Today, the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility launched “Law, Justice, and Public Safety Leaders for Initiative 594”, a coalition of law enforcement and criminal justice experts in support of closing the loophole in Washington law that make it easier for criminals and other dangerous people to obtain guns with no questions asked. The group will focus on using its first-hand experience with the consequences of gun violence to make the case for Initiative 594, which ensures that all gun sales and transfers in Washington State go through the same background check, no matter where the weapon is purchased or who it is purchased from.

“Law enforcement officials support Initiative 594 because we know that the most effective way to reduce gun crime and save lives is to ensure that all guns sold in Washington go through the same background check,” said Bill Hanson, former Executive Director of WACOPS; former President of the Washington State Patrol Troopers’ Association (WSPTA) and co-chair of Law Enforcement, Justice, and Public Safety Officials for Initiative 594. “In our state, firearms can be sold by private sellers with no questions asked, making it too easy for criminals to get their hands on weapons. This creates an unacceptable danger to the lives of the sheriffs and police officers, and creates an uncontrolled secondary firearms market that disadvantages licensed dealers. County prosecutors, judges and my fellow law enforcement officers know it’s long past time to create a level playing field in Washington by closing this dangerous loophole.”

Initiative 594 will apply the same system of background checks currently used for retail sales of firearms in Washington State to private sales and transfers of firearms. Colorado recently passed a law similar to Initiative 594 and, in one year, has prevented 227 prohibited purchasers from obtaining firearms through private sales. Sixteen states and Washington, D.C. currently require background checks on all sales and transfers. Compared to the request of the country and Washington State, those states see:

• 64% fewer weapons trafficked out-of-state to be used in crimes.
• 39% fewer law enforcement officers killed with handguns.
• 38% fewer women killed by intimate partners with handguns.

More information on law enforcement support for Initiative 594, and why law enforcement in Washington and around the country supports closing background check loopholes, can be found here.