RES 2014-20 SUPPORTING INITIATIVE 594RESOLUTION NO. 2014 -20
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Bainbridge
Island, Washington supporting the passage of Initiative 594,
which seeks to close the loopholes in the existing state criminal
background checks system used to purchase a firearm, by
expanding our current system to include private sales.
WHEREAS, in 1993, the U.S. Congress passed the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act,
requiring all federally licensed firearm dealers to perform a background check on every
firearm purchaser; and
WHEREAS, under current federal and state law, criminal background checks are not required
for the purchase of firearms through private transactions at gun shows, over the internet, and
in parking lots; and
WHEREAS, according to statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United
States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- the incidence of yearly gun murders has increased to over 31,000 nationally;
- states with required criminal background checks on private firearm sales, have
been shown to have 38% fewer women murdered by intimate partners; 49%
fewer suicides by gun; 39% fewer law enforcement officers killed by
handguns, and a 64% fewer crime guns trafficked to other states and,
- the background check system has blocked more and 2 million sales to
prohibited purchasers, including more than 40,000 in Washington state along;
and
WHEREAS, adoption of Initiative 594 will not impose a significant burden on any
Washingtonian seeking to legally buy or sell a firearm; and
WHEREAS, Initiative 594 will use the same background check system currently in use in
Washington state; and
WHEREAS, Initiative 594 makes no changes to Washington state hunting or shooting laws;
and makes reasonable exceptions for gifts between family members, antiques and relics,
temporary transfers and loans for hunting or sporting, and personal defense; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Bainbridge Island supports policies that keep
guns out of dangerous hands while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners, and
strongly believes that the State of Washington should take action to close the loophole in our
existing background check system and keep guns out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers
and the dangerously mentally ill; now therefore,
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THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAINBRIDGE ISLAND DOES RESOLVE
AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council supports the passage of Initiative 594, which makes sure
guns sold in Washington State go through the same background check system.
Section 2. The City Council authorizes the City Manager to forward this resolution to
the City's delegation to the Washington State Legislature.
PASSED by the City Council this 91h day of September, 2014
APPROVED by the Mayor this 91h day of September, 2014.
Anne S. Blair, Mayor
ATTEST /AUTHENTICATE:
Rosalind D. Lassoff, City Clerk
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: August 27, 2014
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: September 9, 2014
RESOLUTION NO.: 2014 -20
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