GOAL Post 2010-9

GOAL Post 2010-9

Legislative Update from Olympia 5 March 2010

SCOTUS: McDONALD v CITY OF CHICAGO

ESHB 2499 STALLS IN SENATE, DIES

SHB 2226 PASSES SENATE, GOES TO GOVERNOR

ESHB 2777 PASSES SENATE, GOES TO CONFERENCE

SECOND CHAMBER CUT-OFF TODAY

SESSION ENDS NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT

On Tuesday, 2 March, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) heard one hour of oral arguments in the case of McDonald v City of Chicago. This is step two of the original District of Columbia v Heller case from 2008, that ruled 5-4 that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms, specifically to keep a handgun in your home for the purpose of self defense. Because Dick Anthony Heller was a D.C. resident, the ruling only applied within that federal enclave. McDonald is challenging the same type of handgun ban in the city of Chicago. If the court rules the same way it did in Heller, that will force application of the Second Amendment to the states (and political subdivisions) as well. The third step will be for the SCOTUS to determine the level of scrutiny to be applied to the Second Amendment, with strict scrutiny being the highest standard, usually reserved to fundamental rights. A decision in McDonald is expected in late June. If and once incorporation occurs, the door will be opened toi challenging all kinds of gun control laws across the country. This is only the beginning of Second Amendment jurisprudence, not the end.

ESHB 2499 (possession and transport of black powder), stalled on the Senate floor and died at today's chamber cut-off. SHB 2226 (retired peace officer firearms certification) passed the Senate without amendment and now goes to the Governor for her signature. ESHB 2777 (domestic violence) was amended on the Senate floor and now goes back to the House for a concurrence vote or to a conference committee to iron out differences.

Today was the last day for bills to pass out of the opposite chamber (House bills from the Senate, Senate bills from the House).

Six days remain in the 2010 regular legislative session. There are several bills still under consideration, including many budget bills. Amendments can be made, language added to bills. As the saying goes, it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings, and that won't happen until late on the evening of 11 March.

BILL STATUS / GOAL POSITION ON BILLS:

Bill # Subject Sponsor Status

SHB 2226 Retired peace officer qualification Orcutt (R-18) To Governor

ESHB 2499 Black powder storage/transport Bailey (R-10) Died in S. Rules

Key to abbreviations: SHB = Substitute House Bill, L&C = Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, Jud = Judiciary Committee

GOAL POSITION ON BILLS:

SHB 2226 SUPPORT

ESHB 2499 SUPPORT

ESHB 2777 MONITOR

PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED:

None

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE: You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Toll free!!! The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993, also toll free!!!

1-800-562-6000 TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature's web site at "www.leg.wa.gov". Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe's web site (http://www.adobe.com). You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573. Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need "RealAudio" to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate "bill reports" (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the "roll call" for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill. The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to "jwaldron@halcyon.com". Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at "jwaldron@halcyon.com." Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Monroe 13-14 March

Puyallup 27-28 March

"The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men."

Article 1, Section 24

Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2010 Gun Owners Action League of WA