The Union Bulletin writes

I would describe myself as a concerned citizen who believes in the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms, but who also agrees with the eight out of 10 Washingtonians who support universal background checks.

Initiative 594 is endorsed by the Washington State Public Health Association, the Faith Action Network, the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and dozens of other community organizations. A more complete list of supporters and a link to the complete text of the initiative can be found on the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility website at wagunresponsibility.org.

Licensed dealers in Washington are required to conduct a background check for firearms sales, to help ensure guns stay out of the hands of criminals.

I-594 simply extends these existing background checks to all gun sales. I have no objection to private gun ownership. I do however object to a private party selling a weapon to a convicted criminal, no questions asked, especially when a background check typically takes only 90 seconds.

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I-594 does not change this requirement. Background checks work — since enactment in 1998, over 2 million gun sales to people prohibited from possessing guns were stopped.

I-594 won’t stop all gun sales to criminals or the mentally ill, but it is a common-sense, simple step to help prevent illegal gun sales. Please support I-594 to help make our communities safer.

Read the full editorial here.