Monday, February 18, 2013

State considers law requiring police to inspect homes of gun owners...

One of the major gun-control efforts in Olympia this session calls for the sheriff to inspect the homes of assault-weapon owners. The bill’s backers say that was a mistake. - Danny Westneat/Seattle Times

Forget police drones flying over your house. How about police coming inside, once a year, to have a look around?

As Orwellian as that sounds, it isn’t hypothetical. The notion of police home inspections was introduced in a bill last week in Olympia....

I spoke to two of the sponsors. One, Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, a lawyer who typically is hyper-attuned to civil-liberties issues, said he did not know the bill authorized police searches because he had not read it closely before signing on.

“I made a mistake,” Kline said. “I frankly should have vetted this more closely.”

That lawmakers sponsor bills they haven’t read is common. Still, it’s disappointing on one of this political magnitude. Not counting a long table, it’s only an eight-page bill.

Sheriffs can inspect homes for safe gun storage in Washington state under Democratic weapon bill - Cheryl K. Chumley/The Washington Times

Chicago Police Chief: 2nd Amendment Danger to Public Safety... - Red State

'Homeland Security' Advances Plan For 'Public Safety' Drones... - Infowars