Recent arrests in Washington state, and elsewhere, of felons with guns should provide a valuable lesson to Evergreen State Democrats in the Legislature, because these incidents underscore what Second Amendment activists contend is the abject failure of their gun control agenda.
The challenge to firearms owners is to get anti-gun Democrats to listen, which so far, they have been unable to accomplish. Activists suggest it’s not because Democrats are deaf or cannot read, they simply don’t want to be bothered by facts.
Earlier this year, when Democrats in lockstep pushed through House Bill 1163, the measure which mandates training and a permit-to-purchase from the State Patrol before a Washington resident can legally purchase a firearm, gun rights activists and every Republican lawmaker opposed the bill. But Democrats passed the bill, anyway, making it effective on May 1, 2027.
The bill’s original sponsors were identified earlier this year by TheGunMag.com, a publication owned by the Second Amendment Foundation. They are:
Liz Berry, April Berg, Lisa Callan, Julio Cortes, Lauren Davis, Beth Doglio, Davina Duerr, Darya Farivar, Jake Fey, Joe Fitzgibbon, Mary Fosse, Roger Goodman, Mia Gregerson, Nicole Macri, Sharlett Mena, Edwin Obras, Lisa Parshley, Strom Peterson, Gerry Pollet, Alex Ramel, Julia Reed, Cindy Ryu, Osman Salahuddin, Jamila Taylor, Tarra Simmons, Chipalo Street, Steve Tharinger, Amy Walen, and Sharon Wylie.
Their bill “Requires proof of completion of required firearms safety training in order to obtain a permit to purchase firearms or a concealed pistol license, updates training program components, and requires certification of training programs.”
But KIRO News, the Seattle-based CBS affiliate, has published two reports, one from Seattle and the other from the city of Sequim, on the Olympic Peninsula, which put the lie to any argument supporting the legislation these lawmakers and their Democrat colleagues, along with Democrat Gov. Bob Ferguson, adopted on the belief the permit-to-purchase and other requirements will keep guns out of the wrong hands.
Seattle police arrested a convicted felon in possession of a handgun reported stolen nearly eight years ago in Louisiana, KIRO reported. According to the Seattle Police Blotter, “The suspect, a multi-convicted felon and registered sex offender, is prohibited from having guns.” It is safe to conclude his possession of that pistol did not involve a background check or waiting period, and he did not have a state concealed pistol license.
The Police Blotter report also noted, “The man is also wanted by Seattle police detectives for an additional felony that is currently under investigation. Additional charges may be added for failure to register as a sex offender.”
The second KIRO report revealed the Nov. 1 arrest of a man who allegedly pulled a handgun on his “soon-to-be ex-wife” during an argument. Police spotted the suspect a short time later, pulled him over and recovered not only the pistol, but also “several magazines, a bag of ammunition, drugs, and other weapons,” KIRO reported.
Washington Democrats are apparently dismissive of such reports, or at least the lesson they provide: Criminals do not obey gun control laws.
It is not a problem confined to the Evergreen State, as Ammoland News was easily able to confirm by checking for similar stories elsewhere around the country.
- For example, WREG News in Tennessee offered a report of a convicted felon arrested in Memphis while he was in possession of drugs and “multiple guns.” The suspect was identified as Brandon Adams, who was scheduled for a court appearance Nov. 5.
- Also in Tennessee, WSMV News reported the arrest of another convicted felon, identified as Charles Winans, who allegedly was in possession of 17 stolen firearms when Sumner County Sheriff’s deputies showed up at the door.
- Last month in San Jose, Calif., lawmen arrested a convicted felon with what KRON News described as a “violent history.” This fellow reportedly was in possession of “various illegal narcotics and one loaded unregistered firearm.” California has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country, and this arrest weakens any argument that those laws work.
- Back in September, police in Newport, Oregon bagged another convicted felon, identified as Michael Knight, who was wanted on an open warrant. He reportedly faces charges for drugs, firearms, attempted kidnapping and more, according to KVAL News. According to the report, “After getting a warrant to search the vehicle, police found a 9mm handgun hidden under the driver’s seat. The gun had a loaded 30-round magazine and modifications to operate like a machine gun. They also found four more magazines – two of which were extended capacity – as well as five grams of cocaine, more 9mm ammunition, a ski mask, a wig, and a large crowbar.”
Ironically, the Oregon State Supreme Court was scheduled to hear arguments Thursday in the challenge of Measure 114, that state’s controversial gun control measure which also mandates a permit-to-purchase. It is not known when the Oregon high court will hand down a ruling.
None of these cases involved people who underwent background checks, waiting periods, firearms safety training or obtained a permit to purchase.
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About Dave Workman
Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.
As it as been known for a long time gun control laws only effect the law abiding.
Gun control laws are about control, period.
The intent of the Progressive New Left, the driving force of the once-democratic party is not to disarm felons and the mentally ill. Their intent is to disarm any potential opposition to their color revolution. That,. my friends is you and me. Gun owners and evangelical christians are top of the list for elimination once they have total power.
So stay home, don’t vote, don’t organize through 2A defense organizations and see how it works out for you. Virginia is about to get a lesson in real civics, Bolshevik style. Washington state is suffering that fate now.
If we only had some sort of law that would make it illegal for felons to own guns,,,/sarc off
Most Iaw-makers are cIoset feIons themseIves, so….. Why wouId they want to hinder feIIow criminaIs?
Mr.Workman, While I appreciate all your writing and efforts in Ammoland, I wish to point out that the sort of anecdotal listing of arrests of ‘felons with guns’ really doesn’t advance the argument that onerous gun laws are useless. You are, of course, correct in saying they are useless and for the very reason that “felons” don’t obey laws. But the anti’s could as easily submit a list of non-felons who bought guns legally and perhaps even passed all the ‘tests’ and still misused guns in moments of rage and stupidity. Not even psychological assessments of prospective gun buyers will… Read more »
“They also found four more magazines – two of which were extended capacity – as well as five grams of cocaine, more 9mm ammunition, a ski mask, a wig, and a large crowbar.”
Did he wear the wig over the ski mask or under it??? 😉