H-3383.1          _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 2263

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

 

By Representatives McMahan, Sheahan, L. Thomas, Thompson, Goldsmith, D. Schmidt, Hargrove, Koster, Talcott, Delvin, Johnson, Dyer, Mulliken, Benton, Smith, Boldt, Hymes, Pelesky, B. Thomas, Sterk, Buck, Backlund, Carrell, Campbell, Mastin, Honeyford, Stevens, McMorris, Robertson, Elliot, Sheldon, Casada and Beeksma

 

Read first time 01/09/96.  Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

 

Authorizing permanent concealed pistol licenses.



     AN ACT Relating to permanent concealed pistol licenses; amending RCW 9.41.070; and adding a new section to chapter 9.41 RCW.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     Sec. 1.  RCW 9.41.070 and 1995 c 351 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) The chief of police of a municipality or the sheriff of a county shall within thirty days after the filing of an application of any person, issue a permanent license to such person to carry a pistol concealed on his or her person within this state ((for five years)) from date of issue, for the purposes of protection or while engaged in business, sport, or while traveling.  However, if the applicant does not have a valid permanent Washington driver's license or Washington state identification card or has not been a resident of the state for the previous consecutive ninety days, the issuing authority shall have up to sixty days after the filing of the application to issue a license.  The issuing authority shall not refuse to accept completed applications for concealed pistol licenses during regular business hours.  A valid license issued under this section is permanent unless suspended or revoked or unless the person to whom the license was issued has become otherwise ineligible to possess a firearm or to obtain a concealed pistol license.  Any person whose eligibility is restored pursuant to this section, RCW 9.41.040, or other law, may apply for a permanent license under this section.

     The applicant's constitutional right to bear arms shall not be denied, unless:

     (a) He or she is ineligible to possess a firearm under the provisions of RCW 9.41.040 or 9.41.045;

     (b) The applicant's concealed pistol license is in a revoked status;

     (c) He or she is under twenty‑one years of age;

     (d) He or she is subject to a court order or injunction regarding firearms pursuant to RCW 9A.46.080, 10.14.080, 10.99.040, 10.99.045, 26.09.050, 26.09.060, 26.10.040, 26.10.115, 26.26.130, 26.26.137, 26.50.060, or 26.50.070;

     (e) He or she is free on bond or personal recognizance pending trial, appeal, or sentencing for a serious offense;

     (f) He or she has an outstanding warrant for his or her arrest from any court of competent jurisdiction for a felony or misdemeanor;

     (g) He or she has been ordered to forfeit a firearm under RCW 9.41.098(1)(e) within one year before filing an application to carry a pistol concealed on his or her person; or

     (h)(i) He or she has been convicted of any crime against a child or other person listed in RCW 43.43.830(5).

     (ii) Except as provided in (h)(iii) of this subsection, any person who becomes ineligible for a concealed pistol license as a result of a conviction for a crime listed in (h)(i) of this subsection and then successfully completes all terms of his or her sentence, as evidenced by a certificate of discharge issued under RCW 9.94A.220 in the case of a sentence under chapter 9.94A RCW, and has not again been convicted of any crime and is not under indictment for any crime, may, one year or longer after such successful sentence completion, petition a court of record for a declaration that the person is no longer ineligible for a concealed pistol license under (h)(i) of this subsection.

     (iii) No person convicted of a serious offense as defined in RCW 9.41.010 may have his or her right to possess firearms restored, unless the person has been granted relief from disabilities by the secretary of the treasury under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 925(c), or RCW 9.41.040 (3) or (4) applies.

     (2) The issuing authority shall check with the national crime information center, the Washington state patrol electronic data base, the department of social and health services electronic data base, and with other agencies or resources as appropriate, to determine whether the applicant is ineligible under RCW 9.41.040 or 9.41.045 to possess a firearm and therefore ineligible for a concealed pistol license.  ((This subsection applies whether the applicant is applying for a new concealed pistol license or to renew a concealed pistol license.))

     (3) Any person whose firearms rights have been restricted and who has been granted relief from disabilities by the secretary of the treasury under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 925(c) or who is exempt under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 921(a)(20)(A) shall have his or her right to acquire, receive, transfer, ship, transport, carry, and possess firearms in accordance with Washington state law restored except as otherwise prohibited by this chapter.

     (4) The license application shall bear the full name, residential address, telephone number at the option of the applicant, date and place of birth, race, gender, description, not more than two complete sets of fingerprints, and signature of the licensee, and the licensee's driver's license number or state identification card number if used for identification in applying for the license.  A signed application for a concealed pistol license shall constitute a waiver of confidentiality and written request that the department of social and health services, mental health institutions, and other health care facilities release information relevant to the applicant's eligibility for a concealed pistol license to an inquiring court or law enforcement agency.

