Listen to Dori Monson weekdays on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM
 Dori Monson


Most popular
Help us build a Fisher House
Bonneville Seattle is raising funds for the construction of a second Fisher House at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma and we need your help.

State government literally knocking on your door

BY Dori Monson  on February 18, 2013 @ 10:41 pm (Updated: 4:50 pm - 2/19/13 )

- Dori writes...

Are you ready to have sheriffs in our state come knocking on your door and demanding entry with no warrant?

Democratic lawmakers are scrambling to explain why they signed on to a proposed bill that would have given that kind of power to the state over our private property rights and our lives.

It's Senate Bill 5737 - a gun control bill that has been proposed in the legislature. Several listeners brought this bill to my attention late last week and over the weekend. And Danny Westneat's column about it in the Seattle Times has gotten nationwide attention.

The bill would ban the sale of semi-automatic weapons. And, for those who already own such weapons:

In order to continue to possess an assault weapon that was legally possessed on the effective date of this section, the person possessing shall ... safely and securely store the assault weapon. The sheriff of the county may, no more than once per year, conduct an inspection to ensure compliance with this subsection.

We have constitutional amendments to protect our right to keep and bear arms and to protect us against warrant-less searches. Now, in one stunning piece of legislation, lawmakers in our state wanted to trample on both of those rights.

Amazingly, when contacted about their support of this unconstitutional proposed law, members of our state senate claimed ignorance.

One of my listeners contacted Senator Jeannie Kohl-Welles - she wrote:

"It came to my attention that there had been an error in the preparation of the bill relating to including the language permitting a sheriff to inspect the homes of assault-weapon owners which is not what I understood to be in the bill. If I had known that it was, I would not have signed on as a sponsor. Of course I should have read the bill in its entirety prior to signing onto it; however, I received a briefing on it without mention of the warrantless search language."

So, the senator signed on as a bill sponsor without reading the bill??

Danny Westneat got similar responses from the senators he contacted.

Adam Kline 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."

The prime sponsor, Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, also condemned the search provision in his own bill, after I asked him about it. He said... that it's probably unconstitutional.

So the sponsors of a major piece of legislation claim they didn't know what was in the bill.

There are only two possibilities here:

1) The senators knew exactly what they were signing onto - and were hoping to sneak through an unconstitutional piece of legislation. That would be a frightening disregard of their responsibility to uphold our state's and nation's constitution.

Or...

2) They truly were willing to sponsor a bill without having any idea what was in it - an equally frightening act in its sheer recklessness and irresponsibility.

Either way, we have put control of our state in the hands of some really dangerous people.

Dori Monson, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dori Monson is host of The Dori Monson Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays Noon-3) and the pre-game and post-game host for the Seattle Seahawks Radio Network. There are three words that Dori thinks best describe him - competitive, competitive and competitive.
More Dori Monson

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (50)


  • Add A Comment

  • cigarfan wrote...
    Federal law superceeds state law
    February 18, 2013 11:15 pm
    The 4th amendment to the US Constitution would superceed state law. The federal courts would strike such a state law.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • diamondmask wrote...
    Not neccasarily..
    February 19, 2013 8:41 am
    If you're a truck driver, air traffic controller, bus driver or any type of "driver", or work in a "safety" type job, your 4th amendment right is violated at will by your company or the government. It's called "random drug test". When complaining about this before, I've been told, "do something different". The same argument can be used here. If you don't want warrant-less searches in your home, don't own an assault weapon. As far as the amendment is concerned, there is no difference in your home to my urine/blood. It's done in the name of "safety", and it ensures nothing of the sort. They just have to put it under the safety umbrella. That slippery slope has already been crested. But don't get me wrong, I'm all for home inspections of people who own assault weapons and large clips/magazines.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • circuitfr wrote...
    Diamond
    February 19, 2013 9:27 am
    Your rights are not being infringed on if you agreed to a private contract with a private company. If you choose to seek employment and the condition is random drug tests, how is that infringement of rights? No one is forcing you to work for said company. Find another place of employment that fits your views if you don't like the conditions of another. You're argument doesn't hold up. The "do something different" is completely valid when people complain about "life isn't fair" boo hoo, because I don't get what I want from this person. If no one is forcing you to do something against you're will OR if you contractually AGREED to terms of employment, you have NO right to complain. A warrant less search against a private home owner owning a weapon which is his right was not subject to a contract. I never agreed to that and certainly never would enter into such agreement. Do you not understand the definition of freedom and how use of force works?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • steam nut wrote...
    idiot law makers
    February 19, 2013 5:41 am
    they are either stupid or liars.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    This type of inspection is already being done
    February 19, 2013 6:35 am
    And I have no problem with it.Food inspectors show up unannounced at restaurants, safety inspectors show up unannounced at a business or a work site.I'll use the reasoning that we hear often from the Rightys which is If you have nothing to hide whats wrong with a sheriff coming to check to see if your complying with THE LAW?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Really M
    February 19, 2013 7:05 am
    Your ready to toss your Rights out the window like that. Your ready to trample all over the Constitution at the drop of a hat.

