Liberals have WA gun owners in their sights — again. Let’s mount a counterattack | Opinion

Gun rights under attack

It appears that the 2024 Legislative Session has Washington’s gun owners in its sites.

Here are some of the bills before the House this session:

HB 1902 would require gun owners to take firearms safety courses and live shooting classes from the police.

HB 2118 and 2054 would put additional restrictions on firearms dealers who are already strictly monitored.

HB 1903 would make gun owners responsible if their gun is stolen. The owner would be subject to a $1000 fine. Why punish the legal gun owner? Let’s punish the criminal who stole the gun. What a concept.

HB 2238 would add an 11% sales tax for the “privilege” of buying ammunition for your gun. This is biased and discriminatory.

Lastly, a recently proposed bill would require gun owners to purchase liability insurance. It would be another discriminatory law against legal gun owners.

I wonder if the people in the Legislature realize that criminals do not obey the laws. We, legal owners, are not the ones shooting people on the freeway or shooting people in drivebys — or shooting up cannabis stores.

Contact your representative and tell them to protect our legal gun rights.

Karen Pischel, Tacoma

Liberals run amok

Six Initiative petitions have been delivered to the state Legislature, under the people’s right to propose laws independent of the legislature.

Over 2.6 million signatures were collected. They’ve expressed the people’s desire to restore law and order, recognize the primary role of parents and reduce the ever-increasing and oppressive tax burden.

The state Constitution says that initiatives, “shall take precedence over all other measures except appropriation bills.”

Democrats in this legislature have shown no desire to consider any of the six initiatives or bring them to a vote.

Doesn’t that seem like anti-government to you?

Crime has skyrocketed as legislation from Olympia has encouraged theft by reducing or eliminating penalties. We have watched Seattle burn, thieves steal with immunity — and we let people die on our streets from drug addiction, bragging about how compassionate we are by giving the addicts safe places to die.

Doesn’t that seem more than a little extreme?

The rule of law is ignored. This is only partisan because the leadership is refusing to let the people’s initiatives be heard.

They have time to discuss restricting our access to natural gas, but not to protect our lives and property.

Steve McCoy, Lake Tapps

Ultraconservatives run amok

Brian Heywood has spent $7.5 million in an attempt to rescind six laws passed by the legislature in previous years. He is using the initiative process to reverse these laws and promote ultraconservative beliefs.

These initiatives will be on your ballot in November and all have catchy “sounds good” titles. In reality, they represent an extreme wish list of laws that could not get passed through the normal legislative process.

Washington extremists have seen their power dwindle. Ballot measures are one of the last potential places for people like Brian Heywood or Tim Eyman to exercise power.

I urge you to vote against all six of these ballot measures.

Madeline Bishop, Olympia

Troyer’s legal tab

After reading The News Tribune’s article about the cost to defend Sheriff Ed Troyer in his lawsuit with the racially profiled newspaper delivery person, I’m even more flabbergasted that he is still in office.

Troyer doesn’t seem like he accepts any blame for his clear case of wrongdoing.

I am eagerly looking forward to the next election — where someone with a little more integrity can replace this poor excuse of a sheriff.

Kim Knox, Tacoma