RE: HB 1052-2009 as sponsored by Representative Moeller et. Al.
Currently in Washington State, all Legal Permanent Resident Aliens, also known as "Green Card Holders" or “LPRs”, are required to obtain an Alien Firearms License from the Washington State Department of Licensing if they choose to own, borrow, rent or even as so much as hold a firearm, without fear of prosecution leading to deportation. This is in accordance to the current RCWs such as 9.41.070, 9.41.097, 9.41.0975, & 9.41.170 etc.
Amendment XIV, Section 1 of the United States Constitution states the following:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
In the remaining 49 States of the Union, LPRs are not subject to any such licensing. In the case of compulsory licensing for LPRs who reside in Washington State; it appears quite clearly that Washington State is, at present, in violation of the 14th amendment rights of all Legal Permanent Residents.
Washington State HB 1052-2009 has been proposed to eliminate the current discriminatory situation against LPRs. The laws affected and or modified by the passing of HB1052-2009 do not affect the mandatory licensing for Non-Immigrant Aliens; therefore the amended law(s) would not be in direct contradiction of Federal Laws.
As a Legal Permanent Resident who currently resides in Washington State, and is directly affected by the current RCWs, I would hope that you would be in favor of amending such discriminatory laws by supporting the immediate passing of HB1052-2009.
Thank you for the honor of your time.