    And if you cant see the difference between a business and private property then I feel really sorry for you.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ratrustle wrote...
    OK then...
    February 19, 2013 9:02 am
    I've got no problem with the Sheriff coming to your house to look at your home computer to make sure there's no Pornography on it. And, while they're over there, they ought to take a look around at everything else you've got to make sure you're not doing any dangerous drugs, you don't have any illegal items or artifacts, that you've reported ALL your income on your taxes, and that you've paid sales tax on those items you bought in Oregon the last time you visited Grandma. We really ought to start enforcing EVERY law that's on the books.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • circuitfr wrote...
    umm.
    February 19, 2013 9:23 am
    just for the record, business owners are not "public" They still own private businesses and you can choose to or not to patronize them. I do not agree with Food inspectors, safety inspectors, etc... That is another infringement on rights. You act like all would go to he** if the government didn't inspect things? Believe it or not, the free market would work well if it was ever allowed to be free and most businesses would want to serve clean food and most companies would want to have safe environment. If you want to get good business, advertise your cooking methods and pay for an independent inspector if you CHOOSE to. If a business doesn't, many people may choose not the patron a business. Why do we FORCE private businesses to be searched/inspected without cause?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Slapshot wrote...
    Messiah, you really can't be for real
    February 19, 2013 10:09 am
    I have been reading some of your posts for awhile now and usually getting a good laugh. You must be trying to make liberals & democrats look bad. You're doing a good job at it. Keep it up!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ratrustle wrote...
    Ineptitude? Possibly,
    February 19, 2013 6:37 am
    The error in the law was that some of the Press actually read the law before it was voted on and slipped by everyone! I think passing Health Care "Reform" with the caveat that you "have to pass it in order to read it" may have emboldened some lawmakers to actually believe they can pass stuff like this. I actually went and read the proposed legislation. It's not as long as the Health Care Bill. My god, it's like 14 pages of jibberish! But if I could slog through it, I would fully expect a competent Legislator of our State who sponsored this kind of garbage to have read it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ohyea53 wrote...
    101-Restaurants and businesses are public.
    February 19, 2013 6:55 am
    Your home is not. I can't believe even you are try to compare them as the same.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    101 is blinded
    February 19, 2013 7:06 am
    by the messiah.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mynorthwester wrote...
    I don't get it
    February 19, 2013 7:58 am
    Why do people like Dori and AJ live here in Washington you guys seem to have a problem with everything thing this state does if it is even slightly a part of a more liberal agenda, feel free to move to another state where you can make 5 dollars an hour for your days work and breathe air far less clean then ours and good forbid the place you guys go puts up any art anywhere because that will cost Dori a fraction of a penny out of his paycheck and also forget any public transportation that is only for poor people who don't pay taxes anyways you guys know very well this police raising your house without a warrant will not happen and the first time it does please blog about it Dori and I will be the first to admit I'm wrong
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • diamondmask wrote...
    I agree
    February 19, 2013 8:46 am
    I have often wondered why Dori hangs around here. There's Idaho and all the southern states where his type of governance runs rampant. He would be SO much happier where workers are beat down and it looks like 1950. He'd be able to enjoy the benefits of child labor in unsafe conditions because we all know, from MANY tellings, how he started to work at 3 years old for 3 cents a day draining car batteries and stripping the lead from them because he wanted to buy candy on the weekends.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • diamondmask wrote...
    really?
    February 19, 2013 8:49 am
    "smells like nazism?" That didn't take long. But please, look up the word and discover it's meaning. What are you? A Bircher? Good lord. Become informed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jason wrote...
    AJ & Dori
    February 19, 2013 8:51 am
    Can't speak for AJ but Dori has lived here his whole life. I to have lived hear my whole life and this is not the state I grew up in. Over the past 30 years, those moving here from California and other locations brought along their messed up logic and nanny state and big government ideas. You obviously failed your history classes in secondary school, if you even graduated, because you have no idea what the founding principals were for this country and what is allowed under the Constitution. I hope you take your own advice and relocate to some commune where you can be protected from life, name calling, hurt feelings, being bullied and have womb/tomb government welfare. Our founding fathers not only are rolling over in their graves but probably questioning why they even put forth the effort to free them/us from Europe.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    Jason
    February 19, 2013 9:21 am
    I'm the same, a native. Washington has changed, and not for the better. It has been very sad to watch. The founders said the constitution was made for a "moral and religious people..." and also for an informed electorate. We are seeing the fruits of an immoral (or amoral), irreligious, and certainly uninformed electorate.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bigdogina4x4 wrote...
    43 years....
    February 19, 2013 12:13 pm
    I agree, it's changed fopr the worst
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Relevant13 wrote...
    The problem is transplants?
    February 19, 2013 3:09 pm
    Why is it that everytime the WA State Gov't rears their inept head, people blame it on transplants from California. I was a Bay Area native who moved here 12 years ago and could tell you from Day 1 that the state government was completely useless. Last time I checked, the elected officials are not from California. How about you try NOT voting these incapable people back into office the next time around? If you give people enough rope to hang themselves, you don't provide more rope when it gets tight. The WA State Gov't has shown, time and time again, that they can't effectively spend money, no matter how much we give them. We don't need more taxes and authority, we need elected officials who can use the resources afforded to them properly.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bigdogina4x4 wrote...
    Mynorthwester.....
    February 19, 2013 12:10 pm
    This is a violation of my right, as a US citizen. Liberal idea or not- this is not acceptable.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mynorthwester wrote...
    Jason
    February 19, 2013 9:46 am
    Yea here's the deal those same history text books that I guess I didn't read well enough have in them the same content that Rupert Murdoch would be happy to package and sell to the the kids in high school in this country I don't know if you've ever read a college level history book you get a whole different story there brother.not that you would know and it always amazes me how you guys talk about the constitution but only when it works for you guys if it in anyway hinders what you are about or believe I guess its okay for you to just leave that part out
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • awbitf wrote...
    Amazing how many constitutional scholars and defenders show up
    February 19, 2013 9:46 am
    about proposed law that has no chance of passing, but they remain quiet when things like the Patriot Act, TSA body scans, SOPA/CISPA are ever present.

