Couture: “We don’t charge for constitutional rights”
On the House floor, Travis Couture, R-Allyn, voted no on HB 2521, arguing the state should not charge people to exercise a constitutional right.
”We don’t charge people to vote. We don’t charge for a public defender,” Couture said. “We don’t put user fees on constitutional rights.”
The bill removes the cap on firearm background check fees and allows the Washington State Patrol to set the cost.
Couture warned that raising costs on lawful gun purchases won’t stop criminals — but it could price law-abiding citizens out of their Second Amendment rights, ultimately hurting public safety.
