Hi John,

Washington’s 2020 legislative session is officially over and there is much to celebrate!

We went into this short session with one of our most ambitious agendas to-date and lawmakers delivered some big victories. In total, we saw five major gun responsibility bills pass and a historic investment in gun violence prevention programs:

• SB 6288: This bill creates a first-in-the-nation Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention, which will be tasked with gathering data, supporting victims of gun violence, and administering a grant program to community violence intervention groups. This is a crucial first step toward addressing the gun violence that impacts our communities every day.
• SB 5434: This bill keeps our youngest children safe by prohibiting guns in child care and early learning facilities. This extends existing protections in place for K-12 schools to spaces where our youngest kids go to learn and play.
• HB 2467: This bill will centralize Washington state’s background check system. Streamlining the system will ease the burden on law enforcement and help keep guns out of the wrong hands.
• HB 2555: This bill closes a background check loophole to ensure checks may be performed on firearm components.
• HB 2622: This bill incorporates best practices and closes loopholes to give courts, prosecutors, and law enforcement the ability to better enforce firearm surrender orders. These orders are one of the most important tools law enforcement has to remove the threat of firearms from dangerous situations.
• $$$: The state budget includes a whopping $14.3 million for investment in gun violence prevention programs. This funding will support implementation of existing gun laws, research into gun violence, grants for community-based organizations, and more.

These successes would not have been possible without the hard work of our legislative champions and the tireless commitment of supporters like you. THANK YOU for all you did to help get these lifesaving laws passed.

While there is much to celebrate, we also must acknowledge that one major policy did not pass. Our top priority this session was a measure to restrict high-capacity magazines. Despite seeing hearing rooms flooded with orange, receiving thousands of emails, and hearing countless first hand experiences, the legislature did not pass this lifesaving measure.

This bill did not fail after rigorous debate or because there weren’t enough votes. It failed because a handful of legislators beholden to the gun lobby knew they were going to lose and filibustered the bill by introducing 120 bogus amendments to run out the clock on this lifesaving measure.

We are disappointed, both in the dirty tactics and in our allies who let it happen.

Other bills that did not pass this year include restoration of local authority to prevent gun violence, requiring training for a Concealed Pistol License, strengthening penalties for threats to commit mass violence, and keeping guns out of the hands of individuals convicted of certain misdemeanors.

So today, we celebrate the significant progress we’ve made together. And tomorrow, we get right back to work making sure these laws are implemented as intended, gearing up for November, and working to ensure we lay a strong foundation to pass lifesaving measures next year.

Be well,
Renée