Last night, House Bill 1504 was scheduled for a hearing in the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee for Wednesday, February 5th. HB 1504 requires gun owners to prove they are "financially responsible" to own firearms by maintaining liability insurance or face civil penalties. This misguided legislation amounts to an ongoing tax to exercise your inherent right to self-defense.
Please consider submitting testimony in opposition of this bill and register your position as "Con" through the House Committee website. Additionally, please contact members of the Committee by using the TAKE ACTION button below.
HB 1504 requires individuals to prove they are "financially responsible" by obtaining and maintaining liability insurance or a bond before purchasing or possessing a firearm. The legislation lays out the coverage amounts, requiring at least $25,000 in coverage per incident of “accidental discharge causing death, injury or property damage,” and gun ranges to carry $1 million of general liability insurance. Individuals can "self-insure" but must carry $25,000 in coverage for each firearm, excluding ordinary citizens and limiting this basic constitutional right to only the wealthiest Washingtonians. Failure to comply with this mandate amounts to a Class 1 civil infraction and monetary fines.
The glaring gap of this legislation is the fact that criminals will not comply with the mandate, nor could their illegal acts ever be covered under any insurance policy.
Please stay tuned to the NRA-ILA website and your inbox for further updates as this legislative session progresses.