Names of bump stock buyback participants will not be released

After concerns that the names and addresses of participants in Washington state’s recent bump stock buyback program would be released, it looks like that information is safe, at least for now.

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Initially, two public disclosure requests would have distributed names and addresses of the state’s bump stock buyback participants. What followed was a pair of lawsuits, a bill to protect that information proposed in the Legislature, and a good deal of controversy regarding whether those names and addresses actually fall under the state’s public disclosure laws.

Those concerns can be set aside for now, though, following alterations made to the PDRs.

“We just received notice that one of the requesters for information has withdrawn their request totally. The other requester has amended their request so that they are no longer seeking names and addresses,” Washington State Patrol spokesman Chris Loftis told KIRO Radio.

But that doesn’t mean the issue is completely over.

A bill from Republican Rep. Jesse Young that would keep those names and addresses private was only just referred to the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee. Meanwhile, the lawsuits filed against WSP are still active.

“Both [lawsuits] are still in play, and the issues are still going to be debated, so that if there is another requester seeking that information we’ll have some clarity,” said Loftis.

The identity behind one of the people requesting names and addresses for buyback participants still remains a mystery. What we do know is that someone identifying themselves as Yati Arguna asked for the names and addresses where buyback checks were mailed, with the stated intent to “create a searchable database map of Washington state to overlay the locations.”

The other request was submitted by Paul Holgate, who, according to AmmoLand.com, has a history of 2nd Amendment advocacy.

While this plays out both in the Legislature and in the courts, Loftis noted that “there is no longer an imminent issue where that information would go out.”

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