Washington State I-594 is Firearm Registration

[The_Next_Generation]

This might seem like it gets rid of all background checks. It does not.

Tell me about it!

I had to explain to all of my roommates that there was already a "national standard" that required BG checks on all sales/transfers by an FFL, because they thought that if 591 passed nobody would get checked :banghead:

 

[ohbythebay]

Holy crap

So far, we are winning 61% no, 39% yes on I594

So is 591

http://results.vote.wa.gov/results/current/Measures-All.html

Oops...well that flip flopped quick...guess I have to just check in the morning..sigh

 

[OilyPablo]

It's over. 594 wins.

We lost.

 

[suemarkp]

When does it take effect if it passes (which it looks like its doing)? I may want to sell a few more things while it will be cheaper.

 

[Wyatt]

30 days after voter approval!

 

[David4516]

I had a feeling 594 would pass but thought it might at least be a close call. Looks like 594 will pass with overwhelming support. Great...

Now I'm going to have to hire a lawyer just to explain to me what I can and can't do without violating this law. I've tried to read it myself but it's so darn vague that I might be misunderstanding it...

Also I am wondering if I have to register all my firearms now? I know the law does not specifically require this, but if I get caught with a gun that hasn't been registered, will they automatically assume that I obtained it via a now illegal transfer and prosecute me?

:banghead:

 

[Wyatt]

No requirement to register currently owned guns, although pistol sales via FFL's in WA are already registered with DOL and State Patrol! Don't worry about guns currently owned that were purchased through private sales. In theory, guns you posses that are manufactured after early December 2014 will legally need to show a "paper trail" to you unless gifted. Although illegal and not advocated, one could continue to buy and sell older firearms without doing the background check and there would be no a way to prove when the gun was traded!

I don't believe law enforcement will actively do firearms checks on every weapon they see. If however the gun is part of an investigation and is new production, you better have done the transfer or you could be prosecuted as a by-product of another crime.

If you are concerned about registration or paperwork, you have 1 month of private sale exemptions left!

 

[carnaby]

I594 is entirely stupid and unenforceable. There is no way to know who is the owner of a given firearm, hence there is no way to know if a transfer has taken place unless a transfer is part of a law enforcement sting. Those are the facts, use them any way you like.

 

[The_Next_Generation]

Is there any way to fight this? I mean, the majority won.

What happened to our "constitutional republic"?

 

[silicosys4]

I am hoping for a backlash similar to what happened in Colorado. Washington has been under the control of the Democrats for far too long.

If Colorado's laws were restrictive to firearm related businesses, think of what this will do. My LGS has no idea if they will now have to fill out transfers on employees each time they handle their own merchandise for cleaning, reorganizing, etc..

 

[Bobson]

Edit-

Nobody wants to be the guy who the state decides to make an example out of. I've been in that situation before (thankfully I was in the military, so while it was serious, it had no civilian repercussions); and let me be the one to say, there's nothing like knowing you're being kicked extra hard because you're the first guy to get caught screwing up.

Even with the fact that this is a largely unenforceable law, it's only going to be a matter of time until that happens.

Be safe out there. Nothing good will come of this.

 

[David4516]

silicosys4,

This situation is very different from Colorado. In Colorado you had elected officials enacting gun control via the normal goverment process, and in the following election cycle those officials were voted out.

In the case of WA state and I-594, this was enacted directly by popular vote. Clearly the people of WA think this is a good thing and the odds of there being any "backlash" are pretty slim.

I am originally from Oregon and am thinking maybe I should move back there...

 

[crazysccrmd]

Looks like my home state might be added to the list of places I'm not willing to live anymore.

 

[ROCK6]

Yeah, I'm still Active Duty and nearing retirement with WA as my state of residency...I'm not sure I want to move back home. I wonder about the irony if the Marysville shooting occurred after I594, the only outcome would be that the father illegally transferred the pistol to his son and would be prosecuted under I594. I see many cases hitting the courts surrounding the new law. I hope WA can figure this out before I make my decision in the next couple years

ROCK6

 

[hso]

It passed so this phase is over.

Open a new thread here with a viable plan of action to overturn it or start a discussion on what the law may mean in Legal.