6057.E AMH JUD H4456.1

6057.E AMH JUD H4456.1

ESB 6057 - H COMM AMD ADOPTED 3-4-94

By Committee on Judiciary

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"Sec. 1. RCW 9.41.170 and 1979 c 158 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

((It shall be unlawful for any person who is not a citizen of the United States, or who has not declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, to carry or have in his possession at any time any shotgun, rifle, or other firearm, without first having obtained a license from the director of licensing, and such license is not to be issued by the director of licensing except upon the certificate of the consul domiciled in the state and representing the country of such alien, that he is a responsible person and upon the payment for the license of the sum of fifteen dollars: PROVIDED, That)) (1) It is a class C felony for any person who is not a citizen of the United States to carry or possess any firearm, without first having obtained an alien firearm license from the director of licensing. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the director of licensing may issue an alien firearm license only upon receiving from the consul domiciled in this state representing the country of the alien, a certified copy of the alien's criminal history in the alien's country indicating the alien is not ineligible under RCW 9.41.040 to own, possess, or control a firearm, and the consul's attestation that the alien is a responsible person.

(2)(a) Subject to the additional requirements of (b) of this subsection, the director of licensing may issue an alien firearm license without a certified copy of the alien's criminal history or the consul's attestation required by subsection (1) of this section, if the alien has been a resident of this state for at least two years and: (i) The alien is from a country without a consul domiciled within this state, or (ii) the consul has failed to provide, within ninety days after a request by the alien, the criminal history or attestation required by subsection (1) of this section.

(b) Before issuing an alien firearm license under this subsection (2), the director of licensing shall ask the local law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the alien resides to complete a background check to determine the alien's eligibility under RCW 9.41.040 to own, possess, or control a firearm. The law enforcement agency shall complete a background check within thirty days after the request, unless the alien does not have a valid Washington driver's license or Washington state identification card. In the latter case, the law enforcement agency shall complete the background check within sixty days after the request.

A signed application for an alien firearm 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 an alien firearm license to an inquiring law enforcement agency.

(3) The fee for an alien firearm license shall be twenty-five dollars, and the license shall be valid for four years from the date of issue.

(4) This section shall not apply to Canadian citizens resident in a province which has an enactment or public policy providing substantially similar privilege to residents of the state of Washington and who are carrying or possessing weapons for the purpose of using them in the hunting of game while such persons are in the act of hunting, or while on a hunting trip, or while such persons are competing in a bona fide trap or skeet shoot or any other organized contest where rifles, pistols, or shotguns are used ((~~as to weapons used in such contest~~)). Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow aliens to hunt or fish in this state without first having obtained a regular hunting or fishing license. ((~~Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.~~))

Sec. 2. RCW 9.41.070 and 1992 c 168 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The judge of a court of record, 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 license to such person to carry a pistol concealed on his or her person within this state for four 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. Such applicant's constitutional right to bear arms shall not be denied, unless he or she:

(a) Is ineligible to own a pistol under the provisions of RCW 9.41.040; or

(b) Is under twenty‑one years of age; or

(d) Is free on bond or personal recognizance pending trial, appeal, or sentencing for a crime of violence; or

(e) Has an outstanding warrant for his or her arrest from any court of competent jurisdiction for a felony or misdemeanor; or

(f) Has been ordered to forfeit a firearm under RCW 9.41.098(1)(d) within one year before filing an application to carry a pistol concealed on his or her person; or

(g) Has been convicted of any of the following offenses: Assault in the third degree, indecent liberties, malicious mischief in the first degree, possession of stolen property in the first or second degree, or theft in the first or second degree. Any person who becomes ineligible for a concealed pistol permit as a result of a conviction for a crime listed in this subsection (1)(g) 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 the district court for a declaration that the person is no longer ineligible for a concealed pistol permit under this subsection (1)(g).

(2) 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) shall have his or her right to acquire, receive, transfer, ship, transport, carry, and possess firearms in accordance with Washington state law restored.

(3) The license shall be revoked by the issuing authority immediately upon conviction of a crime which makes such a person ineligible to own a pistol or upon the third conviction for a violation of this chapter within five calendar years.

(4) Upon an order to forfeit a firearm under RCW 9.41.098(1)(d) the issuing authority shall:

(a) On the first forfeiture, revoke the license for one year;

(b) On the second forfeiture, revoke the license for two years;

Any person whose license is revoked as a result of a forfeiture of a firearm under RCW 9.41.098(1)(d) may not reapply for a new license until the end of the revocation period. The issuing authority shall notify, in writing, the department of licensing upon revocation of a license. The department of licensing shall record the revocation.

(5) The license shall be in triplicate, in form to be prescribed by the department of licensing, and shall bear the name, address, and description, 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. The license 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 application 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 place of birth, whether the applicant is a United States citizen, ((~~and if not a citizen whether the applicant has declared the intent to become a citizen~~)) and whether he or she has been required to register with the state or federal government and ((~~any~~)) has an identification or registration number((~~, if applicable~~)). The applicant shall not be required to produce a birth certificate or other evidence of citizenship. ((~~An applicant who is not a citizen shall provide documentation showing resident alien status and the applicant's intent to become a citizen.~~)) A person who makes a false statement regarding citizenship on the application is guilty of a misdemeanor. A person who is not a citizen of the United States((~~, or has not declared his or her intention to become a citizen~~)) shall meet the additional requirements of RCW 9.41.170.

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 said license.

(6) The fee for the original issuance of a four‑year license shall be twenty‑three dollars: PROVIDED, That no other additional charges by any branch or unit of government shall be borne by the applicant for the issuance of the license: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the fee shall be distributed as follows:

(a) Four 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;

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

(7) The fee for the renewal of such license shall be fifteen dollars: PROVIDED, That no other additional charges by any branch or unit of government shall be borne by the applicant for the renewal of the license: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the fee shall be distributed as follows:

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

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

(8) 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 (7) 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) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections (1) through (9) 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) 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. A civil suit may be brought to enjoin a wrongful refusal to issue a license or a wrongful modification of the requirements of this section or chapter. The civil suit may be brought in the county in which the application was made or in Thurston county at the discretion of the petitioner. Any person who prevails against a public agency in any action in the courts for a violation of this chapter shall be awarded costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred in connection with such legal action."