Washington firearm Initiative 1491 leading in early results
Nov 8, 2016, 8:38 PM | Updated: Nov 9, 2016, 5:30 pm
In 2014, Washington voters passed I-594 requiring background checks for gun sales. (AP)
(AP)
With 71 percent approval, the latest firearm initiative in Washington maintained a lead in the votes Wednesday.
View election results for Washington’s key races and issues
Initiative 1491 creates a legal process for courts to issue extreme risk protection orders. That essentially means that if a person is considered a danger to themselves or to others, they should be denied access to guns, including the ability to purchase a firearms. Family members and police could apply for the order, and then present facts and reasoning under oath for the action.
A person under an extreme risk protection order would have the right to a hearing for dismissal.
Initiative 1491 also makes it a crime to falsely file a petition for the protection order.
The Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility is the campaign behind Initiative 1491 – it raised $3.98 million by October, according to Ballotpedia. Its top donor is Seattle venture capitalist Nick Hanauer, who reportedly donated $790,000. The National Rifle Association opposes the initiative.
According to a KOMO News Poll, about 79 percent of voters were in favor of the Initiative 1491 prior to the election. A similar Elway Poll found that 64 percent were in favor.
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