State lawmaker proposes special NRA license plates
SEATTLE -- It's well documented that Washington is strapped for cash, and a state lawmaker says he has a plan to bring in some extra money by selling a National Rifle Association license plate.
Rep. Dean Takko, D-Longview, said he came up with the idea after he noticed the abundance of special license plates around the state.
"Well, first of all, I'm an NRA member and I am a very active hunter, and I want to have safe people out in the woods," Takko said.
He hasn't worked out all the details quite yet, but Takko has some ideas for the plates.
"I'm not sure what it would look like. A single rifle or the NRA logo. But the money would go to hunting safety," he said.
You might expect support from groups like the Second Amendment Foundation, but that's not necessarily the case.
"Well, I'm an NRA life member and I don't feel very good about it," said the foundation's Alan Gottlieb. "We think it should be a Second Amendment plate honoring the Second Amendment part of the Bill of Rights, not singling out any one particular group. We have a lot of groups in the State of Washington who support gun rights"
Support for the plates was stronger at a local gun shop.
"I would totally be a fan of that," said Justine Fischer. "They have license plate insignias for just about anything you can think of. You see them for law enforcement memorials and other things like that."
Specialty plates are nothing new, and a quick look around Seattle turns up license plates for Huskies, bicyclists, wildlife, ham radio operators, National Parks and cats and dogs.
But anti-gun activists say there's a difference.
"I see no reason that the state should create the perception that it is supporting the NRA agenda, which is what I believe transpires when you have a Washington state NRA license plate," said Ralph Fascitelli of Washington Ceasefire.
There are currently two bills aimed at creating NRA license plates. A similar proposal was introduced Thursday in the state Senate, though no hearings have been scheduled for either bill.
Rep. Dean Takko, D-Longview, said he came up with the idea after he noticed the abundance of special license plates around the state.
"Well, first of all, I'm an NRA member and I am a very active hunter, and I want to have safe people out in the woods," Takko said.
He hasn't worked out all the details quite yet, but Takko has some ideas for the plates.
"I'm not sure what it would look like. A single rifle or the NRA logo. But the money would go to hunting safety," he said.
You might expect support from groups like the Second Amendment Foundation, but that's not necessarily the case.
"Well, I'm an NRA life member and I don't feel very good about it," said the foundation's Alan Gottlieb. "We think it should be a Second Amendment plate honoring the Second Amendment part of the Bill of Rights, not singling out any one particular group. We have a lot of groups in the State of Washington who support gun rights"
Support for the plates was stronger at a local gun shop.
"I would totally be a fan of that," said Justine Fischer. "They have license plate insignias for just about anything you can think of. You see them for law enforcement memorials and other things like that."
Specialty plates are nothing new, and a quick look around Seattle turns up license plates for Huskies, bicyclists, wildlife, ham radio operators, National Parks and cats and dogs.
But anti-gun activists say there's a difference.
"I see no reason that the state should create the perception that it is supporting the NRA agenda, which is what I believe transpires when you have a Washington state NRA license plate," said Ralph Fascitelli of Washington Ceasefire.
There are currently two bills aimed at creating NRA license plates. A similar proposal was introduced Thursday in the state Senate, though no hearings have been scheduled for either bill.
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