I-1639’s gun safety provisions make sense

I am writing in support of Initiative 1639, Safe Schools, Safe Communities, which represents the most comprehensive gun safety initiative put forward in the state of Washington.

Haven’t we all had enough of gun violence? As the father of two children who attended Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, where a teenage shooter killed three class mates and wounded others with an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle, I have had enough of gun violence.

It’s time for all of us to come together with commonsense rules to stop, or at least slow, the gun violence.

I-1639 has multiple commonsense components to it. It raises the age to purchase assault rifles from 18 to 21 years old. Really, is this simple measure too tough for us to accept? It also includes a “Dangerous Access Prevention” provision that incentivizes secure storage by holding gun owners accountable if a child or legally prohibited person accesses or uses an unsafely stored firearm to hurt themselves or others. Safe storage will help to reduce the likelihood of mass shootings, youth suicide, and unintentional shootings among minors.

If we don’t act to halt the gun violence now when we have the chance, then we are all accountable for the next senseless killings. If we treasure our children’s lives and their future, we need these measures. This November I will vote yes on I-1639 to keep our children safe. Because I have had enough.

Gregory Hauth

Everett