(Images courtesy of KOMO 4 News)
Court records on involuntary mental health commitments would be available to the Washington State Patrol for gun background checks under a measure before state lawmakers.
Right now, the WSP is limited to what’s in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or “NICS”, so Patrol Captain Neil Weaver says they don’t have access to check into the court records to make sure they have the right person and the proper information. “This creates a situation where, A the person is wrongfully denied a firearms transfer or concealed pistol license, CPL,” Weaver says, “or B, the NICS indices record is removed, and a firearm transfer or CPL is issued to someone who is truly prohibited.”
The only person testifying against House Bill 1599 was Laurie Lane of Buckley, who says the State Patrol already has access to NICS, and that system should be strengthened. Lane tells the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee, “Adding another one of these…that bothers me. It seems to me way too much when we already have one 10-day background check as is.”
Lawmakers are also considering House Bill 1600, which would allow access to sealed juvenile records to look for crimes that would disqualify someone from buying a gun.
