ALL HANDS-CALL/EMAIL SEN ANDY BILLIG TODAY

DEMAND HOLD, NO CONCURRENCE VOTE

 ESSB 5038 banning open carry during protests and on the Capitol grounds is back in the Senate—the last step before becoming law

This bill will be used to target any 2A advocate—AND STRIP YOUR RIGHTS

HELP FIGHT THIS NOW

FLOOD HIS VOICEMAIL/EMAIL AND STOP THIS NONSENSE!

Late Sunday night, after 5 hours of debate, the House passed ESSB 5038, completely along party lines. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence—WHICH WE MUST STOP FROM HAPPENING. 

We NEED ALL HANDS to CALL Andy Billig, the Senate majority leader, and strongly urge him to “hold” the bill back and prevent a concurrence vote.

DO IT BECAUSE THEY’RE GOING TO BAN CONCEAL CARRY NEXT

It doesn’t matter whether you open carry or not. Do it because it is another right they’re taking away-yours will be next in a coming session.

STEP 1: Call his legislative office at 360-786-7604. 

 “Hello, my name is Joe Schmoe.  I would like to strongly urge Senator Billig to hold Engrossed Substitute Bill 5038 and prevent a concurrence vote.” If you’re in his district (3^rd), let the aide know and give your address. 

Be firm, but courteous. An aide is taking your call and all they can do is pass on the message. 

STEP 2: Email him at andy.billig@leg.wa.gov

Subject: (Use your own so they don’t mass-delete based on same subject line)

My name is Joe Schmoe. I strongly urge you to hold Engrossed Substitute Bill 5038 and prevent a concurrence vote. 

Again, if you’re in Sen Billig’s district, mention it and provide your address-they cannot just delete your email if you live in their district.

You can add talking points if you’d like, but it is more important to flood his mailbox.

TALKING POINTS (copy or add your own)

This bill is directly based on a racist Alabama law that was specifically designed to disarm blacks—a population that the ruling class was afraid of at the time. 

1. The emergency clause request was misrepresented. House Majority Leader Drew Hansen said he was told that Washington State Patrol requested the emergency clause in amendment 467. Representative JT Wilcox said that his staff confirmed that WSP did not request the emergency clause.
2. The bill still prohibits employees from open carrying inside their place of business, because they don’t specifically own or lease the property
3. Prohibited weapons don’t even include those used in riots this last year: frozen water bottles, glass bottles, and fireworks. 
4. People living in or near a protest like CHAZ/CHOP would be legally prohibited from entering or leaving their home if they wish to protect their families by carrying a firearm
5. Threatening someone with a firearm or hurting someone with a firearm is already illegal, this bill therefore only criminalizes the mere peaceful presence of a firearm, meaning it is just a tool to suppress speech.
6. This bill makes private property public by allowing for a private business’s front area and parking lot to be considered a “public place” that protesters can occupy and prevent lawful carry at.
7. The intent is clearly to suppress the speech of those the bill sponsors disagree with: firearm owners, while empowering the speech of violent individuals who use fireworks, frozen water bottles, glass bottles, etc. as weapons like during the 2020-21 Washington riots 
8. King Soopers was and is a place that prohibits open carry, this did not stop, prevent, or hinder in any way an evil person from using a firearm to kill others despite being a violation of their open carry policy. This demonstrates open carry bans DO NOT stop evil people, if anything they are encouraged by them being soft targets.
9. The 9th circuit ruling about open carry used the logic that Hawaii has historically banned open carry, therefore it can continue to ban open carry. By that same logic since Washington has historically allowed open carry, they cannot ban open carry. Further other circuits have ruled in favor of carry and there is currently a case (NYSRPA v Corlett) before the Supreme Court regarding carrying a firearm outside the home, the legislature should not ban what the supreme court likely will rule cannot be banned.

Feel free to add your own points as well

Read the bill: http://bit.ly/ESSB5038Bill

For more, visit https://bit.ly/WCRAOpenCarryPoints–scroll down to the section on SSB 5038 for a summary of the bill and the latest talking points. 

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Your voice absolutely matters. We only win if you take action!

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Let’s push back HARD and LOUD! 

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