    These same people probably still use Google, even though by their TOS they're allowed to track you and build a profile about you of personally identifiable information.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    WOW!!! that's a huge problem
    February 19, 2013 10:04 am
    You sponsored a bill that would attempt to trample people's 4th and 2nd Amendment rights? I guarantee you the sherriffs wouldn't make it into many people's houses... you start pullin that kinda crap on people you're going to see armed revolt.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bigdogina4x4 wrote...
    this is the reason....
    February 19, 2013 12:17 pm
    the 2nd amendment is important. The governemt seems to feel that they can violate your protection from illegal search ans seizure. The next one will free speach.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    I just have a question
    February 19, 2013 10:42 am
    Are the politicians lazy or just stupid?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    Sorry
    February 19, 2013 10:49 am
    I should qualify my question; I sign my name ~20 times a day as a professional and I would be fired if I did not perform my due diligence. Not even going into the fact that they break their oath of office by violating the constitution, but that is so common nowadays...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    @ DesertRez
    February 19, 2013 11:01 am
    Both of the above.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RnD_Fan wrote...
    Who wrote the Bill?
    February 19, 2013 10:52 am
    Who wrote this bill?

    Specifically, who put that part in the bill?

    Someone had to write it, who was it?

    Unless it was an outside agency that wrote it, one of 'our' Senators put that language in the bill.

    Who was it?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RnD_Fan wrote...
    Even in the Original Bill, on the website....
    February 19, 2013 11:01 am
    The aforementioned language is not in there.

    The sheriff of the county may, no more than once per year, conduct an inspection to ensure compliance with this subsection.Â

    How, if it WAS in there, is it NOT in the 'Original' Bill?

    It now says 'Corrected' on the top of the bill.

    But Shouldn't the Original still be in there?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }