Proponents and opponents of Initiative 1639 speaking at The Daily Herald in Everett. Top row: Paul Kramer (left) and Rebecca Johnson, who urge a yes vote. Bottom row: Keely Hopkins (left) and Phil Watson, who urge a no vote.

Proponents and opponents of Initiative 1639 speaking at The Daily Herald in Everett. Top row: Paul Kramer (left) and Rebecca Johnson, who urge a yes vote. Bottom row: Keely Hopkins (left) and Phil Watson, who urge a no vote.

Pro and con on I-1639, the gun-safety ballot measure

In video interviews, the Herald opinion editor questions proponents and opponents.

In separate interviews, proponents and opponents of Initiative 1639 visited The Daily Herald to seek an editorial endorsement. The measure would toughen background checks for people buying semi-automatic rifles, increase the age limit to 21 for buyers of those guns and require safe storage of all firearms.

Appearing on behalf of proponents were Paul Kramer, citizen sponsor of Initiative 1639, and Rebecca Johnson of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility.

Opponents were represented by Keely Hopkins, Washington state director for the National Rifle Association, and Phil Watson, chairman of the Save Our Security/No on 1639 campaign.

The interviewer was Herald Opinion Editor Jon Bauer.

The Herald will publish an endorsement one way or the other sometime before the Nov. 6 election.

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