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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

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Comments (130)


  • Add A Comment

  • 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" }
  • mpvet8306 wrote...
    Culture of Violence
    January 23, 2013 6:00 am
    It's discouraging how the focus on these tragedies are on the weapon rather than the evil behind it. It seems more appropriate to discuss how our children are being raised, how monsters like these are being created. Let's look at inculcating fundamental things like love, discipline, communication, and compassion. However, these are harder things for polititcians to put there hands around.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleNative wrote...
    Good point mpvet
    January 23, 2013 7:37 am
    You want to look at what's really behind the violence? Look at the welfare state. 72% of African American children born today have no father in their lives. Many of those women have multiple children with multiple fathers, with the financial blessing of Uncle Sam. That's not to say there aren't single moms who do as best they can. But children in single-parent households are far more likely to be unsupervised and far more likely to participate in anti-social and criminal behavior.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Uh, Washington residence also voter for the re immaculation.
    January 23, 2013 6:01 am
    So I am not surprised that most of those surveyed would claim to support Obama's gun grab!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    HA HA
    January 23, 2013 6:10 am
    Gun grab? Was Reagan a gun grabber? He supported a ban on assault weapons and supported The Brady Bill. The fear mongering is alive and well with the RWNJ. Oh, this is just the start, he is going to take away everything, even your water pistols. Just keep up the rhetoric and watch your party lose more and more seats in the upcoming elections. Any wonder why you guys have lost the majority vote in 5 of the last 6 presidential elections? Do you ever think that far?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    President Reagan
    January 23, 2013 6:32 am
    was not your Dear Leader. And I though that act was bogus also.

    Just keep up the rhetoric and watch your party lose more and more seats in the upcoming elections.

    Ha ha ha ha! The actions of your Dear Leader against us Americans will be the end of you Parrots Party of Obama in our nation.

    Nothing your Dear Leader has done cannot be reversed. It will just take a long time.

    Do you ever think that far?

    Well do YOU, WSU?

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  • wsualumn wrote...
    HA HA AKA "LOONEY TUNES"
    January 23, 2013 8:22 am
    Sorry dude. He isn't trying to take away your guns, which you have been parroting from The NRA and Mitch McConnell. How far down the road do I see, far enough where most of my predictions have been correct. How far down the road to you look. Uh, your predictions are most often incorrect. Gay marriage and marijuana? Wrong! Healthcare? Wrong! The presidential election? Wrong! Who the parrot is? You! You seem to feel as though you represent what Americans want. Example "we Americans we see to it that..." You parrot McConnell and Boehner and a number of other righties. Keep it up pal!
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  • William Lawn wrote...
    Remember Ha Ha on McKenna and Rossi times three
    January 23, 2013 8:29 am
    Remember Ha Ha is the kiss of death and defeat.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Bunch of Americans with their underwear in an uproar!
    January 23, 2013 6:13 am
    Sports, YOUR Dear Leader is attempting to take away our rights. Chipping away at the Second Amendment bit by bit and other parts of our US Constitution and you claim to fail to see the significance of this. You Left wing Parrots just cannot see beyond the Specter of this Dear Leader of yours (who you re immaced.) and, as a result, cannot appear to grasp what he is doing and what Liberals have wanted for decades.

    It is truly a sad thing for you Parrots, sports, you fail to recognize that for every little bit of chipping at our American foundation by your regime, you as well as I, lose those rights forever.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dalamar437 wrote...
    Please stick to the facts and educate yourself
    January 23, 2013 6:29 am
    I strongly suggest you all read these bills for yourselves. Out of the 195 bills proposed on 1/03/2013 here is a summary of gun related bills I found: H.R.21
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dalamar437 wrote...
    Re: stick to the facts
    January 23, 2013 6:32 am
    Not sure why that all got cut off here it is again... I strongly suggest you all read these for yourselves. Out of the 195 bills proposed on 1/03/2013 here is a summary of gun related bills I found: H.R.21 - Background check related H.R.65 - Ban sales/possession for people under 21 H.R.117 - Enforced registration in all states H.R.137 - Background check related H.R.138 - Magazine Capacity limits H.R.141 - Gun Show regulation H.R.142 - Ban online ammunition sales None of these have passed (yet) they are only proposed at this point. This information is taken from senate.gov go find it for yourself.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    It's me! Ha ha!
    January 23, 2013 7:01 am

    Umm, this was a survey taken by WASHINGTON RESIDENTS, it had nothing to do with the POTUS, but don't let that stop you from covering your favorite subject which is the president,lol.

    Additionally, I think they are talking about a ban on assault weapons ONLY, nothing about a total ban on firearms, but don't let the facts get in the way of a good rant right Ha,Ha,.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ratrustle wrote...
    Really not that hard to believe
    January 23, 2013 6:30 am
    This is top of mind with a lot of people. If you were to show the "average" Washington citizen a picture of a gun that looks "military" and then ask them if that should be legal -- you'll get the answer that Linda did. Not surprising at all. Especially since the shootings in Sandy Hook, Colorado, and Oregon. If Linda were to ask if we should amend the constitution to disallow certain types of weapons she may have come up with a different answer. It all depends on how pose the question. I don't think she went in to this trying to "game" the answer. It's a legitimate question with a surprising answer.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CharlieinOlympi wrote...
    Gun Survey
    January 23, 2013 6:31 am
    This story is pure BS. The survey was tilted to favor Ceasefire. Surveys like this are designed to embolden legislators who proponents hope will blindly step into supporting their agenda. This steep slope has consequences. Not too young to remember 1994.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    To much of a hurry to get the anti gun news out......
    January 23, 2013 6:41 am
    With little substance to the story or the poll or the dynamics of the poll. In short, it appears the story is more about anti-gun rhetoric and propoganda then anything else. News sources should inform the public they serve to getting facts and balance out not sound bites.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • pullyourheadout wrote...
    Polls are useless
    January 23, 2013 6:53 am
    Any poll can be skewed. 600 calls that are directed in areas that are notoriously anti-gun is easy to make it look like 2/3 support gun bans.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    I remeber the Clinton "Assault Weapons" ban.
    January 23, 2013 6:57 am
    First of all, like today, so called assault weapons were semi auto "Evil" looking inanimate objects. They were NOT Automatic fire rifles! The AK "Pistol grips" that were SOOO evil and scary looking that you could go to prison and pay out hundreds of thousands of dollars if you were to modify a Mac 90. The same media hype was in full effect then just like today.

    Obama has exploited this massacre of children simply to fulfill the Liberals dream of Gun confiscation and payback to all the Anti Gun crowds for their support of this regime and past Liberal Presidents.

    Like has been posted Obama the Dear Leader is the GREATEST Gun salesman of the 21 Century!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Devil_Doc
    January 23, 2013 7:06 am
    You will find that most of those who attend these Anti American rallies know little of the subjects that they are there for. Mostly the same people who were the so called "Occupy" rioters. Them and Communists! Most of them are simply there, on our taxpaying dime, for the promise of drugs and alcohol and whatever else Liberals promise them. And the more visible low information voters who believe in what the regime tells them to think and say.
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