MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Unsecured firearm law would hold gun owners accountable

Jan 26, 2017, 7:53 AM | Updated: 8:44 am

unsecured firearm law introduced in Olympia...

Senator Guy Palumbo argues that tragic shootings could be further avoided if gun owners are held responsible if their weapons get into the wrong hands. (AP)

(AP)

The deadly shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. The mass shooting at the Cascade Mall. The accidental shooting of an 8-year-old Bremerton girl at the hands of her 9-year-old classmate.

All of these tragedies were the result of people getting their hands on an unsecured firearm.

Report: Any way you look at it, number of mass shooting rose in 2016

But Washington state doesn’t have a law to punish gun owners whose weapons get in the hands of the wrong people.

Democratic state Senator Guy Palumbo is trying to change that. Palumbo introduced a bill that would make unsafe storage of a gun a crime.

“It’s basically to keep the guns we do have out of the hands of dangerous people,” he said.

As the bill is currently written, a gun owner would either get a misdemeanor or felony — depending on how the gun was used — if their unsecured firearm was used illegally by someone.

“You can never guarantee those wouldn’t happen — those tragedies — but certainly in those cases, this all would have had ramifications for the people’s whose guns were used in those tragedies.”

Palumbo, a gun owner himself, says it is just “common sense” to lock up firearms.

“I’m a gun owner, but it’s unfair to keep them unlocked,” he said.

He admits he is not sure how well the bill will do.

“It will be interesting to see if we get a hearing on it or if it passes or gets to the floor, but we’re going to keep fighting for things like this…”

A companion bill is being introduced in the House. The measures were inspired by successful policies in more than two dozen other states. The legislation would also require firearms dealers to offer gun buyers a lock box or gun lock at the time of sale, as well as post signs about the new law.

“This bill is about accountability,” Palumbo said. “So many of the tragic shootings we have seen lately could have been prevented if the gun owner had simply taken the time to store the weapon properly. As a result of this legislation, I hope we’ll start seeing more news reports about people fulfilling their potential and less about lives being cut short.”

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

11 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

12 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

13 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

14 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

15 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

18 hours ago

Unsecured firearm law would hold gun owners accountable