Images courtesy of TVW
Other states would have access to Washington’s sealed juvenile criminal records for gun purchase background checks under a bill now in the State Senate Law and Justice Committee.
House Bill 1600 is meant to align Washington with new federal law on gun background checks for people under 21.
Those against it say juvenile criminal records are sealed, if young people stay out of further trouble, so they don’t hinder their ability to get jobs or housing as adults. Antonio Ginnata with Columbia Legal Services tells the Senate Law and Justice Committee current law allows Washington criminal justice agencies access to those records, “and those other Washington State criminal justice agencies are bound by certain restrictions about what to do with sealed records,” Ginnata says, “That doesn’t apply when it’s out in the wild in other states. We have no control over what they’re going to do with a sealed record once they come out.”
The bill’s prime sponsor, Democratic Representative Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland), says a sealed record means it’s as if the crimes never happened. Goodman says, “That is true for employment and for education and for housing and so forth – those sealed records are not ever accessible, but for criminal justice agencies and for the purpose of firearms background checks, they are.” Goodman acknowledges that it’s possible some of those records could be leaked, but he says it’s a balance that’s outweighed by keeping guns out of the wrong hands.
Another vote on the bill could come this week. You can watch the hearing on TVW here.
