Rep. Peter Abbarno defends rights of law-abiding gun owners to protect themselves from criminals
Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, stood on the House floor to defend the rights of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves from criminals. He urged the House to vote against Senate Bill 5444, a measure that would bar law-abiding citizens from exercising their right to carry a weapon in certain public areas.
The bill passed the House 58-36.
Transcript:
Madam Speaker, about a week ago last year we stood on this House floor and I stood on this House floor and this body passed House Bill 1268, which reduced sentences for those who commit gun related crimes in protected zones like schools. And a year later, now, I’m standing before you, Madam Speaker, and I’m speaking out against a policy that would restrict law-abiding gun owners from carrying firearms to protect themselves.
There is often in the media some dangerous rhetoric about our children and fearing a law-abiding citizen from exercising their Second Amendment right to carry a firearm. But I think there’s a tale of two Washingtons. There’s the Washington where folks may be afraid of law-abiding citizens carrying guns to protect themselves and their families, their businesses, and their homes.
And then there’s the other Washington, where there’s a history and tradition of responsible firearm use, where it’s part of life. It’s carrying your gun. It’s protecting yourself. It’s being responsible with it. There are places in Washington and in my district where if something were to happen and a criminal were committing a crime with a gun, and you call the sheriff’s office or Washington state patrol, it may be 30, 45 minutes before there’s response.
Carrying a firearm is not default scary. It’s not default a crime. The person doing so is not default a criminal. The vast majority of people who carry guns to protect themselves are law-abiding citizens, and maybe they’re doing so because of so many policies that are making Washington less safe. So, I’m asking you, Madam Speaker, to join me in voting ‘no’ on this bill and voting ‘yes’ to support those law-abiding firearm owners who carry guns to protect themselves and their families in a time where maybe they feel unsafe.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
