Drizzt
Member
The Columbian (Vancouver, WA.)
February 1, 2003, Saturday
SECTION: Clark County/region; Pg. c1
LENGTH: 378 words
HEADLINE: Moeller bill targets untended firearms
BYLINE: DON JENKINS, Columbian staff writer
BODY:
OLYMPIA -- Acknowledging the bill has little chance of becoming law, Vancouver Rep. Jim Moeller said Friday he will introduce legislation making it a crime to leave a loaded firearm within reach of a child.
"I'm under no illusions I can get it through the House," said Moeller, a Democrat. "It's so controversial. It's gun control, and I'm a freshman." Nevertheless, Moeller said he wants a hearing in the wake of a recent shooting in Clark County in which a 13-year-old boy allegedly killed his 10-year-old sister with a pistol owned by their father, a Clark County sheriff's sergeant.
Neighbors of the family have petitioned the sheriff's office to make off-duty deputies secure their weapons.
Moeller said only one constituent has called him about the shooting.
"But I was personally disturbed by the incident," he said. "This happens far too often."
Moeller said his bill will be identical to Senate Bill 5317 introduced by Seattle Democrat Jeanne Kohl-Welles, who has advocated for years making gun owners criminally liable for keeping their firearms from children.
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane Valley, said this week he probably won't give Kohl-Welles' bill a hearing.
Bill opponents include the National Rifle Association's state affiliate, the Washington State Rifle and Pistol Association.
In the House, Moeller's bill could be referred to the Criminal Justice & Corrections Committee, though Moeller said he will seek to have it sent to the Judiciary Committee, to which he belongs.
"I just want to see if we can at least raise the awareness of gun safety in the home when children are present," he said.
A gun owner who leaves a loaded firearm accessible to children would be guilty of reckless endangerment, a gross misdemeanor, according to the proposed legislation.
The measure, however, gives prosecutors broad discretion whether to file charges.
"I think that's important because so many other circumstances arise in these situations that need to be taken into account," Moeller said.
February 1, 2003, Saturday
SECTION: Clark County/region; Pg. c1
LENGTH: 378 words
HEADLINE: Moeller bill targets untended firearms
BYLINE: DON JENKINS, Columbian staff writer
BODY:
OLYMPIA -- Acknowledging the bill has little chance of becoming law, Vancouver Rep. Jim Moeller said Friday he will introduce legislation making it a crime to leave a loaded firearm within reach of a child.
"I'm under no illusions I can get it through the House," said Moeller, a Democrat. "It's so controversial. It's gun control, and I'm a freshman." Nevertheless, Moeller said he wants a hearing in the wake of a recent shooting in Clark County in which a 13-year-old boy allegedly killed his 10-year-old sister with a pistol owned by their father, a Clark County sheriff's sergeant.
Neighbors of the family have petitioned the sheriff's office to make off-duty deputies secure their weapons.
Moeller said only one constituent has called him about the shooting.
"But I was personally disturbed by the incident," he said. "This happens far too often."
Moeller said his bill will be identical to Senate Bill 5317 introduced by Seattle Democrat Jeanne Kohl-Welles, who has advocated for years making gun owners criminally liable for keeping their firearms from children.
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane Valley, said this week he probably won't give Kohl-Welles' bill a hearing.
Bill opponents include the National Rifle Association's state affiliate, the Washington State Rifle and Pistol Association.
In the House, Moeller's bill could be referred to the Criminal Justice & Corrections Committee, though Moeller said he will seek to have it sent to the Judiciary Committee, to which he belongs.
"I just want to see if we can at least raise the awareness of gun safety in the home when children are present," he said.
A gun owner who leaves a loaded firearm accessible to children would be guilty of reckless endangerment, a gross misdemeanor, according to the proposed legislation.
The measure, however, gives prosecutors broad discretion whether to file charges.
"I think that's important because so many other circumstances arise in these situations that need to be taken into account," Moeller said.
