Good on ya, ladies and gentlemen

I was not able to attend the hearing on SB-6396 yesterday.

Hell, because of my lack of free time to read the news/blogs/etc. I didn’t even hear of it until Monday.

It sounds as though it went well though for those who did partake in the sausage making.

Senate security officers estimated 200 people were on hand, perhaps half of them forced into an overflow room when the hearing chambers filled to capacity.

Kline noted that a Seattle police officer, Timothy Brenton, was slain last year by someone using an assault-style gun (with more than 10 rounds in a clip, according to his bill’s definition), and he suggested the availability of such guns is setting off “an arms race” between law abiding citizens and criminals. His bill would do at the state level what a federal moratorium enacted in 1994 by Congress did federally until it expired in 2004.

Dr. Deborah Sullivan, the mother of 18-year-old Aaron Sullivan, told the committee she thinks lawmakers should take steps to protect youths and keep such weapons out of the hands of impulsive young people. Government regulates tobacco and alcohol use by young people and also driving, so why not bar this, she asked.

On the other side was Judy; joining him were other Second Amendment supporters including Ed Owens, a lobbyist for hunters. Judy said the bill is flawed and creates confusion over what an assault weapon is — much as he said California did with legislation 20 years ago that, he said, ultimately led to more weapons in circulation.

“This bill is unconstitutional. It is arbitrary. It will not reduce crime,” Judy said.

Critics were decorous for the time I watched the hearing, and Kline took pains to say he visited a firing range with Republican Sen. Pam Roach last year and observed a lot of very responsible actions by those who handle firearms.

Outside, four Chehalis residents who drove up together were signing in to register their positions but with little hope of getting inside to speak.

“I do think it is a bad idea,” said Roger Jones, a gun owner who said he does not own an assault rifle but keeps weapons to hunt and also to protect himself — against his government, if needed.

“Why is our government so scared of us having guns?” Jones asked. “We should be able to protect ourselves against all comers.’’

Jennifer Duncan described herself as a former Army colonel and said she has guns that fire more than 10 rounds, but doesn’t consider them “assault weapons,” as defined by Kline.

If this does actually live through this committee, I hope to be able to join my fellow law abiding firearms owners on the next go around.