Washington voters have overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to expand background checks for person-to-person gun sales and transfers. Initiative 594 passed with 60 percent of the vote.
At the I-594 victory party in Seattle, campaign manager Zach Silk fired up the crowd.
“Washington state has voted yes on 594 and closed the background check loophole,” Silk said.
The measure will require background checks for person-to-person gun sales and transfers in Washington. That includes gun show and internet transactions. Current law only requires federally-licensed gun dealers to conduct these checks.
Cheryl Stumbo, a shooting survivor and the citizen sponsor of the initiative, told the crowd the fight is not over.
“We’ve closed Washington state’s background check loophole and we’re going to continue this fight for policies that reduce crime and save lives. This movement is here to stay,” Stumbo said.
Washington becomes the seventh state to require universal background checks, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
Initiative 591 was a competing gun measure. It would have prohibited Washington from adopting a stricter background check requirement.
Both of these initiatives started out as initiatives to the legislature. When the legislature failed to act, they went to the ballot.
