SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5615

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Law & Justice, February 12, 2015

Title: An act relating to exempting certain firearms transfers involving military members, law enforcement officers, and corrections officers from background check requirements.

Brief Description: Exempting certain firearms transfers involving military members, law enforcement officers, and corrections officers from background check requirements.

Sponsors: Senators Benton, Sheldon, Bailey, Padden, Rivers, Angel, Schoesler, Warnick, Roach, Honeyford and Pearson.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Law & Justice: 2/09/15, 2/12/15 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Padden, Chair; O'Ban, Vice Chair; Pearson and Roach.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Pedersen, Ranking Minority Member; Darneille and Kohl-Welles.

Staff: Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)

Background: All firearm sales or transfers, in whole or part in this state including a sale or transfer where either the purchaser or seller or transferee or transferor is in Washington, are subject to background checks unless specifically exempt by state or federal law. The background check requirement applies to all sales or transfers including, but not limited to, sales and transfers through a licensed dealer, at gun shows, online, and between unlicensed persons.

No person may sell or transfer a firearm unless:

If neither the transferor nor the transferee are licensed dealers, the transferor must deliver the firearm to a licensed dealer to process the sale or transfer as if the licensed dealer is selling or transferring the firearm from its inventory to the purchaser or transferee, except that the unlicensed seller or transferor may remove the firearm from the business premises of the licensed dealer while the background check is being conducted. If the seller or transferor removes the firearm from the business premises of the licensed dealer while the background check is being conducted, the purchaser or transferee and the seller or transferor must return to the business premises of the licensed dealer and the seller or transferor must again deliver the firearm to the licensed dealer prior to completing the sale or transfer.

The licensed dealer must comply with all requirements of federal and state law that would apply if the licensed dealer were selling or transferring the firearm from its inventory to the purchaser or transferee, including conducting a background check on the prospective purchaser or transferee in accordance with federal and state law requirements and fulfilling all federal and state recordkeeping requirements.

The purchaser or transferee must complete, sign, and submit all federal, state, and local forms necessary to process the required background check to the licensed dealer conducting the background check. If the results of the background check indicate that the purchaser or transferee is ineligible to possess a firearm, then the licensed dealer must return the firearm to the seller or transferor.

The licensed dealer may charge a fee that reflects the fair market value of the administrative costs and efforts incurred by the licensed dealer for facilitating the sale or transfer of the firearm.

The background check requirements for transfers between unlicensed transferors and transferees do not apply to the following:

Summary of Bill: In addition to the other circumstances in which a transfer is permitted without a background check, a background check is not required for the transfer of a firearm between:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: These are common-sense exemptions from the firearm background check requirements. Why should background checks be required when these individuals already had them done? It is not unusual for initiatives to need some adjustment after they pass. These are people who have served their country. Leaving a firearm behind when deployed is not a choice. We are currently making criminals out of people who are serving their country. This is an obviously needed change. These individuals have already been cleared to carry firearms. The initiative was drafted extremely broadly so that virtually every transfer of a firearm requires a background check. The background checks already required on newly hired officers are extensive. Under the language of the initiative, law enforcement officers are required to do more than CPL holders when they go to purchase a pistol.

CON: There is no evidence that a change is needed at this time. The initiative keeps firearms out of dangerous hands.

OTHER: The scope of the bill should be changed to also include retired military and retired law enforcement. If the federal government trusts these people to carry firearms, why can't the state?

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Benton, prime sponsor; Mark Pidgeon, Hunters Heritage Council; Brian Judy, National Rifle Assn.; Phil Shave, WA Arms Collectors; Renee Maher, Council of Metropolitan Police and Sheriffs; Bill Burns, Gun Owner Action League; Kerry Hooks, citizen.

CON: Rebecca Johnson, WA Alliance for Gun Responsibility.

OTHER: Jerry Gibbs, citizen.