GOAL ALERT      GOAL ALERT      GOAL ALERT PUBLIC HEARING ON SB 5343 HELD GOOD SHOWING BY PRO-GUN ACTIVISTS POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT NEEDED FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS A public hearing on SB 5343 was held in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing room on Tuesday, 24 January.  One full hour was set aside for discussion of the bill.  Due to time constraints, only six members of the public were allowed to testify on each side of the issue.  Plus of course the Senate and House prime sponsors of the bill (the House Bill counterpart is HB 2861, by Rep. Brendan Williams (D-22)). Washington Ceasefire was a little better organized this year, with three police chiefs from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs  (WASPC) testifying in favor of the bill.  One went so far as to say they needed to close ALL private sales of firearms, not just at gun shows.  And they claim there is no slippery slope here! But interestingly, no rank-and-file police officers, the real police officers who patrol our streets and make our communities safe, showed up to testify for the bill.  In fact, the Washington State Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Association (WSLEFIA) submitted a letter IN OPPOSITION to the bill. Who has real credibility on this issue, city hall dominated police cvheifs or real cops on the street, especially police firearms instructors? Despite Ceasefire's preparations, they were still outnumbered by the pro-gun side by at least a 4:1 margin.  It was encouraging to see nearly a hundred pro-gun activists filling the hearing room to standing-room-only capacity.  The large number of NRA caps, WAC badges and other obvious pro-gun insignia left no doubt in anyone's mind who had the commitment to turn out for this event.  It's just unfortunate that the number of people to testify weren't determined by proportional representation. The bill is unlikely to pass in it's present form.  Senator Marilyn Rasmussen (D-2), a Judiciary Committee member, is pushing for an amended version of the bill, in hopes that the gun control lobby can get SOMETHING passed this year.  The one thing "gun control heavy" and "gun control light" have in common is they are both gun control. There is NO "gun show loophole," just as there is no "unlicensed dealer."  Both are inventions of the gun control lobby.  It is already a felony, under both state and federal law, for either a licensed dealer (FFL) or a private party to sell any firearm to someone they believe may be prohibited from receiving one.  Less than 1% of feloins obtain their guns at gun shows.  Black market sales and (illegal) strawman purchases acount for nearly 80% of guns in felons hands.  Focus on those sources, not gun shows! A great deal of pressure is being put on committee members who are opposed to SB 5343 to get them to change their position and accept some form of "gun control light."  We need to give them positive reinforcement.  We need to ask them to stand firm and not give in to the gun control lobby.  Gun owners outnumber Washington Ceasefire members by about 300 to 1 statewide.  We need to let our voices be heard. PLEASE CALL OR E-MAIL SENATE JUDICIARY MEMBERS TODAY!   THEY NEED YOUR CALL OR E-MAIL TO COUNTER CEASEFIRE'S PRESSURE TACTICS Give them the message: "OPPOSE SB 5343 IN ANY FORM. Background checks at gun shows are unnecessary. Existing law already makes it a felony for ANYONE to deliver a firearm to a person the seller has reason to believe is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Gun shows are NOT the problem. Failure to prosecute strawman and black market sales is the problem." And please call or e-mail Senator Rasmussen first.  POLITELY tell her that NO VERSION of SB 5343 is acceptable.  There is NO gun show loophole. You can call them direct at their Olympia office telephone number listed below or through the toll free Legislation Hotline at 1 (800) 562-6000. CALL TODAY Senator Marilyn Rasmussen (360) 786-7602 [email protected] Senator Luke Esser (360) 786-7694 [email protected] Senator James Hargrove (360) 786-7646 [email protected] Senator Mike Carrell (360) 786-7654 [email protected] Senator Bob McCaslin (360) 786-7606 [email protected] Senator Steve Johnson (360) 786-7692 [email protected] One last thing: please forward this e-mail to anyone you believe would be interested. Please make a hard copy and post it at your gun club or leave a copy with your favorite gun shop.

Ok, now it's time to get off my ass and send some emails.  Only thing is that I suck at writing, can anyone IM or email a copy of their letter so I get a idea of to write this letter? Last thing I want to do is look stupid.

Thanks,

ASG

Quoted: Ok, now it's time to get off my ass and send some emails.  Only thing is that I suck at writing, can anyone IM or email a copy of their letter so I get a idea of to write this letter? Last thing I want to do is look stupid. Thanks, ASG

If'n ya get a good letter please posted to help others with theirs.
TIA

Below is a copy of an e-mail I'm sending Senator Rasmussen.

If you are pressed for time (like me) you can cut and paste each Senators name and e-mail address.

IMHO, it is important to have Oppose SB 5343 in the subject line.  Why?  In the event that there are hundreds of e-mails in their in box, and said e-mails are being skim read by a staffer.

Phil_in_Seattle is prolly way more qualified to give tips and advice regarding letter/e-mail writing than I, so hopefully he will chime in with some pointers.

If you've got the time to post on ARFCOM, you have the time to write your/our represenatives in Olympia!

Trey

Dear Senator Rasmussen,

    I am writing you today to urge you to oppose Senate Bill 5343 in its current form or any other.  There is no so-called "Gun Show Loophole" in Washington State.  It is already against both  State and federal law to transfer a firearm to felons or mentally ill persons.  SB 5343 does nothing to lower Washington State's already low firearms crime rate.

    The Washington Arms Collectors, who hold the State's largest gun shows twelve times per year in Puyallup, require all members to pass a criminal background check prior to joining the organization and also prohibit firearms sales to non-members.

    Again, Senator Rasmussen, I respectfully urge you to oppose Senate Bill 5343 in any version this session.

Thank you for your consideration on this matter.

Sincerely,

Dear Senator ____________:

<Bill Number> is before you for a vote.  I oppose and urge you to vote NO.

Sincerely

<Name and Address>


Short, Simple and to the point.  
Make sure you have your return address on it.  This will let them know if you are a constituent of theirs.  

Remember to write your Representatives and Senators as well.  Send it as a email, FAX (if you have access to one), and a letter through the postal service.

Dear Senator ____________: <Bill Number> is before you for a vote.  I oppose and urge you to vote NO. I know Strat. Sincerely <Name and Address>