(Image by Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Monitor)
On Saturday, Democrats of the Washington State Council approved a comprehensive reform of the state system for the purchase of weapons.
Home Law draft 1163 It will require a state A permit to buy firearms. The majority of Democrats pushed the bill without any Republican votes. It is a big step forward for the idea, which did not advance outside the committee last year. The bill has attracted severe opposition from weapons and others who argue with their constitutional right, and they should not require a permit.
But supporters say that the permits system – which owns about ten other countries on books – will make Washington safer.
“We know that this policy is working,” said MP Liz Perry, D-Seattle, a sponsor of the bill, in the House of Representatives Hall before voting 58-38. She said that this will make sure that weapons do not enter into the wrong hands and turn them into the black market, where they can be used for crimes.
Representative Daraya Farifar, D-SEATLE, said that the new requirements will bring a greater safety feeling of neighborhoods such as her salary, Lake City, where night gunshots can be heard.
“It remains awake. It limits us to our homes as an unofficial curfew.” “This legislation will raise this embargo on an informal roaming and let us sleep.”
She said that this policy will ensure that everyone who decides to buy a firearm understands the capabilities of the mechanism. It will ensure that people understand that this mechanism can steal people from their safety, freedom and lives. “
In a discussion of about four hours, he faced night hours on Friday and resumed mid -Saturday, Republican lawmakers suggested 27 amendments, all of whom were rejected. Among those who were defeated by the Democrats was a proposed exemption for ancient warriors who received honorable secretions from any branch of the American Armed Forces branch.
Representative Jim Walsh, R-Perdeen, said that the draft law violates the provisions of the state’s constitution that protects the person’s right to legal and privacy procedures and the ability to defend himself with a firearm.
“This may be the worst bad bill we have seen so far this session,” Walsh, also a head of the Republican Party in the state.
The legislation exceeds the waiting period for 10 days and the background examination is already stipulated in the state law.
Under the legislation, potential weapons buyers will first need to apply for a five -year permit from the Washington State Journal. To obtain the permit, the applicants must have completed a training program based on firearm safety during the past five years, with exceptions for police officers and active military service.
A governmental weapons background examination program will be released in government within 30 days, or 60 days if the applicant does not have a case definition.
If the applicant completes the safety course, the state will have to issue the permit unless the person is prevented from obtaining weapons, or outside the reservation in bonds awaiting trial or judging a crime charge, or the issue of arrest order.
The draft law also requires those seeking to obtain a hidden pistol license to train in the safety of firearms.
Possible buyers can challenge the rejected requests in court. The state can cancel a permit if the person no longer fulfills the conditions. The state patrol will re -examine the eligibility for current permits every year.
The agency appreciates that it will receive about 100,000 permit requests annually. Previously, the agency had expected Double this.
In 2024, the state patrol obtained about 250,000 requests to examine the background of firearms. Of these, the soldiers denied about 3400. Nearly half resumed. Two -thirds of these appeals were successful.
The state patrol says it will cost 13.7 million dollars in the country’s next budget to deal with the new program. The amount rises to approximately $ 20 million in the budget of 2027-29. The fees collected for fingerprints and verification of the background would compensate for the cost of the new permit program to purchase, according to Financial analysis.
Representative Cindy Jacobsen, R-Puyallup, offered a modification on Friday night to delay the permits system until the state patrol implement a program to ratify firearms safety courses.
The Washington Bill is now heading to the Senate.
This legislation is the axis of a set of bills this year aimed at curbing armed violence. On Wednesday, the Senate lawmakers moved to Expand the list of places Where Washington cannot take up arms.
Under this the draft law, which the House of Representatives will now address, it will be illegal to carry a weapon or another weapon in the gardens “where children are likely to be present”, government or local buildings and exhibition provinces. This procedure also did not get the voices of the republic.
last Includes proposals Limit Wholesale purchases From firearms and ammunition, it requires weapons locking Lift their weapons In their cars and homes and Add new requirements to arms dealers.
Proposal Al -Makous tax On the sale of weapons and ammunition it stopped.
In a memorandum of the two parties, Senators voted unanimously this week at their request A year of community custodySimilar to the conditional monitoring or release, for condemnation of illegal firearms possession.
Reporter Jerry Corneveld contributed to this report.