     The application for ((an original)) a license shall include two complete sets of fingerprints to be forwarded to the Washington state patrol.

     The license and application shall contain a warning substantially as follows:

 

CAUTION:  Although state and local laws do not differ, federal law and state law on the possession of firearms differ.  If you are prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm, you may be prosecuted in federal court.  A state license is not a defense to a federal prosecution.

 

     The license shall contain a description of the major differences between state and federal law and an explanation of the fact that local laws and ordinances on firearms are preempted by state law and must be consistent with state law.  The application shall contain questions about the applicant's eligibility under RCW 9.41.040 to possess a pistol, the applicant's place of birth, and whether the applicant is a United States citizen.  The applicant shall not be required to produce a birth certificate or other evidence of citizenship.  A person who is not a citizen of the United States shall meet the additional requirements of RCW 9.41.170 and produce proof of compliance with RCW 9.41.170 upon application.  The license shall be in triplicate and in a form to be prescribed by the department of licensing.

     The original thereof shall be delivered to the licensee, the duplicate shall within seven days be sent by registered mail to the director of licensing and the triplicate shall be preserved for six years, by the authority issuing the license.

     The department of licensing shall make available to law enforcement and corrections agencies, in an on-line format, all information received under this subsection.

     (5) The nonrefundable fee, paid upon application, for the ((original five-year)) license shall be thirty-six dollars plus additional charges imposed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that are passed on to the applicant.  No other state or local branch or unit of government may impose any additional charges on the applicant for the issuance of the license.

     The fee shall be distributed as follows:

     (a) Fifteen dollars shall be paid to the state general fund;

     (b) Four dollars shall be paid to the agency taking the fingerprints of the person licensed;

     (c) Fourteen dollars shall be paid to the issuing authority for the purpose of enforcing this chapter; and

     (d) Three dollars to the firearms range account in the general fund.

     (6) ((The fee for the renewal of such license shall be thirty-two dollars.  No other branch or unit of government may impose any additional charges on the applicant for the renewal of the license.

     The renewal fee shall be distributed as follows:

     (a) Fifteen dollars shall be paid to the state general fund;

     (b) Fourteen dollars shall be paid to the issuing authority for the purpose of enforcing this chapter; and

     (c) Three dollars to the firearms range account in the general fund.

     (7))) The fee for replacement of lost or damaged licenses is ten dollars to be paid to the issuing authority.

     (((8))) (7) Payment shall be by cash, check, or money order at the option of the applicant.  Additional methods of payment may be allowed at the option of the issuing authority.

     (((9) A licensee may renew a license if the licensee applies for renewal within ninety days before or after the expiration date of the license.  A license so renewed shall take effect on the expiration date of the prior license.  A licensee renewing after the expiration date of the license must pay a late renewal penalty of ten dollars in addition to the renewal fee specified in subsection (6) of this section.  The fee shall be distributed as follows:

     (a) Three dollars shall be deposited in the state wildlife fund and used exclusively for the printing and distribution of a pamphlet on the legal limits of the use of firearms, firearms safety, and the preemptive nature of state law.  The pamphlet shall be given to each applicant for a license; and

     (b) Seven dollars shall be paid to the issuing authority for the purpose of enforcing this chapter.

     (10))) (8) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections (1) through (((9))) (7) of this section, the chief of police of the municipality or the sheriff of the county of the applicant's residence may issue a temporary emergency license for good cause pending review under subsection (1) of this section.

     (((11))) (9) A political subdivision of the state shall not modify the requirements of this section or chapter, nor may a political subdivision ask the applicant to voluntarily submit any information not required by this section.

     (((12))) (10) A person who knowingly makes a false statement regarding citizenship or identity on an application for a concealed pistol license is guilty of false swearing under RCW 9A.72.040.  In addition to any other penalty provided for by law, the concealed pistol license of a person who knowingly makes a false statement shall be revoked, and the person shall be permanently ineligible for a concealed pistol license.

     (((13))) (11) A person may apply for a concealed pistol license:

     (a) To the municipality or to the county in which the applicant resides if the applicant resides in a municipality;

     (b) To the county in which the applicant resides if the applicant resides in an unincorporated area; or

     (c) Anywhere in the state if the applicant is a nonresident.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 9.41 RCW to read as follows:

     On or after the effective date of this act, any person possessing a valid concealed pistol license that was issued before the effective date of this act, may obtain a permanent license under RCW 9.41.070 upon the payment of ten dollars, and surrender of the previously issued license, to a municipality or county in which he or she is authorized to apply for a license.

 


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