OLYMPIA – Other bills introduced so far this session regarding firearms and gun controls include three by Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane.
The first, HB 1004, relates to firearms during a state of emergency. It removes the governor’s authority to prohibit the possession of firearms during a state of emergency. Currently the governor can take away gun rights if he or she proclaims a state of emergency.
The bill also prevents any restrictions from being imposed on the storage or sale of guns. No hearing has been set for the bill now in the House Judiciary Committee.
His second, HB 1015, focuses on the carrying of concealed pistols. That bill would require a public stadium authority to allow a person with a concealed pistol license to carry a weapon into the facility, such as CenturyLink and SafeCo Field stadiums.
This bill also is assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, and awaits a hearing date.
Shea’s third proposal, HB 1381, addresses reciprocity for concealed pistol licenses from outside Washington state, expanding license reciprocity to every state and to persons over the age of 18.
Currently, Washington state limits reciprocal consideration if the licensing state does not issue the license to persons under 21. The bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee; no hearing date has been set.
Rep. Dick Muri, R-Steilacoom, is sponsoring HB 1174, which proposes a firearm safety and hunter education class for high schools that satisfies hunting license prerequisite requirement. The bill would authorize a school district to adopt the program as an elective half-credit course.
This bill is scheduled for a hearing before the House Education Committee Jan. 26.
Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee, with HB 1100, would require the Department of Licensing, approximately 90 days before a concealed pistol license expires, to mail a renewal notice to the licensee. The department already provides email and mail reminders of upcoming expiration dates for drivers’ licenses.
Its fate now rests in the House Judiciary Committee, which considers the bill for passage Jan. 26.
Enrique Pérez de la Rosa is a reporter with the WNPA Olympia News Bureau. This story is part of a series of news reports from the Washington State Legislature provided through a reporting internship sponsored by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Reach reporter Enrique Pérez de la Rosa at perezenrique17@gmail.com.
