Initiative 594 is flawed in many respects.-áIt is full of traps for lawful gun owners.-áRead the fine print.-áThis onerous initiative is-ábeing misrepresented-áas a means to prevent violent crime and keep firearms out of the hands of prohibited persons. -áIt will do neither. -áIt will affect only law abiding citizens. One more law will not stop criminals from stealing guns.-á-á-á I-594-árequires a background check on each-átransfer, not just sales. -á(First sentence of the initiative, page 81 in the voters' pamphlet.) It requires each transfer-á(paragraph 25 on page 83) to be recorded in a state data base (registration). The-áonly-áreason for gun registration is eventual-áconfiscation.-á-á-á Say that you and a friend are shooting at the range.-áHe hands his two guns to you, you examine them, then hand them back. -áThose two-way-átransfers without paperwork-áwould be class C felonies. (Section 9, page 85) -áHis guns would be confiscated because a convicted felon-ácannot legally possess a firearm. -á-á Myth:-áCriminals buy their guns "at gun shows with no background check." -áFact: -áThe biggest gun show organization in Washington has no "loophole" because it requires a background check to become a member, and only members may buy, sell or trade firearms.-áBetween 0.6 percent and 0.8 percent of guns used by criminals are obtained at other gun shows. 77 percent-áof criminals get their guns from illegal sources GÇô-átheft, burglary, off street, black market. -á I-594 is anti women. Women are targeted by several provisions. -áUnder 594, Instructors could no longer provide loaner firearms during introductory women's self-defense classes.-á I-594 is a nightmare for widows and executors of estates.-áIt is-ádesigned to entrap them in a legal quagmire.-á When you die, ownership of your guns instantly-átransfers-áto your spouse or executor. -á A widow will be overwhelmed with funeral arrangements and hospital bills. -áIf she finds-áa couple of handguns in your sock drawer,-áit will not occur to her that she must comply with I-594 paperwork. (Section 3g, page 84)-á-á61 days later she will become an accidental-áfelon. Each gun transferred constitutes a separate offense, and sentences must run-áconsecutively.-áI-594 does not permit judicial discretion on this rule. -á-á A father who loans a shotgun or rifle to his 18-year-old son during hunting season would commit a misdemeanor upon the first violation. Section 3,(4),(f),(iv), When the rifle is returned, both father and son would be two-time offenders, and thus felons under I-594. -á -á -á -á-á In Colorado, failure to complete the paperwork is a misdemeanor, whereas in Washington, I-594 would make the first offense a gross misdemeanor and the second a Class C -áfelony. -á -á-á No law enforcement organization supports I-594. Law enforcement statewide (sheriffs AND rank and file police officers that patrol the streets) oppose 594 and support 591. Twenty-five of Washington's 39 elected county sheriffs oppose I-594. -áThe Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs (the largest police union in Washington)-árepresents the majority of sworn law enforcement line-level officers in our state; -áit-áhas formally adopted a position opposing I-594 and supporting I-591. -á -á-á-á -á -á If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it. -áThat is what billionaires Michael Bloomberg, Bill Gates and Paul Allen are counting on. They have spent $9 million on television, radio and print media in support of I-594. Should you let them buy an initiative? -á -á -á -á -á -á -á -á -á -á-á Please vote no on -áI-594. -á -á
Dan Bewley -á -á-á Eatonville -á
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