Everyone has a story. What's yours?
 Linda Thomas
twitter: @TheNewsChick
About Linda
Linda is the morning news anchor and features reporter for KIRO Radio. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.

If you have a news tip or story idea, I'd love to hear from you...

To leave a voice message for Linda about any of her stories call toll free 1-855-251-2363

Follow Me on Pinterest


AssaultWeapons.jpg
A large majority of Washington voters support an assault weapons ban, according to a new poll. Gun rights advocates say a poll of attitudes is of little value. (AP file photo)

Survey: Washington residents support assault weapons ban

January 22, 2013 @ 4:43 pm (Updated: 5:43 am - 1/23/13 )

Most Washington residents support stronger background checks for gun purchasers and banning assault weapons, according to a new statewide poll.

Washington Ceasefire, a grass-roots organization working to end gun violence, commissioned the poll which was conducted by a consulting group that represents both Republicans and Democrats.

Overall, the poll found 76 percent of state residents support tighter gun laws.

About 87 percent of Washington residents want better background checks of gun buyers. That means requiring background checks for all firearm purchases, even from private dealers at gun shows.

When it comes to assault weapons, 66 percent support a ban on semi-automatic weapons.

Washington Ceasefire's Ralph Fascitelli says the poll suggests voters are "far ahead of state elected officials who have passed only one gun reform so far in this century, and seems to be struggling to reach a consensus in the current session, even in the wake of Sandy Hook and other recent mass shooting incidents such as Cafe Racer."

Gun rights activists say there is little value in a poll of attitudes.

"Remember, these are the guys who had the poll back in 1997 that said they were going to win Initiative 676, and they lost nearly 3 to 1," says Dave Workman, communications director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and a former member of the NRA Board of Directors.

Initiative 676, would have required that trigger locks to be sold with handguns, along with requiring handgun owners to take an eight-hour safety training course.

"The firearms community isn't opposed to background checks," Workman tells me, "but they must be immediate, and they can't involve the creation of a de facto gun owner registry."

The poll consisted of 600 phone interviews, and has an error margin of plus or minus 4.1 percent.

It also found "widespread confusion" about what gun laws we have in place at present.

For example, over 40 percent of voters and gun owners alike believe Washington already bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazine clips. More than 70 percent believe every gun purchase requires a background check.

By LINDA THOMAS

More from Linda Thomas

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (130)


  • Add A Comment

  • Cash wrote...
    Washington cease fire is a joke...
    January 22, 2013 7:23 pm
    If they are behind this it is a total lie. This group is all about showboating without facts. The leader of this group is insane also.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Marmstro wrote...
    Another Survey
    January 22, 2013 7:28 pm
    In a recent survey of me. This article was overwhelmingly viewed to be lacking a reasonable amount of substance due to projecting a 600 person phone survey by an anti-gun organization over the 6-7 million residents of the state.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gladidontliveinkingco wrote...
    Washington Ceasefire
    January 22, 2013 7:30 pm
    I bet all of the calls were in King County. You know how they always vote. They didn't call anyone that I know.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chrisfrommv wrote...
    @gladidon't live
    January 22, 2013 7:45 pm
    I will go one step futher and probably polled those who live on queen anne or fremont or another ultra-libral downtown demographic.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    Thanks Linda
    January 22, 2013 7:34 pm
    For putting AJ where he belongs. I really enjoyed your comment.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Regularjoe44 wrote...
    Assault weapons ban?
    January 22, 2013 7:39 pm
    ...I support it too. Oh wait....assault weapons are already banned....'course none of the so called journalists have probably seen (other than a photo) shot, or have a clue about "assault" weapons other than what they're spoon fed. It seems to be what an AR-15 looks like that now makes it an assault weapon. Since it looks like a military rifle, it seems to be the choice of whack jobs. Any one of dozens of guns can perform similar to an AR...which for those of you that believe whatever the press feeds you, does not stand for "assault rifle". Once we go down the road banning the non assault weapon semi auto that looks lsimilar to an assault rifle....the nut jobs will just have to use many other options that do the same thing. That is until they can ban the next so called semi auto assault rifle...which they will if allowed....then they'll move on to the semi auto 22 long rifle....and eventually to any glock that holds over 6 rounds....which is all of them. And then when when they finally reached the banning of the single shot bird gun, they will have reached their objective of unarmed citizens....uh subjects.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dials wrote...
    600 really
    January 22, 2013 7:46 pm
    Good Grief Linda! A sample of 600 with a mixture of dems and reps. What mixture? What gender mix? What age mix? Never trust polls commissioned by groups with a preconceived premise. Liberal Arts majors partaking in mathematics is scary. This headline has Zero...Nada...validity... Probability 303 grade is F.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Keitho wrote...
    Figures
    January 22, 2013 8:00 pm
    This is as far left as state as you will find. Guns bad...Gay marriage good. Fiscal discipline bad.....Trillion $ deficits...eh, no biggie. Not being an owner of an assault weapon, or even a gun, I would not infringe on the 2nd ammendment as a kneee jerk reaction to a tragedy. Evidence shows that when there was an assault weapon ban, gun deaths did not decline. Of course logic is always trumped by feeling with liberals so its a no win.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Orcanan wrote...
    What a crock...
    January 22, 2013 8:06 pm
    Hmmm, makes me wonder if any of the 600 people interviewed were among the 2000+ that showed up at the Capitol on Saturday in support of gun rights and firmly against any kind of gun control? Silly question I'm sure. This is so biased in favor of gun-grabbers that it fails to be actual journalism. Additionally, the assertion that there is "widespread confusion" about WA gun laws only further proves that this "survey" was not conducted on any actual gun owners!! Please just stop pretending to be a reporter, this one sided story is proof of your inability to be unbiased.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • adiru wrote...
    I guess that settles it !!!
    January 22, 2013 8:09 pm
    600 people were polled and voted as Linda said. Let's get 600 more random calls to determine the outcome of gay marriage. Apparently if the first caller says no to gay marriage, then we can stop calling and say that 100% support the dissolution of gay marriage. Is that how this all works now? I didn't think so.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    Overall, the poll found 76 percent of state residents support tighter gun laws.
    January 22, 2013 8:12 pm
    Well, I support tighter gun laws as well...since almost every mass shooting has been a liberal perhaps we should outlaw liberals from owning guns. I'm sure the anti-gun liberals would agree...they are, after all, looking to increase public safety.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }