Some of my conservative friends will call this letter a cop out, some of my liberal friends will cheer my apparent “progressive transformation.” In reality, it is neither. I am writing about I-594 and I-591. I recently read both initiatives and find both to be frustrating enough to vote down — although I am still on the fence for I-591.
On I-594, I don’t find any implication or obvious drive to gun registration. There is wording that could be construed that way, and I don’t have enough space to quote — but it seems a stretch to me to draw this conclusion. However, there is also a lack of wording that does anything at all to actually enforce current law or keep guns out of criminal or disturbed individuals’ hands as proponents suggest. In essence, it just adds more administrative burden to law-abiding citizens.
I-591 attempts to do two things, block confiscation without due process and prevent government from creating background check policy in conflict with uniform national standards. While I respect the intention of I-591, and may still vote for it based on that since it does not institute any personal or citizen restrictions, whereas I-594 in fact does add restrictions on the law-abiding citizen.
Here is my bottom line: create an initiative that prevents access or makes it very hard for criminals or those who would cause harm using a gun and I would sign it. Add any agenda that does anything beyond this and I will reject it. I believe in this case the majority of police associations who tap into the voice of the average law enforcement officer (instead of some political activist group) have it right on this one. I beg both sides to use truth to get their positions heard.
Don Thompson
Lake Stevens
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