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Bill 3359 "Concerning Pistol Ammunition"
Legislation Introduced: February 07, 2008

Sponsors:
Rep. Al O’Brien (D) (1st District, Parts of King, Snohomish Counties) (primary)
Rep. Brendan Williams (D) (22nd District, Thurston County) (secondary)
Rep. Dennis Flannigan (D) (27th District, Portions of Tacoma, Fife) (secondary)
Rep. Jaime Pederson (D) (43rd District, Portions of Seattle) (secondary)

 

Link to legislation – Bill 3359

 

Voice your opinion of this legislation on the Emerald City Armory Forums.

 

This piece of legislation (like the dozens of similar ones that are being pushed through in other states) requires that all handgun ammunition manufactured, sold, offered, transferred, imported within the state of Washington be coded with a serial number by 2010.

The bill requires that the serial number be etched into the bullet (projectile) as well as the casing. Then, this serial number needs to printed on the box of ammunition.  All 3 instances of the serial number must match.

 

When a person purchases or transfers the ammunition, their personal information will be recorded (name, address, date of birth, drivers license info, etc) along with the serial number(s) of the ammunition. Then, this information will be sent to the Washington Department of Licensing for registration.

 

An in depth look at Bill 3359

 

It just so happens that the big proponent of this bill is *not* a victim of a crime that would have benefitted if this law was enacted, nor a member of law enforcement who believes this law will take offenders off the street. It is, in fact, a Bellevue based company, Ammunition Coding System (ACS) who has a patent on the technology to laser engrave bullets. They are pushing this legislation because they would see huge licensing revenues by passing this law.

 

Without claiming responsibility, ACS has put up their version of an ‘objective’ website, http://ammunitionaccountability.org/default.asp, in order to plead their case for encoding ammunition. It’s a one sided argument for forcing the usage of their technology.

 

Considering the only way to make money manufacturing ammunition is by efficiently producing rounds in bulk, this law would mean that most small specialty ammunition manufacturers would be forced  out of business. The devices alone to engrave the bullets costs $500,000, plus the costs of a new inefficient methodology of assembling ammunition that matches each casing, bullet, and box serial number would mean astronomical increases in the cost of manufacturing.

 

PLUS, ACS is expecting to charge a royalty for every bullet etched!!

 

The effects of this law.

-Ammunition Prices will Skyrocket
Technology to etch serial numbers into casings and bullets are prohibitively expensive. Don’t believe it when companies like ACS say the cost to manufacturers is ‘not significant’.

 

-Specialty Ammunition Manufacturers will be forced out of business
Smaller manufacturers who produce less quantities will still be forced to purchase the equipment (again, @ 500k) to etch ammo. That cost is simply too high.

 

-Registration of law abiding citizens
Everytime you buy, sell, transfer, or reload handgun ammunition, your personal information is sent to the department of licensing.

 

-Criminals will be given the advantage with cheaper ammunition
This law will create a huge black market for unregistered ammunition that the criminals will be using. Again, only law abiding citizens are hurt by this legislation. Not criminals.

 

Current Status of this law:           

2008 Session: Did not make it onto the floor for a vote (died in committee)
2009 Session: Has not been reintroduced in 2009 session

 

 

 

Links of interest:
Voice your opinion of this legislation on the Emerald City Armory Forums.

 

Russ Ford of ACS gets ripped apart by the NRA – GREAT VIDEO ***MUST WATCH***
Russ gets embarrassed as his plan for profiteering disguised as public safety gets exposed.

 

Seattle Weekly article on the ACS