Gun debate continues
The battle over background checks is far from over.
About 60 percent of voters statewide approved Initiative 594, which takes effect next month, and will require background checks for online and private gun sales.
Clark County was one of a handful of counties that approved both I-594 and a rival measure Initiative 591, which would have prohibited new background check laws. If both measures had passed, it likely would have been up to the state’s courts to figure out the next step.
Proponents of background checks, fresh off their victory, said they will push for stricter gun regulations this legislative session.
And gun-rights activists are firing back.
Opponents of I-594 said the law would make it illegal to hand a firearm to another person.
At 11 a.m. on Saturday Dec. 13 at the Washington State Capitol, gun-rights advocates plan to prove that’s the case. More than 6,200 people have said they will be at the statehouse in Olympia to “rally at the capital, openly exchange guns, unveil and plan to break apart the legislation and violate (I-594) in every possible way.”
Washington Alliance for Gun Safety, which was behind I-594, sent out a release saying the Washington State Patrol will not be making arrests for and “confirmed that handing a firearm to someone else does not violate Washington’s background check law.”
Lauren Dake
Lauren Dake covers politics for The Columbian. You can reach her at 360-735-4534 or lauren.dake@columbian.com. Follow her on Twitter .