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New law means gun offenders have to register with sheriff's offices

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.”