WA gun control bills spark debate

OLYMPIA — Proposals before the Washington Legislature that would change laws around purchasing and carrying firearms have prompted scrutiny and debate. 

Jane Milhan, a home invasion survivor turned certified firearms instructor, came to Olympia on Tuesday Jan. 21, to testify against HB 1132, which restricts the bulk purchasing of firearms and ammunition. Milhan, who has volunteered teaching women self-defense, argues the bill, along with the other newly proposed gun control measures, not only hinders her training efforts but unfairly penalizes individuals trying to ensure their own safety.  

“The women ask you to please punish criminals instead of women who just want the ability to protect themselves,” Milhan said during a hearing in Olympia.  

The new gun control agenda, spearheaded by the Alliance for Gun Responsibility and Democratic lawmakers, has ramped up debate among pro-gun advocates. The agenda aims to reduce gun violence by introducing a new permit-to-purchase system, requiring stricter storage requirements and prohibiting the carrying of firearms in parks and certain public buildings.  

“I just think they're going down the wrong path,” Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, said to reporters.  

People testifying against the bills claim the legislation directly impedes the Second Amendment. 

“Driving in this state is a privilege. Going fishing in this state is a privilege. Having a gun, keeping and bearing arms, that's a right,” David Workman, communications director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, said.  

HB 1163, in particular, has sparked significant discourse. The bill would require a comprehensive background check to receive a permit before purchasing a firearm rather than at the point of purchase. 

Firearm instructors and local gun shop owners said that, if enacted, the bill would be ineffective in curbing gun trafficking and instead interfere with business operations.  

“This bill adds yet another layer of restrictions on our business, burdening us with unnecessary paperwork, compliance costs, and logistical challenges,” Danna Baxter, owner of Safefire Shooting Range in Camas, Washington, said. “These additional burdens aren't just an inconvenience to make it harder to run our business but take resources away from efforts that could actually address the root cause of gun violence.”  

Baxter further claims that individuals who misuse firearms would not be deterred by additional regulations or background checks because they often bypass the process of lawfully obtaining a firearm in the first place.  

According to the Washington State Department of Commerce, 34.36% of offenses involving a stolen firearm are from vehicle theft, while 29.62% are from other forms of larceny.  

However, proponents of the bill argue the permit-to-purchase system has proven effective in reducing gun violence across all measures, including homicide, suicide and mass shootings.  

Alex McCourt, an assistant professor and public health lawyer at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, noted that Connecticut, which adopted similar policies, saw a 28% reduction in firearm homicide and a 33% reduction in suicide. Meanwhile, Missouri saw a 47% increase in firearm homicide and 23% in suicide after repealing its permit-to-purchase policy.  

Supporters argue the bill represents an improved balance in gun rights and gun responsibility as many believe gun violence has become too normalized.  

“If something is normalized in terms of people dying, that means there's a dehumanizing aspect to everything that's happening,” Isaiah Lenard of the Alliance of Gun Responsibility said.  

He contended these policies would specifically benefit men of color and other communities disproportionately affected by gun violence and suicide.  

Although Lenard believes the proposed agenda is reasonable, he said he recognizes the concerns about the infringement of one’s right to bear arms, adding that more discourse is needed.