 24
Constitution of the State of Washington
Copyright 2003 Gun Owners Action League of WA
GOAL Chairman: Bruce Turner
GOAL Legislative Liaison: Joe Waldron
21 March 2003
WARNING: THIS IS A TWO-PART ALERT
TWO PRO-GUN BILLS SURVIVE CHAMBER CUT-OFF
GRASSROOTS PUSH NEEDED FOR SUCCESS
Democrat LEADERSHIP WILL DETERMINE FATE OF BILLS
As we begin the final phase of the legislative session, two pro-gun bills are all that remain “in play.†SB 5083, a bill establishing a reciprocity procedure to allow Washington to recognize the concealed pistol licenses of other states (and other states to recognize Washington licenses) hass passed the Senate on a unanimous 49-0 vote!
In the House, the bill was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee for action. SB 5910, a bill prohibiting nuisance lawsuits against shooting ranges, passed the Senate on a 41-8 vote.
As can be seen by the Senate votes, both bills had strong bi-partisan support. A majority of Democrats, as well as all Republicans, voted FOR both bills. This will be a major factor in pushing for action on both bills in the House, which killed ALL House gun bills, pro and anti.
April 4th is the next major hurdle. Both bills must pass their
respective committees by 5 p.m. on Friday, 4 April. A major factor in whether either bill moves is pressure by House leadership. There are three Democrat House leaders who have a pro-gun history: Representative Lynn Kessler (D-24), House Majority Leader; Representative Brian Hatfield (D-19), Majority Floor Leader; and Representative Bill Grant (D-16), Democrat Caucus Chair.
PART ONE
We need to telephone, e-mail, or snail mail all three leaders and ask them to use their influence to move SBs 5083 and 5910. In fact, Representative Kessler was the prime sponsor HB 1657, the House counterpart to SB 5910 (range protection). Seven other Democrats were co-sponsors of the bill. HB 2077, another CPL reciprocity bill similar to, but not the same as SB 5083, had six Democrat co-sponsors, including Speaker Pro Tem John Lovick (D-44) and Floor Leader Hatfield.
Points to be made include the fact that both bills passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support; both bills had either Democrat co-sponsors or the House version had Democrat co-sponsors; while opponents will attempt to characterize both bills as controversial, it should be noted that at this time 25 states grant reciprocity for concealed pistol licenses, and 44 states have shooting range protection laws, many of them much stronger than that afforded by SB 5910. If the Democratic Party wants to reach out to Washington’s one million+ gun owners, this is the time to do so.
Contact information for these individuals:
Rep. Lynn Kessler (360) 786-7904 [email protected]
Rep. Brian Hatfield (360) 786-7806 [email protected]
Rep. Bill Grant (360) 786-7828 [email protected]
Rep. John Lovick (360) 786-7892 [email protected]
PART TWO
Next, we need to convince the two House committee chairs involved that the bills have extensive grassroots support and deserve a hearing and executive action. The same points should be made as with the Democrat leaders.
House Judiciary Committee
Rep. Pat Lantz, chair (360) 786-7964 [email protected]
House Local Government Committee
Rep. Sandra Romero, chair (360) 786-7940 [email protected]
Note I have not included the Legislative Hotline numbers. While this is a cheap and easy way to get your message to the affected legislators, it’s passed on third hand and does not carry the same effect as a direct contact with the Representative’s office.
"The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of
himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men."
Article 1, Section 24
Constitution of the State of Washington
Copyright 2003 Gun Owners Action League of WA