SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 1903

                            AS OF FEBRUARY 18, 1992

Brief Description:  Requiring trigger‑locking devices on handguns.

SPONSORS:House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Scott, Miller, Cole, Riley, Ludwig, Locke, Wineberry, Appelwick, Rasmussen, Wang, Ferguson and Anderson).

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Staff:  Jon Carlson (786‑7459)

Hearing Dates:April 3, 1991; April 5, 1991; February 24, 1992

BACKGROUND:

Current law allows a licensed firearms dealer to sell a short firearm or pistol to a person who is at least 21 years of age.  However, a person is ineligible to purchase or possess a short firearm or pistol if he or she has been convicted of a violent felony or a felony violation of the Controlled Substances Act.  In addition, a person is ineligible if he or she has been subject to a period of confinement under the criminal insanity statute, or at least 90 days confinement under the Involuntary Treatment Act.

"Short firearm" or "pistol" means any firearm with a barrel less than 12 inches in length.

SUMMARY:

A licensed firearms dealer is prohibited from selling a handgun unless the dealer offers to sell the purchaser a trigger-locking device and explain its operation.  The dealer must obtain from the purchaser a receipt for the sale of the trigger-locking device, or a signed statement from the purchaser declining to buy the device.  Failure to comply with these requirements is a misdemeanor, and the dealer is subject to a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment of up to six months, or both.  These provisions are not applicable to sales to a licensed firearms dealer for resale or to a government law enforcement or armed service agency.  Handguns are included in the definition of short firearms and pistols.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested