Washington Democrats Suspend Rules to Advance Gun Control Bills

February 25, 2026
6:00 pm

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Washington Democrats just pulled a classic power play, suspending their own legislative rules to ram through a package of gun control bills well after the session deadline had slammed shut. We're talking about jacking up firearm background check fees—because nothing says public safety like turning a routine NICS check into a punitive tax on law-abiding gun owners. This isn't some sleepy procedural hiccup; it's a blatant end-run around the democratic process, spotlighted by outlets like the Seattle Times, where Dems admitted they suspended the rules to bypass the usual timelines and debates. In a state already choking under assault weapon bans, 10-day waiting periods, and mag limits, this move reeks of the incrementalism that's eroded Second Amendment rights one common-sense fee at a time. Dig deeper, and the implications for the 2A community are crystal clear: this is financial warfare disguised as reform. By hiking background check fees—potentially doubling or more from the current $10-18 range—these bills target everyone from first-time buyers to frequent FFL patrons, padding state coffers while pricing out working-class folks who just want to exercise their rights. It's the same playbook California and New York have run, where universal checks morphed into revenue streams that fund more anti-gun activism. Context matters here—Washington's Dem supermajority (58-40 House, 29-20 Senate) has been on a tear since 2019, passing I-1639's red-flag expansions and HB 1240's ghost gun crackdowns. Suspending rules post-deadline? That's not governance; it's a middle finger to minority Republicans and the voters who rejected even tighter controls in past initiatives. For gun owners, the call to action is now: flood your legislators, support recalls like the one brewing against AG Bob Ferguson, and back national lawsuits from groups like the Second Amendment Foundation, which has a track record of torching WA's overreach in federal courts. This fee hike isn't just bureaucracy—it's a stealth assault on accessibility, proving once again that when the left controls the levers, deadlines are optional and your rights are optional too. Stay vigilant, arm up legally, and vote like your freedoms depend on it—because they do.

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Dig deeper, and the implications for the 2A community are crystal clear: this is financial warfare disguised as reform. By hiking background check fees—potentially doubling or more from the current $10-18 range—these bills target everyone from first-time buyers to frequent FFL patrons, padding state coffers while pricing out working-class folks who just want to exercise their rights. It’s the same playbook California and New York have run, where universal checks morphed into revenue streams that fund more anti-gun activism. Context matters here—Washington’s Dem supermajority (58-40 House, 29-20 Senate) has been on a tear since 2019, passing I-1639’s red-flag expansions and HB 1240’s ghost gun crackdowns. Suspending rules post-deadline? That’s not governance; it’s a middle finger to minority Republicans and the voters who rejected even tighter controls in past initiatives.

For gun owners, the call to action is now: flood your legislators, support recalls like the one brewing against AG Bob Ferguson, and back national lawsuits from groups like the Second Amendment Foundation, which has a track record of torching WA’s overreach in federal courts. This fee hike isn’t just bureaucracy—it’s a stealth assault on accessibility, proving once again that when the left controls the levers, deadlines are optional and your rights are optional too. Stay vigilant, arm up legally, and vote like your freedoms depend on it—because they do.

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