National News
New law tells victims when assailant fails gun background check
May 15, 2017 posted by Steve Brownstein
Victims with protection orders will soon be notified if their assailant fails a background check for a gun, under a bill Governor Jay Inslee signed this week.
Firearms dealers will soon have to report every person who fails a background check to law enforcement within five days; officials would then notify victims with protection orders.
As a requirement in House Bill 1501, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) will create and operate a statewide system to automatically notify victims who have stalking, sexual assault, domestic violence or other court protection orders against someone.
The new law goes into effect in July.
Background checks screen buyers to make sure they aren't a felon, a fugitive or in the country illegally.