Public Safety, Second Amendment bills, and Our Virtual Town Hall

Legislative Update from Representative Brian Burnett

information released

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As a county sheriff for over a decade, and being in law enforcement for over 25 years, my committee assignments (Civil Rights & Judiciary, Community Safety, Early Learning & Human Services, and Appropriations) fit right into my life experience.

I’m able to take what I know, both what works and what doesn’t work, and apply it to the decisions I make on your behalf in Olympia. I’ve been on the street side of law enforcement, and the budget side of managing a large county sheriff’s office.

Public Safety

As such, I want to make you aware of bad public safety bills from time to time. One in particular is House Bill 1399 which has an innocuous title: “Modernizing, harmonizing, and clarifying law concerning sheriffs, chiefs, marshals, and police matrons.” But in reality, it is a bill that would be damaging to sheriffs’ offices around the state, is probably unconstitutional, and will harm women and children who have been placed in custody.

The bill requires an extensive background check by the Washington state patrol BEFORE a candidate for sheriff is placed on the ballot. Requiring a state agency to determine whether or not a person is suitable to go on the ballot for election is unconstitutional. What’s interesting is that the legislature is looking at this for law enforcement, but not for those who make the laws! Perhaps the legislature should look in the mirror and require this of themselves. What is more critical to keeping us a free society which recognizes our liberties and rights? Those who enforce the law? Or those who make the laws in the first place?

We have a public safety crisis in our state. We should be doing more to make law enforcement careers more attractive, honorable, and community oriented. You can learn more about our public safety crisis here and clicking on the Crime tab.

Rent Control

House Bill 1217 is this year’s Rent Control legislation. Rent control has been tried before and is rarely – if ever – a successful solution to affordable housing. Government imposed price controls discourage the construction of new housing. It brings fewer choices, worse conditions, and skyrocketing prices.

You can read more about this bill in a KIRO news story here, a Washington State Standard article here, and a short video here.

I will not support any effort to impose rent controls here in our state. It is a failed policy despite its good intentions.

Second Amendment

As a former sheriff, I know how vital it is that people have the right to lawfully own and protect themselves with firearms. Crime and public safety have been top concerns for our community. As the old adage says, “Law enforcement is just minutes away when seconds count.” This is not a slam on law enforcement; it is an acknowledgement of the fact those who want to protect themselves, their family, their friends, and their property should be able to do so. As such, our Second Amendment protections need to be guarded vigilantly.

Here are a few of the gun bills we’re seeing this session along with where they are in the legislative process:

• SB 5098 would place restrictions on certain locations (public buildings, parks and playgrounds, county fairs and county fair facilities) where law-abiding citizens, even with a concealed pistol license, could not carry. Criminals don’t pay attention to such restrictions, but legal gun owners do. It has passed the Senate Law & Justice Committee, the Senate Ways & Means Committee, and is now in the Senate Transportation Committee.
• SB 5099 would require more training for gun dealers and employees, and it would impose expensive license fees on firearms dealers. These fees would make it harder for gun-shop owners in our state to stay in business. Gun shops are where responsible hunters, shooters and sportsmen buy their weapons. Criminals don’t get their guns from gun shops; they get them anyway and anywhere they can. It has passed the Senate Law & Justice Committee and is now in the Ways & Means Committee.
• HB 1132 would place limits on how many guns and how much ammo you can buy. If you’re an avid target shooter, you’d better plan ahead if this bill becomes law. This bill has passed the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee and is now in the Rules Committee where it could be pulled to the House floor where all members can debate and vote on it.
• HB 1152 would require you to have government-sponsored locking devices for your guns in your automobile or your home. Remember, criminals don’t use lock boxes. This bill has the potential to cost law-abiding citizens their lives or property as the criminals now have the upper hand – and they would know it! It has passed the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee and is in the Rules Committee.
• HB 1163 would create a “permit to purchase” system in Washington and would require someone to take a firearms safety training course before buying a gun. This is much more restrictive than a background check for would-be gun buyers. It has passed the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee and has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
• HB 1386 would impose an 11% tax on the sale of firearms, parts and ammo. Such a steep tax is misguided and unnecessary, and part of an anti-Second Amendment agenda that I am fighting. This bill had a public hearing in the House Finance Committee but is still in the committee and no further action has been taken.

However, we WERE able to defeat House Bill 1504 which would have required a $25,000 liability insurance policy on each firearm owned and to purchase any subsequent firearms. However, this was quickly recognized as a way to create a firearms registry of every gun owned. It is illegal for a national gun registry. We shouldn’t be doing it here in our state. It will do nothing to prevent crime. Criminals don’t obey the laws and they’re certainly not going to go out and by insurance on their firearms.

What can you do?

Many of you have already asked me, “What can I do? How can I tell legislators in Olympia that I strongly agree or disagree with them?” It’s a great question! This is YOUR state government and you should have a voice.

You can click on the bill numbers above, or go to any bill after searching for it here. It will take you to the Legislative website for each bill. On the right-hand side you will see two dark green boxes:

From there it’s very self-explanatory. I encourage you to use the legislative website at leg.wa.gov for further research on bills, committee schedules, legislative contact information and more. You can also follow me on my website here.

Virtual Town Hall Meeting

I invite you to join our 12th Legislative District Virtual Town Hall on Thursday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m. We will discuss the legislative session and issues like public safety, affordable housing, wildfire prevention, the budget shortfall, transportation, deregulation and more. To register for the meeting, go to: https://tinyurl.com/ymu948sp or scan the QR Code below.

Thank you for reading my email update. Please contact my office with your questions or concerns. It is an honor to serve you in Olympia.

Sincerely,

Brian Burnett