Latest news with #ChristineAnthony
Axios
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Axios
Washington sets record for concealed pistol licenses
More Washingtonians than ever have a license to carry a concealed weapon, state data shows. Why it matters: The rise comes as state legislators have moved to tighten rules surrounding gun purchases. A new state law, which goes into effect in 2027, will require Washington residents to receive live-fire training, be fingerprinted and get a permit before buying guns, a change expected to affect thousands of potential buyers each year. Driving the news: Washington reached 709,334 active concealed pistol licenses (CPLs) at the end of June, an all-time high, Christine Anthony of the Department of Licensing tells Axios. That's an increase of more than 10,000 since December, per state data. By the numbers: About 20% of CPL holders in Washington are women. King County, the state's most populous county, also has the highest number of CPLs, nearly 114,000. Pierce County posted the biggest one-month gain, from May to June of this year, with 882 licenses. What they're saying:"Long story short, people are arming up, and they're going to keep doing so ahead of the new restrictions," Dave Workman, editor in chief of TheGunMag, a publication of the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation, tells Axios. With a state population of close to 8 million, "that means possibly 1 out of every 10 people you pass on any given day is licensed to carry concealed, and may even be armed," he says. The other side: Renée Hopkins, CEO of the Washington-based Alliance for Gun Responsibility, which backed the permit-to-purchase law, said the organization advocates for safe and responsible firearm ownership. "While we acknowledge more guns pose a greater threat to our communities, CPL holders tend to be responsible gun owners," Hopkins tells Axios. Between the lines: Washington — among the top 10 states for the highest percentage of residents holding a concealed carry license — is a " shall issue" state, meaning the state must issue gun licenses to people who meet the requirements and pass a background check. What we're watching: Whether demand for concealed pistol licenses keeps rising as the 2027 permit-to-purchase law approaches — and what legal challenges emerge against the law.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Flying after May? You'll need more than a WA driver's license
This story was originally posted on Are you flying after May? Your Washington driver's license isn't going to get you through TSA after May 7. That's the day the Real ID Act goes into effect. Like the boy who cried wolf, the TSA has been telling us the Real ID Act would be taking effect for years. It has been delayed and postponed for a decade as states and consumers have been slow to adopt it. Let's not forget, this act was passed in 2005 as a way to make flying safer. But this May 7 deadline appears to be real, and Christine Anthony with the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) said you should treat it that way. 'Obviously, the deadline has changed a few times due to the pandemic and other various reasons, we've been trying to say this is going to happen at some point,' she said. 'Make sure you're ready.' More traffic news: Rolled-over semi-truck catches fire on I-405, shuts down all northbound lanes near Renton After May 7, your Washington driver's license or ID will not be valid for getting on domestic flights, so you will need to get an enhanced form of ID unless you have a passport or another form of ID the federal government considers valid. 'We just don't want anyone to get to the airport and have them have their standard Washington driver's license, hand it to the TSA officer and have the TSA officer hand it back and say, 'yeah, that's not going to work,'' Anthony said. I went into the DOL last week to get my enhanced driver's license, and the office was packed. Many people were there to do the same thing, but they didn't have the right information to prove their identity and were turned away. Even if they had an appointment, they were being turned away if they didn't have the right information. I will tell you. Don't wait. 'Make that appointment today,' Anthony said. 'Don't wait until April because you're just pushing it too close to that deadline.' I will tell you from experience, take more than you might need for that appointment. I brought my car registration, but I had cut off the bottom portion that had my address on it. If I hadn't decided to bring my W2, I would have been turned away as well. There is a chance that this deadline will be extended. There is also a chance that the TSA might not actually turn people away or enforce it strictly right away. More from Chris Sullivan: Should speed cameras add microphones to nab street racers? But why chance it? 'Every deadline we take seriously,' Anthony said. 'We have no reason to believe that this deadline won't happen.' There are more than 6.8 million people with Washington driver's licenses or ID cards. Only 26% of those are enhanced or valid for getting through TSA starting in May. Imagine if just a fraction of those remaining head to the DOL between now and the deadline. It could get ugly. And don't forget, your regular Washington driver's license also won't be accepted at secured federal buildings, like military bases, after May 7 either.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Revised Washington law makes it easier for youth to get identification
Jan. 31—OLYMPIA — It will be easier for young people 16-18 years of age to get a Washington identification card without a parent's or guardian's signature under revisions to ID laws that took effect Jan. 1. The changes were made at the request of the Washington Department of Licensing, said Christine Anthony, WDL digital communications manager. "(The revised law) concerns helping people from underserved communities, including at-risk or under-resourced minors and low-income residents, to access identity documents like ID cards," Anthony said via email. The revised law changes some of the rules governing who can help a minor obtain a driver's license or identification card. Department of Licensing officials explained the reasoning behind the request in a report submitted to the Washington Legislature last year. The report said Washington has an estimated 13,000-15,000 "unaccompanied" young people who are experiencing homelessness. Other young people — more than 40,000 according to the report — live with relatives. Most of those arrangements are informal, the report said. But teens 16-18 years of age who wanted to get a driver's license needed authorization from a parent, legal guardian or employer. That wasn't always possible, especially for homeless teens, the report said. The revised law allows a "responsible adult" to sign for teens trying to get a driver's license or other identification. That includes people with family or caretaker relationships with teens, or mental health professionals or government employees working with them. Other rules still apply. Teens must meet the criteria to have a license, which includes driver education. For young people who can't get a driver's license but need identification, Washington does provide an ID card. It's $55 for six years. "(Department of Licensing) staff regularly hear that the cost of an ID card can be prohibitively expensive," the report said. Washington does offer an at-cost ID card, which is $5, to qualifying residents. People who are receiving support through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program are eligible. So are participants in the "Women, Infants, Children" program, and the revised law clarifies that. The law authorizes the Department of Licensing to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of offering reduced-fee ID cards, with the report due by December. The department will be required to evaluate current use, check parameters for current eligibility, determine how much it would cost and its impact on revenue, and recommend ways to improve access.
