Joel Connelly of the Seattle PI published the following on yesterday’s launch announcement:

A sponsor of the new Washington initiative, Marilyn Balcerak, experienced a family tragedy last June.  Her son James, who had struggled with depression, substance abuse and autism, took his own life and killed his step-sister, 21-year-old Brianna Smith.

“My son, James, should never have been able to buy a gun,” said Balcerak. “I knew James better than anyone. I should have been able to keep him from getting a gun in his condition.

“If extreme risk protection orders had been law one year ago, I believe Brianna and James would be alive, and I would have more time to get my son the help he needed.”

Read the full article here.