WTF?

Why is it that politicians feel it is necessary to mess with something that ain't broke? They are intelligent people individually, so why do their collective IQ's rival that of a Banana Slug?

I am, of course, talking about Washington State Senate Bill 5475. This may just be one of the worst written bills I have ever had the displeasure of reviewing. If this bill makes it into the law books.. Oh My Gawd.

(18) "Assault weapon" means:
(a) Any semiautomatic pistol or semiautomatic or pump-action rifle or shotgun that is capable of accepting a detachable magazine, with a capacity to accept more then ten rounds of ammunition and that also possesses any of the following:
(i) If the firearm is a rifle or shotgun, a pistol grip located rear of the trigger;
(ii) If the firearm is a rifle or shotgun, a stock in any configuration, including but not limited to a thumbhole stock, a folding stock or a telescoping stock, that allows the bearer of the firearm to grasp the firearm with the trigger hand such that the web of the trigger hand, between the thumb and forefinger, can be placed below the top of the external portion of the trigger during firing;
(iii) If the firearm is a pistol, a shoulder stock of any type or configuration, including but not limited to a folding stock or a telescoping stock;
(iv) A barrel shroud;
(v) A muzzle brake or muzzle compensator;
(vi) Any feature capable of functioning as a protruding grip that can be held by the hand that is not the trigger hand;
(b) Any pistol that is capable of accepting a detachable magazine at any location outside of the pistol grip;
(c) Any semiautomatic pistol, any semiautomatic, center-fire rifle, or any shotgun with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than ten rounds of ammunition;
(d) Any shotgun capable of accepting a detachable magazine;
(e) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder;
(f) Any conversion kit or other combination of parts from which an assault weapon can be assembled if the parts are in the possession or under the control of any person.
(19) "Detachable magazine" means a magazine, the function of which is to deliver one or more ammunition cartridges into the firing chamber, which can be removed from the firearm without the use of any tool, including a bullet or ammunition cartridge.
(20) "Barrel shroud" means a covering, other than a slide, that is attached to, or that substantially or completely encircles, the barrel of a firearm and that allows the bearer of the firearm to hold the barrel with the nonshooting hand while firing the firearm, without burning that hand, except that the term does not include an extension of the stock along the bottom of the barrel that does not substantially or completely encircle the barrel.

(21) "Muzzle brake" means a device attached to the muzzle of a weapon that utilizes escaping gas to reduce recoil.
(22) "Muzzle compensator" means a device attached to the muzzle of a weapon that utilizes escaping gas to control muzzle movement.
(23) "Conversion kit" means any part or combination of parts designed and intended for use in converting a firearm into an assault weapon.

NEW SECTION.
Sec. 2 A new section is added to chapter 9.41 RCW to read as follows:
(1) No person in this state shall manufacture, possess, purchase, sell, or otherwise transfer any assault weapon, or any assault weapon conversion kit, except as authorized by subsection (3) of this section. Any assault weapon or assault weapon conversion kit the manufacture, possession, purchase, sale, or other transfer of which is prohibited under this section is a public nuisance.
(2) No person in this state shall possess or have under his or her control at one time both of the following:
(a) A semiautomatic or pump-action rifle, semiautomatic pistol, or shotgun capable of accepting a detachable magazine; and

(b) Any magazine capable of use with that firearm that contains more than ten rounds of ammunition.
(3) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any of the following:
(a) The possession of an unloaded assault weapon for the purpose of permanently relinquishing it to a law enforcement agency in this state. Any assault weapon relinquished pursuant to this subsection shall be destroyed;
(b) The transfer of any assault weapon by a licensed manufacturer or dealer to a law enforcement agency in this state for use by that agency or its employees for law enforcement purposes;
(c) The possession of an assault weapon that was legally possessed on the effective date of this section, but only if the person legally possessing the assault weapon has complied with all of the requirements of subsection (5) of this section;
(d) The possession of an assault weapon that has been permanently disabled so that it is incapable of discharging a projectile.
(4) Subsection (2) of this section shall not apply to any person:
(a) While lawfully engaged in shooting at a duly licensed, lawfully operated shooting range;
(b) While lawfully participating in a sporting event officially sanctioned by a club or organization established in whole or in part for the purpose of sponsoring sport shooting events.
(5) In order to continue to possess an assault weapon that was legally possessed on the effective date of this section, the person possessing the assault weapon shall do all of the following:
(a) Within ninety days following the effective date of this section, submit to a background check identical to the background check conducted in connection with the purchase of a firearm from a licensed gun dealer;
(b) Unless the person is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, immediately register the assault weapon with the sheriff of the county in which the weapon is usually stored;
(c) Safely and securely store the assault weapon. The sheriff of the county may, no more than once per year, conduct an inspection to ensure compliance with this subsection;
(d) Annually renew both the registration and the background check;
(e) Possess the assault weapon only on property owned or immediately controlled by the person, or while engaged in the legal use of the assault weapon at a duly licensed firing range, or while traveling to or from either of these locations for the purpose of engaging in the legal use of the assault weapon, provided that the assault weapon is stored unloaded and in a separate locked container during transport.
(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, any person in this state who, after the effective date of this section, acquires title to an assault weapon by inheritance, bequest, or succession, shall, within thirty days of acquiring title, do one of the following:
(a) Comply with all of the requirements of subsection (5) of this section;
(b) Dispose of the assault weapon pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section; or
(c) Permanently disable the assault weapon so that it is incapable of discharging a projectile.
(7) The sheriff of a county may charge a fee for each registration and for each registration renewal pursuant to subsection (5) of this section. However, such fee may not exceed the costs incurred in administering the registration program established under subsection (5) of this section.
(8)(a) Any person convicted of violating subsection (1) or (2) of this section is guilty of a class C felony.

By the way, this has ALREADY been read in the judiciary committee. They lovesys this anti-gun, fear inspiring piece of shit! And we all know how our new Communist Governor will react if this gets to her desk..

This may be the single most Socialist piece of Legislative CRAP I have ever seen. Mark my words, if this does not die on the floor, it will be the beginning of the end.

Looks like it may be just about time to move. That's too damn bad, we REALLY liked it here. I wonder if any Fire Departments in Texas are hiring?