gun control

Wash. gun control advocates turn to initiative

The Associated Press — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:29:55 +0000

Gun control advocates in Washington are launching an initiative campaign after state lawmakers declined to expand background checks on gun sales.

The group Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility announced its plans Monday. Supporters will need to collect nearly 250,000 valid signatures, with state officials recommending the submission of more than 300,000 to account for duplicates and invalid signatures.

A new front for gun background checks: the ballot

The Associated Press — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:41:53 +0000

After struggling to sway both state and federal lawmakers, proponents of expanding background checks for gun sales are now exploring whether they will have more success by taking the issue directly to voters.

While advocates generally prefer that new gun laws get approval through the legislative process, they are also concerned about how much sway the National Rifle Association has with lawmakers.

Senate rejects expanded gun background checks

The Associated Press — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:46:00 +0000

Senate Republicans backed by a small band of rural-state Democrats scuttled the most far-reaching gun control legislation in two decades Wednesday, rejecting tighter background checks for buyers and a ban on assault weapons as they spurned pleas from families of victims of last winter's school massacre in Newtown, Conn.

"This effort isn't over," President Barack Obama vowed at the White House moments after the defeat on one of his top domestic priorities. Surrounded by Newtown relatives, he said opponents of the legislation in both parties "caved to the pressure" of special interests.

Gov. Inslee disappointed with fate of gun bill

The Associated Press — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:04:03 +0000

Gov. Inslee disappointed with fate of gun bill Gov. Jay Inslee says he is disappointed that a proposal to expand background checks on Washington state gun sales has stalled, but says he'll continue making phone calls on the issue.

After the issue locked up the House for much of the day Tuesday, the bill ultimately was not brought out for a vote and its sponsors conceded they could not get majority support for the measure, even with a proposed referendum clause that would have allowed the public to vote on the measure.

Bill to expand background checks for gun sales fail in House

The Associated Press — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 04:06:02 +0000

A proposal to expand background checks on Washington state gun sales has failed in the state House.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Pedersen of Seattle said Tuesday night he was unable to corral the 50 votes necessary to pass the bill through the chamber. Pedersen says he was disappointed by the result, coming even after he agreed to add a referendum clause to the bill.

Pasco first-grader suspended for talking about Nerf guns

The Associated Press — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:42:40 +0000

The Pasco School District decided to overturn the suspension of a first-grader who was sent home for talking about toy guns.

The district determined no discipline was warranted after talking with the parents.

The father, Mike Aguirre, told the Tri-City Herald his son Noah was punished for talking about Nerf guns and there's no evidence he threatened to harm another student.

The 6-year-old was suspended Feb. 28 at James McGee Elementary School. The district said Wednesday the incident will be erased from his record.

State bill regulating private gun sales passes committee

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:06:44 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. – A bill to require background checks for private gun sales is one step closer to a final vote. Tuesday, members of a Washington House committee voted seven to six.

Republican Rep. Jay Rodne opposed the bill, saying it would not be enforceable.

“We’re going to drain precious law enforcement resources to policing this measure,” he says.

But, Republican Rep.

Public health at forefront of King County's gun initiative

Gabriel Spitzer — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:52:54 +0000

The debate over gun control may be focused on the nation’s capital, but one local official says King County will soon take measures of its own.

About 125 people die each year of gun violence in King County. Executive Dow Constantine says the way a county government can chip away at that number is through a public health approach. He announced in his state of the county address that he is directing the health department to collect new data on gun deaths and injuries.

State lawmakers eye universal background checks for gun sales

Austin Jenkins — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:27:26 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Democratic lawmakers in both Washington and Oregon are working on measures to require background checks for all gun sales. A universal check proposal was introduced Wednesday in the Washington House. A similar bill is expected in the Oregon Senate soon.

Universal background checks are a key provision in President Obama’s national plan to stem gun violence. But some lawmakers in Washington and Oregon don’t want to wait to see if Congress acts.

Gun buyback: Mayor says "gaggles" of private gun buyers "insane"

Jennifer Wing — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 19:30:08 +0000

Seven hundred and sixteen guns were collected at Saturday’s gun buyback program in Seattle. But officials say they are disturbed by the large number of private gun buyers the event attracted.

Mayor Mike McGinn says he was shocked by what he describes as the “gaggles” of private gun buyers who showed up to tempt people away from the long lines and gift cards and offer them cash for their weapons.

“We had a gun bazaar break out of the streets of Seattle outside of a gun buyback. That was just insane."

Seattle gun buyback event attracts private buyers

Jennifer Wing — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 06:04:34 +0000

Seattle’s first effort in 20 years to give people money for turning in guns was so popular on Saturday it ran out of gift cards and had to end early. But even if you were one of the people who didn’t get there early enough, there were lots of opportunities outside the event to get money for your weapons.

CenturyLink Field disarms off-duty cops at games

The Associated Press — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:52:08 +0000

Century Link field is telling off-duty police officers attending Seahawks games and other events at the Seattle stadium to leave their guns at home.

The management says Century Link Field is safe because of an abundance of uniformed officers at events.

KOMO reports the new policy isn't sitting well with officers.

StandUp Washington rally in Seattle calls for more gun control

Erin Hennessey — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:38:58 +0000

Downtown Seattle's Westlake Park filled up with hundreds of people Sunday who came out to show their support for gun-control legislation. One of those attending was Jack Severns from Kent who wants to see a ban on assault weapons.

"I've owned guns since I was 12 years old but I want to see them used correctly."

Many at the rally talked about revisiting the second amendment.

The rally, called StandUp Washington, included speakers, music and remembrances for those lost in the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

NRA accepts Biden's invitation to meet

Mark Memmott — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:22:07 +0000

"We are sending a rep to hear what they have to say," National Rifle Association spokesman Andrew Arulanandam says of the organization's decision to accept an invitation from the task force Vice President Biden is leading — the group that's studying gun laws and related issues in the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn

Seattle gun buyback plan: Turn in your gun, get a $100 giftcard

The Associated Press and Bellamy Pailthorp — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:31:21 +0000

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and County Executive Dow Constantine say there’s not much they can do about gun laws. Past efforts to ban firearms in parks have failed because they’re preempted by state laws. But they say they can revive an idea last tried in Seattle twenty years ago: a gun buyback program.

They hope to get hundreds of weapons off the streets with a privately-funded effort.