OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Jay Inslee signed a new law Wednesday that requires gun criminals to register when they get out of jail, just like sex offenders must do.
The law was sponsored by Rep. Mike Hope, a Republican from Lake Stevens and a Seattle police officer.
“When (you) reduce the probability of carrying that firearm, you've reduced the probability of them becoming violent," Hope said.
There is however, a big difference with the sex offender legislation. The sex offender registry is open to public view; the firearms offender registry will not be.
“That did come up in the legislature,” Hope said. “But I think that would have also created some opposition to the bill.”
KIRO