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 Linda Thomas
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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

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Comments (129)


  • Add A Comment

  • Essayons wrote...
    SUPPORT THE 2nd!!
    January 22, 2013 10:40 pm
    show your support!!! go to the facebook page, like it and pass the link to those who are in support of the 2nd amendment!! http://www.facebook.com/WashingtonStatesArmedCitizens
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Essayons wrote...
    SUPPORT THE 2nd!!
    January 22, 2013 10:44 pm
    type this on your facebook search bar and join us by liking this page to show your support for the 2nd!! pass the link to others!! WashingtonStatesArmedCitizens
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Phyrman1 wrote...
    Accuracy Counts
    January 22, 2013 11:47 pm
    There is no such thing as a "magazine clip". Those are two completely separate pieces of hardware, that do completely different things. I am continuously amazed by the lack of knowledge regarding weapons by the majority of people who want to ban them. Ignorance is not becoming, and should not be followed.
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  • Sailmaker wrote...
    Look at who commissioned the Poll
    January 23, 2013 12:01 am
    With a poll commissioned by Cease Fire, you have to bet that it would turn out that way. I would not believe them if they were to tell me that the sky was blue if I did not check it out and verify it myself. I would suspect the people that they contacted and the skew on the question.
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  • Sailmaker wrote...
    Assault Weapons?
    January 23, 2013 12:08 am
    Just what is an assault weapon? It is a rifle that has a SELECT FIRE OPTION allowing FULL AUTOMATIC firing. This type of weapon has been ILLEGAL for civilian ownership since 1934. These days a so call assault weapon is just a regular rifle that has certain cosmetic features added to it so that it "looks scary" to some people. These same people were pushing for a defination of assault weapon by saying that it had to fit two out of three criteria. These criteria were 1. Based on a military weapon 2. Have a bayonet lug and 3. Have a detachable clip. Based on that criteria, a muzzle loading Brown Bess Musket (the type used by the British during the Revolutionary War) would be an assault weapon. Get a clue, they are only after the guns to take total control of our lives. Wake up and smell the coffee before it is too late.
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  • Mike Hunt wrote...
    Seriously Linda -
    January 23, 2013 1:05 am
    What's next - promoting an article from hufpo that all R's are racist? How about something from msnbc on how wonderful the potus is?

    Just because you are now with Dave doesn't mean you have to drink the all of the kool-aid. Even if I lean in the same political direction, I appreciate some balance.

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  • TheNewsChick wrote...
    Seriously Mike
    January 23, 2013 1:25 am
    I don't know what Huffpo article you're talking about. This story is based on a state survey released Tuesday. Both sides represented in the above.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Who said this
    January 23, 2013 4:52 am
    Does it sound familiar to what they are saying today.

    The state must declare the children to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation

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  • doublej wrote...
    .
    January 23, 2013 6:40 am
    That would be Adolf Hitler
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  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    600 phone interviewers?
    January 23, 2013 5:28 am
    state wide or Seattle Lib only? Makes a big difference on poll results....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Or the way the question was asked
    January 23, 2013 5:44 am
    For example

    In light of the recent senseless killing of 20 children by a gunman with an assault rifle. Would you support the ban of Assault Rifles that are not good for anything other than the Military.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    And considering the end game of Washington Cease Fire
    January 23, 2013 5:45 am
    I would not doubt that was how the question was asked. Or there were some other leading questions before the endgame

    I would love KIRO to follow up on the questions.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Devil_Doc wrote...
    Liberal news sources
    January 23, 2013 5:57 am
    I was at the standup.org anti assault rifle in Seattle 2 weekends back. Everyone was carrying "ban assault weapons" signs, and listening to various state and local big wigs talk about the evils of assault weapons. I talked to about 25 people at that rally, and not a single one could tell me what an assault weapon was. Listening to the rally speakers, it was obvious that they didn't know either. They all were under the impression that assault weapon meant machinegun. No one could believe that it was against the law to own full auto in Wa. I'm fine with closing the "gun show loophole", as long as no one retains that information. But woe to the person thast tries to take away a gun. Do you dems in Seattle really understand how bad it would be to try and go through rural communities and confiscate guns? "Stand your ground. Do not fire unless fired upon. But if there is to be a war, let it begin here".
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  • sportsguru wrote...
    Wow
    January 23, 2013 5:57 am
    A whole bunch of people have there panties in a bunch.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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