Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
A new proposed law smells like tyranny.
House Bill 1283 would make it illegal for three people or more to open-carry firearms if someone else “feels threatened.” It would be a gross misdemeanor.
If a person in “any way participates” in threats or the use of “such force” against a person or property while open-carrying a gun in a group of three or more, then they face a Class C felony. That means the state strips them of their right to own firearms as a convicted felon.
The bill seems to be targeting the groups of legal firearm users protesting in Olympia. Many protesters at the Gun Rights Coalition rally at the capitol on Feb. 17, 2020 did so while openly carrying firearms. It was legal and no one got shot.
That changes to being illegal if HB 1283 passes.
The house bill is poorly written. It doesn’t exempt police. It is redundant as to people making threats with a firearm. It is already illegal. And, it’s illegal to shoot people, property or in most city limits.
The only point of the bill is to keep people from gathering with firearms.
It is going to make it difficult for people shooting at gun ranges, skeet shooting, or hunting. If there are more than three people, they could be arrested and convicted of misdemeanors if someone says they feel “threatened” by their open-carrying of firearms.
Imagine the extremist anti-hunter or anti-gun person using this law. To some, just the sight of guns makes them feel “threatened.”
It’s hard to prove emotions in court.
While a proposed law written this badly shouldn’t pass, it’s starting to move forward without much public involvement. The House Committee on Civil Rights and Judiciary has held an executive session on it, and have two more executive sessions scheduled.
Their meetings don’t seem to meet the legal criteria on when a closed-door or executive session can be held, but they are doing it. The six Republicans on the committee should be able to remind the 11 Democrats that their meetings should be open to the public.
If it makes it to the floor, the Democrats are the majority and could pass it. It’s doubtful Inslee would veto it.
The Democrats are targeting legal gun owners using firearms who are not causing any harm.
But, if one person, legitimately or who just opposes their protest, says they feel threatened then they can call police and have them arrested.
It seems a single person’s feelings are more important than the constitutional rights of three or more people.
Fourteen Democrats sponsored the bill:
• Rep. Jessica Bateman, 22nd District – Thurston County
• Rep. Liz Berry, 36th District – King County
• Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, 34th District – King County
• Rep. David Hackney, 11th District – King County
• Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley, 37th District – King County
• Rep. Shelly Kloba, 1st District – King and Snohomish counties
• Rep. Nicole Marci, 43rd District – Whatcom County
• Rep. Strom Peterson, 21st District – Snohomish County
• Rep. Gerry Pollet, 46th District – King County
• Rep. Alex Ramel, 40th District – San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom counties
• Rep. Tana Senn, 41st District – King County
• Rep. Monica Jurado Stonier, 49th District – Clark County
• Rep. My-Linh Thai, 41st District – King County
• Rep. Javier Valdez, 46th District – King County
— Bill Stevenson is the Editor for the Whitman County Gazette. He can be contacted at editor@wcgazette.com for questions or comments.
Bill Stevenson is the former editor of the Whitman County Gazette, Colfax Daily Bulletin and Franklin Connection. He has nearly 30 years of journalism experience covering news in Eastern Washington.
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