OLYMPIA, Wash.- A bill which would require gun owners to notify the police of stolen firearms within 24 hours of the theft has passed the State House and awaits placement on the Senate floor calendar.
HB 1903 would penalize owners who fail to report stolen guns with up to a $1,000 civil infraction fine. It would require law enforcement to register stolen firearm reports with the FBI’s National Crime Information Center, which is used by police to pursue suspects and locate stolen items.
It was not supported by any House Republicans and received a single no vote from a Democrat, Representative Mike Chapman. It is supported by several anti-gun violence groups and the King County Public Health department.
The policy is currently awaiting reading before the Senate Rules Committee. If it is passed by the Senate and signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee (D), it would take effect by mid-2024.
