Issue Position: Common Sense Gun Legislation

Issue Position

Gun violence is a heartbreaking epidemic in Washington State and our country. We have fallen down in our responsibility to keep people and especially our children safe. In Washington we have already taken steps, such as banning bump stocks in the 2018 legislative session, but we can and must do more. I support raising the age to purchase a semi-automatic assault rifle to 21 and requiring that people go through expanded background checks already required for handgun buyers. Gun operation licenses should require renewals just like drivers licenses. People with criminal backgrounds and those who have been involved in domestic abuse should not receive gun operation licenses.

We need Congress to renew the assault weapons ban, end the sale of high capacity magazines, and make gun trafficking a federal crime. Type of guns exclusively used to kill people, not for hunting, should not be sold in the U.S..

I commend the Edmond City Council who boldly passed ordinances requiring lock boxes for firearms and dealing with lost and stolen firearms. This is especially important because suicides make up 75% of firearm deaths in Washington State.

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