By RayJaun Stelly, Seattle Medium
On Monday, Governor Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced on their proposals for bills in the upcoming legislative session that would ban assault weapons, require permits to purchase a gun, and make gun manufacturers liable for negligent sales in the state of Washington.
The first bill, The Firearm Industry Responsibility & Gun Violence Victims’ Access to Justice Act, ensures that firearms manufacturers and sellers will face liability if they fail to establish, implement and enforce reasonable controls in the manufacture, sale, distribution and marketing of firearms. The bill ensures that victims have access to justice when the firearms industry fails to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals.
The second bill renews Ferguson’s call for a ban on the sale, manufacture or importation of military-style assault weapons. This is the second time Gov. Inslee has joined Ferguson to call for a ban on the sale of assault weapons.
“Our gun safety laws are not the only thing we are going to do to fight gun violence, we are going to provide more mental health to our young people, attack the homelessness crisis, going to train more police officers that are on the street to protect us,” said Inslee at a press conference announcing the bills. “We also have to have something that goes to the heart of gun violence, which is that too many guns of the wrong kind are in the wrong hands, and the laws we proposed are aimed at keeping the wrong guns out of the wrong hands. We know these laws can be effective.”
Noting that 6,000 kids have been hurt or killed last year due to guns, over 600 mass shootings have occurred in the United States, and 23 Washingtonians died just last month because of gun violence, Inslee says that it is time treat guns with the severity that they deserved.
“You need to get a license to drive a car, you need to get a license to go fishing, it’s time to get a license to make sure you have safety training to purchase a gun in the state of Washington,” says Inslee. “We know that it is effective. After the shooting in Connecticut, they passed a permit to purchase bill and they had about a 40% reduction in gun violence as a result.”
Ferguson has presented the ban on military-styled guns six times, and they have all failed, but with the backing of polls and more recent elections favoring candidates who are in favor with reducing gun violence he’s hoping this bill will be passed.
“You look at polls and election results, collectively this is where we meet the people where they are on addressing this challenge,” said Ferguson. “This is the seventh year I proposed this request, and I am honored to have the governor joining on that again this year as well.”
Gun safety, control, and violence have been an issue throughout the country, but it has been increasing here in the state of Washington. Every year 781 Washingtonians are killed by guns, every 12 hours someone is killed by a gun, and more than 75 percent of gun deaths in the state are suicide.
These statistics are alarming, yet they are continuous. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens, these acts of violence cost the state an average of $5.3 billion every year, which ultimately takes away from other resources that the money could potentially be used for.
More importantly, 34% of Washingtonians reported owning a firearm in their house, and only 36% of people in gun-owning households practice safety by keeping firearms locked and unloaded. This is one of the many red flags Washington is experiencing when it comes to gun safety.
According to gunresponsibility.org, 68% of all homicides involve firearms, and Black people are six times more likely to die by gun homicides compared to white Washington residents.
D’Vonne Pickett Jr, a community leader and business owner, lost his life due to gun violence on October 19 outside of his Central Area storefront. His wife, KeAnna Rose Pickett, says that its time to pass practical solutions when it comes to gun violence.
“Someone you love can find hate in their heart to want to harm you in a way you cannot come back from,” said Pickett. “I feel like it’s important to figure out solutions that prevent that. So, I am hoping we can find some solutions around mental health and gun safety.”
“D’Vonne and I went to the gun range, we practiced shooting guns and believed in our Second Amendment rights. We believe that having that experience and education behind weapons is important because then you have a responsibility that you understand how powerful it is,” she continued. “[Guns] are real things that can hurt somebody. D’Vonne spent a lot of time before he got his permit and license, studying the laws and what it means to be a Black man able to carry a weapon hoping that it will protect him”.
Sofie Blazejova, a student at Ingraham High School in Seattle, recalls the recent incident that saw a fellow student lose his life after a fight turned into a homicide.
“I fear for my friends, fear for my community, and fear for myself, fear that no child should ever feel,” said Blazejova. “I thought I understood what happens during a school shooting, but I did not. I never fully understood how quietly you try to cry, how every part of your body is telling you to run, how you and your peers are crammed under the same table, and how many hours you wait to hug your parents and friends.”
“Within this year alone we have seen this issue 284 times, making gun violence the number one killer of children,” Blazejova continued. “Every time we try to justify our lack of action and prevention with thoughts and prayers or by blaming a bad egg. We are ignoring a systemic issue that has stolen thousands of children’s lives, but I refuse to do that anymore. So, to lawmakers and public servants here today, I demand that we ban assault rifles, I demand a permit to purchase firearms, I demand justice for victims of gun violence, I demand gun reform.”
