In a decisive move to address the escalating gun violence crisis in Washington state, lawmakers have approved a permit-to-purchase bill, with the legislation now set to be presented to Governor Jim Ferguson for final consideration.
House Bill (HB) 1163 passed the Senate on April 14, mandating that residents of Washington apply for a permit prior to purchasing a firearm. The process includes submitting fingerprints and providing proof of completion of a live firearm training course.
This legislation aligns with similar measures being adopted in various other states across the U.S. Although gun rights advocates have mounted legal challenges questioning the constitutionality of such regulations, research supports that implementing a permit-to-purchase policy can be an effective strategy in reducing incidents of gun violence.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, firearms accounted for the leading cause of death among children and teens aged 1 to 17 in Washington state. Additionally, firearms are implicated in the majority of homicide and suicide cases within the state. Advocates argue that the impacts of gun violence transcend mere statistics, profoundly affecting the societal fabric.
Robert Schentrup, an organizing manager with the nonprofit Brady United Against Gun Violence, emphasized that the continual exposure to gun violence through news and personal experiences leaves an indelible mark on people’s mental well-being. “Gun violence is something that constantly wears at the psyche of all of us,” he stated.
The passage of HB 1163 represents a significant political divide, having garnered support and opposition strictly along party lines. Proponents of the bill regard it as one of the pivotal legislative measures of the session, while critics label it as a dangerous infringement on rights.
Rep. Jim Walsh (R-Aberdeen), the chair of the state’s Republican party, referred to the bill as potentially the worst bad bill of the session. Currently, Washington boasts the ninth-strongest gun regulations nationwide, featuring measures like mandatory background checks at the time of purchase and a 10-day waiting period before the completion of a firearm purchase. The new permit-to-purchase bill introduces further requirements intended to enhance existing regulations.
Alex McCourt, a core faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, highlighted that the background checks mandated in the permitting process generally require more comprehensive information, including fingerprints, and are more thorough than those conducted at the point of sale. His research shows that states with both point-of-sale checks and permit-to-purchase regulations witness more significant reductions in firearm-related mortality than states with only the latter.
One key benefit promoted by advocates is that tying firearm purchases more closely to an individual’s identity through a permit system will greatly reduce instances of straw purchasing. Straw purchasing—buying a firearm on behalf of someone legally prohibited from owning one—remains a significant driver of gun trafficking, which in turn fuels violent crimes and undermines efforts to regulate firearms.
Rep. Liz Berry (D-Seattle), the bill’s prime sponsor, emphasized that such a requirement could help combat straw purchasing, stating, “If your purchases are tied more directly to your permit … it immensely cuts down on straw purchasing.”
During the legislative process, multiple Republican lawmakers decried the bill, arguing against its constitutionality and cultural implications. One representative boldly proclaimed, “We don’t have the authority to legislate in this manner. This was a right that was given to us by our creator, and we cannot stand in the way.”
These sentiments resonate with a broader national discourse surrounding gun rights advocates, who have actively fought against similar policies in various states. A notable example is Oregon’s permit-to-purchase policy, which faced legal challenges soon after its approval by voters. However, a ruling by the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the policy, deeming it a reasonable approach to public safety concerns.
For those personally impacted by gun violence, the introduction of permit-to-purchase laws appears as a sensible step towards curbing the ever-looming threat of gun violence in daily life. As a representative of the youth organizing against gun violence, Schentrup shared the pervasive climate of anxiety that young people experience today.
He recounted that students often find themselves scanning classrooms and gatherings for potential threats, an unfortunate adaptation to living in a climate rife with gun violence.
Schentrup’s push towards advocacy originated from a personal tragedy; his sister, Carmen Schentrup, was a victim of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. Following this heart-wrenching loss, he became an advocate for gun violence prevention, collaborating with peers at the University of Central Florida.
The momentum for HB 1163 gained traction among young advocates in Washington state, particularly after local students expressed their heartfelt experiences with gun violence during public hearings. Ingraham High School senior Julia Berus, who was an eyewitness to a tragic shooting in 2022, stood in support of the bill. She conveyed that her peers also yearn for a safer environment devoid of gun violence: “I personally do not want to be in a situation again where these guns do end up in dangerous hands; neither do the other 1,000 students at my high school I am speaking on behalf of right now.”
With the Senate approval secured, HB 1163 is now on the verge of becoming a law, pending the governor’s signature. Rep. Berry encapsulated the urgency of the situation when she stated, “We’re in a real crisis here, and we need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to keep people safe from gun violence. This bill will save lives.”
The discourse surrounding gun violence continues to be a pivotal issue in the U.S., and Washington state’s legislative actions may serve as a barometer for similar measures across the nation.
As societal challenges grow amidst rising rates of gun-related incidents, solutions such as HB 1163 are being keenly observed by states grappling with similar dilemmas.
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