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Firearms Initiative Certified for November Ballot

Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman has approved Initiative 1639 to be included on the November Ballot. 

 

“I-1639 concerns firearms," state department spokesperson Erich Ebel said. "It would require enhanced background checks, training and waiting periods for sales. It would criminalize certain storage and unauthorized use of fire arms, and impose age limitations as well.”

The age limitation the initiative would impose is 21.

Wyman’s office acknowledged there remains some concern over the format of the signature sheets for this initiative.

“The concerns that were raised over the format of the 1639 petition sheets were about whether or not they fully comply with Washington’s constitutional and statutory requirements," said Ebel. "The law says the petition sheets have to be readable, full, true and correct. The ones that were presented to signers did not have underlines and strikethroughs to explain the changes to existing law. However, the Secretary of State’s office does not have the statutory authority to reject petition sheets based on that alone.”

I-1639 is one of three initiatives submitted to Wyman’s office for confirmation. Ebel said verification for the carbon tax and grocery tax initiatives should be complete by mid-August.