One more law criminals will ignore

The backers of I-594 want you to believe the measure simply closes the so-called "gun show loophole." What you are not being told is the 18-page measure will also require background checks on almost all transfers including most gifts and, with few narrowly defined exceptions, loans of any duration.

I-594 allows "bona fide gifts" between immediate family members but would require a wife to pass a background check before borrowing a firearm from her husband. The husband must then pass a background check before his wife returns his firearm. Each background check would require both the husband and wife appear at a licensed dealer or law enforcement agency with the firearm, complete paperwork, pay whatever fee the dealer or agency chooses to impose, and wait up to 60 days for the results.

I-594 is so vaguely written that just handing a firearm to another person in your living room could be considered a violation. I-594 will do nothing to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill, but will impose additional burdens on already scarce law enforcement resources. For these and other reasons, I-594 is opposed by the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, the largest, oldest and most influential organization representing law enforcement professionals in Washington State.

Federal and state laws already prohibit anyone, whether a licensed dealer or private citizen, from selling, loaning or giving a firearm to a person she or he knows or suspects cannot legally possess a firearm. Criminals do not follow the law. Passage of I-594 will create one more law criminals will ignore as they continue to steal firearms or acquire them on the black market.

Don't take my word for it. Go to http://sos.wa.gov/_assets/elections/initiatives/FinalText_483.pdf and read the measure yourself. Then fill out your ballot and vote "NO" on I-594.

Dennis Foster

Moses Lake