Men stand with pistols strapped at their sides at a gun rights rally on the steps of the Capitol on Friday in Olympia. Lawmakers and others spoke at the rally, which drew about 100 people, emphasizing legislative priorities and speaking against gun-related policies of President Barack Obama, like his recent executive actions to expand background checks to cover more firearms sold at gun shows, and elsewhere. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
The nationwide debate over whether to restrict or broaden gun laws could be waged in the Washington Legislature this session, and two Southwest Washington lawmakers are hoping their measures are part of the conversation.
Gun measures introduced by Democrat Jim Moeller and Republican Lynda Wilson, both state representatives from Vancouver, align with their politics. Moeller has a measure to ban all assault weapons, and Wilson is pushing a bill that would prevent state executives from prohibiting the use of firearms in times of emergency.
Although the current 60-day legislative session is expected to be dominated by discussion of education funding, the first week showed there could be some appetite to act on gun legislation. On the heels of President Barack Obama’s announcement that he’s issuing an executive order to try to reduce gun violence, Gov. Jay Inslee chimed in with an executive order of his own aimed at strengthening background checks.
On Friday, a day when open-carry advocates rallied in Olympia, Moeller said in a phone interview that his office has received hundreds of phone calls and some death threats over his proposed legislation. Security at the state capitol has been beefed up, he said. Wilson’s inbox has also been filled with those voicing their opinion on the gun measures.
Moeller, who is running for lieutenant governor, conceded it’s unlikely his measure would pass the GOP-controlled Senate. But, he said, he introduced the measure with the hopes it sparks a conversation about gun-control laws. The Democrat said he personally hunts and owns pistols, rifles and shotguns.
“There is no need for an assault weapon in the general public,” Moeller said. “How do you go hunting with that?”
After all the mass shootings, including two in Washington, Moeller said, “We need to think about the possibility: Do we really need to have those kinds of guns?”
Yes, Wilson said.
Wilson, a longtime gun-rights activist is pushing a measure to ensure the state’s top executives cannot disarm residents in a state of emergency. Wilson had success pushing for a similar change in ordinance at the county level several years ago.
“Let’s say we have this big earthquake we’re waiting on, chaos occurs. You don’t want to deal with looting, you want to protect your family,” Wilson said.
She dismissed Moeller’s measure as a “message bill,” and said the bill would outlaw weapons that she says are the best self-defense guns for women, such as the AR-15.
“If you saw any type of firearm laying on a table, is it going to do anything? It’s not going to hurt you if it just lays on the table. If it does anything evil, it’s because of the person that picked it up,” Wilson said.
Both lawmakers know there’s a good chance their bills won’t get a hearing in committee. But after the introduction of their measures, a firestorm over the bills has begun.
Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said she will hear a handful of gun-control measures Thursday, including one that would allow families or law enforcement to petition the court to temporarily prevent a person’s ability to have a gun if they are deemed a risk. Jinkins said she doesn’t believe either of the Southwest Washington lawmaker’s measures have enough bipartisan support to warrant a hearing yet.
In 2014, Washington voters approved a measure expanding background checks.
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