LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Vote “Yes” on Initiative 594

Editor, I finally went and read the text of the Initiative 594, which would require background checks for all gun sales, not just those in gun shops. I have to say it seems like a reasonable initiative. Currently no background check is required if you buy a gun from a gun show, on the internet, or anywhere except from a licensed gun shop. With a loophole that big, why bother to have any background check law at all?

October 25, 2014 6:00 am

Editor,

I finally went and read the text of the Initiative 594, which would require background checks for all gun sales, not just those in gun shops. I have to say it seems like a reasonable initiative. Currently no background check is required if you buy a gun from a gun show, on the internet, or anywhere except from a licensed gun shop. With a loophole that big, why bother to have any background check law at all?

The initiative makes reasonable exceptions for gifts to relatives, etc., as you would want it to. Yes, it will make it a little more time consuming for regular people to buy guns too, but spending a little bit of extra time doesn’t seem like too much to ask to help keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

Will this stop all gun crime in Washington? Of course not, but it will help.

SHARON EMERSON

Langley