Our children need the protections of I-1639

I do not believe in getting rid of the Second Amendment. As an indigenous woman with hunter/fisher family in Alaska, I understand how hunting holds a prominence for families all over. My father owns a gun for the protection of our family. One of my good friends is a Marine Corps officer and has a concealed carry license. I understand that people want to maintain this right.

However, this does not mean that we should not strengthen securities in maintaining and handling firearms.

It has been two years and three months since my childhood best friend was murdered, and I am still waiting on meaningful legislation to be passed for preventing gun violence. Allen Ivanov was a 19-year-old who was able to purchase an AR-15 style assault rifle and murder three individuals at a house party in Mukilteo.

I did not know Jordan Ebner personally, but many of my classmates mourn his loss gravely. Jake Long was a classmate I fondly remember taking classes with at Explorer Middle School. We would often talk about baseball together, and spend our P.E. period in a competitive spirit. He was a ray on sunshine. Anna Bui was my childhood best friend.

What people fail to realize is that the effects of gun violence on those affected by it is everlasting. The students of Sandy Hook, students of Parkland, and our communities here at home in Mukilteo and Marysville and Tulalip are deeply affected by this issue.

I am not suggesting that regulating firearm use will solve the entire crime problem in this country, but it is a step in the right direction. I have watched my community cry for the children. I watched family break down because children accessed a firearm. In 2016, there were 130 incidents involving firearms in Washington schools. This is not the Washington I want. This is not the state we deserve.

I am asking you to vote yeson I-1639. Keep our community in mind when you vote.

Tatiana Perkins

Everett