Following Successful 2014 Background Check Ballot Initiative, Gun Sense Champions Will Once Again Bring the Vote Directly to Washingtonians
Measure Would Empower Family Members and Law Enforcement to Help Prevent Tragedies and Save Lives; Mirrors Similar Legislation in California, Connecticut and Indiana
SEATTLE – Today, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the Washington chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, applauded the qualification of Initiative 1491 – Washington state’s Extreme Risk Protection Order measure – for the ballot this November. Similar to legislation already on the books in California, Connecticut and Indiana, the Extreme-Risk Protection Orders ballot initiative will allow law enforcement, family and household members to petition a court to temporarily suspend a person’s access to firearms if the person poses a significant danger to self or others.
In April, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund pledged $500,000 to support The Alliance for Gun Responsibility’s effort to pass I-1491. Just last month, nearly 335,000 signatures were turned in to the Secretary of State for verification. Leading up to the signature turn-in, volunteers with the Washington chapter of Moms Demand Action collected more than 10,000 signatures to help ensure I-1491 was part of the November ballot.
STATEMENT FROM LEANNE KENNEDY, A VOLUNTEER WITH THE WASHINGTON CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Washington Moms are thrilled to partner with the Alliance for Gun Responsibility to ensure that gun safety will once again be brought to a vote of the people here at home. Today marks the beginning of our campaign to talk to our neighbors, families and friends about why I-1491 will make sure Washingtonians have the right tools in place to help prevent gun violence. Sometimes, incidents of gun violence are preceded by warning signs that family and law enforcement are in a unique position to observe — and this gives them a tool to help stop shooting tragedies before they happen. Along with a coalition of gun safety advocates, we’re ready to work hard to get out the vote and continue to make Washington state a leader in gun safety.”
This is the second time that Everytown has partnered with the Alliance for Gun Responsibility to strengthen common-sense gun laws at the ballot in Washington. In 2014, Washington Moms and survivors, along with the Alliance, and a coalition of gun safety advocates, led the way in approving I-594, Washington state’s background check ballot measure that won with 60 percent of the vote. Washington is one of 18 states that have closed the background check loophole.