Rep. Travis Couture stresses need to address affordability, public safety in 2026
Ahead of the vote on a bill that nearly doubles the cost of the required background check to purchase a firearm, Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, proposes an amendment tying the fee hike to public safety by delaying implementation until Washington is no longer ranked lowest in the nation on the number of law enforcement officers per capita. Couture strongly opposed the fee increase, which also would remove the current cap on fee increases for background checks. He also stressed the urgent need to focus on proposals that provide relief for Washingtonians struggling in an affordability crisis rather than more regressive taxes and fee increases that make things more expensive.
