Yesterday we wrote about a Washington State “assault” weapons bill, sponsored by two Democrats, that would have required warrantless searches of homes by sheriffs to enforce a new firearm ban. When caught, those Democrats claimed that it was a “mistake.” The media in Washington State duly noted the oversight and did no further investigation. But the blog The Sure Things of Life did investigate further. Guess what they found?
(5) In order to continue to possess an assault weapon that was legally possessed on the effective date of this section, the person possessing the assault weapon shall do all of the following:
(a) Safely and securely store the assault weapon. The sheriff of the county may, no more than once per year, conduct an inspection to ensure compliance with this subsection;
That’s from a bill that one of the same Democrats, state Sen. Adam Kline, introduced in 2009.
But wait, there’s more! He introduced similar language in a gun bill in 2005.
(b) Unless the person is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, immediately register the assault weapon with the sheriff of the county in which the weapon is usually stored;
(c) Safely and securely store the assault weapon. The sheriff of the county may, no more than once per year, conduct an inspection to ensure compliance with this subsection;
That’s an awfully consistent “mistake” to keep making, across three bills and eight long years.
This isn’t a mistake. It’s history. Adam Kline has a history of trying to slip a police state into anti-gun legislation. If some legislator hadn’t thought to actually read the bill before any votes had occurred, it may well have become the law in Washington — third try would have been the charm.
The Seattle Times reporter who bought the “mistake” excuse, Danny Westneat, hasn’t corrected the record. I’m not holding my breath that he ever will.
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