The initiative to expand background checks on gun sales on the ballot this fall in Washington (Initiative 594) is being supported by Bill and Melinda Gates, Paul Allen and Steve Ballmer with huge contributions [“The Ballmers give another quarter million to support I-594,” Politics Northwest, Sept. 9]. As if I needed more reasons to quit buying Microsoft products.
Make no mistake: If you and your neighbor wish to exchange hunting rifles, or one of you just wants to buy a gun from the other, under this initiative the buyer must ask the government for permission. Oh, and most likely pay a fee for the privilege.
This is another one of those great ideas from the Western side of the state, supported by misinformation and money from elite liberals.
This initiative will probably become law, supported as it is by these powerful moneyed interests and the abundance of liberal voters on Western Washington (and the governor). The net effect, of course, is that many if not most Eastern Washington residents, being of sounder minds, would just become criminals in the eyes of the state, rather than submitting to this idiotic law. Worse, this law would not improve the crime statistics that drive these anti-gun fanatics to blindly oppose all firearms.
This poorly-constructed initiative would make worse law, and be virtually impossible to enforce. Please join me in voting no on I-594’s ridiculous expansion of government control over our personal lives.
Rick Rogers, Clarkston