Rix86 and I met with Representative Jinkins this morning. We were scheduled for 10:00 to 10:15, but she ran ten minutes long on the meeting prior to ours and we took up at least 20 minutes of her time. She was in no hurry to get rid of us; that was her aide’s job. :) To make a long story short Ms. Jinkins said she had no intention of giving HB1561 a hearing prior to the meeting, but she is willing to consider it as a result of the meeting. This is why we need to talk to our Representatives guys and gals.
Her main concern was that this bill practically affects very few people (based on the support it is getting now I’d agree) and it allows more access to more kinds of guns. She has also not heard a thing from the police on the bill. This is why she is not committed to scheduling it for a hearing at this time.
We discussed how the bill merely brings state law into line with federal law, the requirements for obtaining ATF authorization to make or buy an SBR and the low (nearly non-existent) crime rate associated with them. We explained that everyone with a rifle and a hacksaw has ready access to a contraband SBR, but it is still very rare that anyone is willing to use SBR’s to commit a violent crime. We also discussed the reasons why SBR’s were banned in 1994 and I gave her copies of Judge Appelwick’s letters. I also gave her copies of WACOPS e-mail expressing their support and a synopsis of the 1994 bill banning SBR’s.
Right now she plans on limiting the House Judiciary Committee to hearing two gun bills; the background check bill and the safe storage bill. We discussed both bills briefly; I told her why I felt the background check bill/initiative would fail. I was not prepared to discuss the safe storage bill other than to say that if I was the parent of a teenager and concerned enough to ask his/her friend’s parents about how they secured their guns I would indeed ask. And if they took offense to my asking then I would need to get better friends.
Representative Jinkins asked me to provide her with the following data. I need help with this.
1. SBR crime rate data from other states.
2. Opinions of gun control groups such as Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Cease Fire WA and others.
What we also need is for any police officers who are interested in seeing restrictions on SBR’s eased to contact Representative Jinkins by phone, mail or e-mail. It is extremely important that we get some sort of police support for this.If anyone here knows anyone at WACOPS, please ask them to contact Jinkins office and tell her why they need HB1561 to pass. Thanks.
Randy Bragge
ranb40@yahoo.com(360) 440-5889