The Seattle Times reports

Washington state’s dueling gun initiatives launched their opposing campaigns this week, days after the Legislature’s adjournment ensured that voters this year will get to weigh in on gun laws for the first time since 1997.

“The campaign begins today,” declared the Rev. Sandy Brown at a Thursday kickoff featuring faith leaders, local prosecutors, gun-violence survivors and other supporters of Initiative 594, which would extend background-check requirements to private firearm transfers.

“We’re gathered here today because it’s time to change the gun laws in Washington state,” said Brown, of Seattle’s First United Methodist Church, which hosted the event.

[…]

Speaking at the church kickoff for Initiative 594, Snohomish County Prosecutor Mark Roe opened with a “confession” — “I’m Mark, and I’m a gun guy” — before arguing that gun owners should support the initiative because background checks are a “very minor inconvenience” that saves lives.

Roe said the checks — currently required only in sales from licensed firearms dealers — stop criminals and people with mental illness from getting guns.

He and others acknowledged that the initiative would not dramatically reduce crime.

But “worst-case scenario?” Roe said. “It only prevents a few gun deaths. That’s good enough for me.”

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