On January 21, we traveled to Olympia for our annual lobby day and to remind legislators that gun responsibility matters to Washingtonians. Law enforcement, Moms, Grandmothers, gun violence survivors, public health officials and others joined us for a series of events around the Capitol, a press conference, and a hearing on important firearm-related bills, including Extreme Risk Protection Orders and Child Access Prevention bills. Please find four stories on the day’s events below.

The Associated Press: “Legislative hearing on gun bills draws crowd”

Among the bills being considered by the House Judiciary Committee was a measure requiring the safe storage of firearms to avoid tragedies like school shootings, teen suicides and gun accidents, according to the dozens of people who testified. Another key measure would allow family members, law enforcement and others to secure a protection order to prevent a high-risk individual from possessing a firearm while that person poses a danger to himself or others.

“When kids have access to guns, no place is safe and everybody loses,” said Everett pediatrician Dr. Jane Lester, who treats some of the students who continue to be traumatized by the 2014 Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting, carried out by a 15-year-old freshman using his father’s handgun

Q13 Fox: “‘Help protect kids’: Relative of Marysville shooting victim urges lawmakers to pass gun safety bill”

The bill that is getting most attention is the one that would require that firearms be stored safely.  It’s a response to the tragedy at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in which a student took a gun from his father and shot and killed four of his classmates in 2014.

A cousin of Gia Soriano, one of the students killed that day, was on hand Thursday to support the measure. “Adults have an obligation to keep kids safe, to keep guns safely stored,” said Cindy Gazecki.  “I hope that I can count on our lawmakers today to take action and to help protect kids like our Gia.”

Capitol Record: “Local cities could regulate guns in certain public places, under proposal”

Hundreds of people turned out Thursday to testify at a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee on a series of gun-related bills, including one that would allow local jurisdictions to restrict guns in public places.

. . .

Seattle attorney Jamie Clausen organizes events and rallies, and says there are few events where she does not see an armed person. “There may be communities where that’s welcomed, but it’s not welcomed in my community,” she said.

KIRO7: “People who’ve lost family members to gun violence gathered at state capitol”