From their Facebook Page:
FROM: Jonathan L. Meyer, Prosecuting Attorney
Robert Snaza, Lewis County Undersheriff
RE: I-594
The broad language and vague definitions of I-594 have given rise to many questions and concerns.
Sheriff-Elect Rob Snaza said “The passage of I-594 has had a significant impact on firearms transfers among law abiding citizens, requiring the majority of personal transfers to be conducted through a licensed firearms dealer. This initiative modified existing law under Revised Code of Washington. The enforcement strategy of our office will be to thoroughly investigate those cases reported to us, and file these cases with the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office when appropriate. As I have previously advised, I am a strong proponent of the second amendment and each of these cases will be considered in regards to the spirit and letter of the law.”
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said “The Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney’ Office will not make criminals out of the hardworking citizens of Lewis County. Where I-594 attempts to criminalize every-day activities, I, in the exercise of my prosecutorial discretion, will not charge individuals with these types of violations. At the same time, make no mistake I will hold accountable those who, in violation of this initiative, knowingly put guns in the hands of criminals.
Same as in Colorado and Connecticut, bad laws designed to screw Law Abiding Citizens are being ignored. I have been hearing that the idiocy known as I-594 will be taken to court and challenged with a decent probability of overturning enough of it as to kill it altogether. And as it much of an unnecessary restriction on gun rights for the citizens of Washington State, I-594 is turning out to be a decent lot of ammunition to counter Bloomberg’s next attempt in Nevada and other states. It should not have come to this, but we are mature enough to know we cannot win them all and that if life gives you lemons, you should go ahead and prepare some delicious pork chops on a lemon and brown sugar glaze with steamed taters.
And we keep on fighting.
[…] Saying the law is too vague to enforce. […]
Unenforceable or not, it needs to be off the books.
Whether that happens by court decision overturning it, or by outright repeal (by the legislature or by voter referendum), I don’t much care. As long as it’s gone.
Just because this Sheriff-elect won’t make criminals out of hardworking, otherwise-law-abiding citizens, doesn’t mean the next one will have any such scruples.
On that note, “the spirit and the letter” of the law, in some minds, say two different things. That, by definition, makes it a bad law; writing a document with a clear purpose and intent is – let’s face it – not that hard. Personally, I think the spirit matches the letter entirely; the people who drafted the monstrosity fully intended to criminalize normal gun-owner behavior.
It’s a mistake to give them the benefit of the doubt. But that’s just me.
2A groups need to keep track of the effects of I594 and use concrete examples of its idiocy to fight the next referendum in NV or wherever they next try it.
Things like making Coast Guard Required flare launchers essentially illegal. Powder activated tools illegal to buy and share without a background check. Publicize the arrests of any law-abiding citizen caught in one of the many traps written into I594.
And make commercials that kick people in the guts. None of this namby-pamby feel good stuff. Go over the top, just like the gun-banners. Show two or three hunters being thrown down and cuffed by a SWAT Team because they shared a shotgun in a field. A mother being cuffed and led off in tears for teaching her daughter and her friends how to handle and shoot a gun. A work crew being rounded up for sharing a powder activated tool while working in a mall, because a GECKO45 type was watching them.
“YOU Could Be Next!”
W/ that name, GFZ, thought y’all were lib-tard, pukes. You threw-out Gifford finally. Kudos! We only have most of the rest of the Congress of Cowards to replace (!!) They funded Amnesty, I hear, & another dog pile of prez. Ovomit-Care. Republicrats are traitors, pure & simple, and -many- have been elected. The media east of the Evergreen State sure hid the protests. We’ll be watchin’ y’all from here in -free- Texas. Glad I left the PNW finally, but we-all wish you victory over elected, thieves, tyrants, traitors,….and Jihadies.
Cavhorse