OLYMPIA – In an effort to bring some good out of a tragedy, the Legislature is poised to pass a law that could prevent another murder-suicide like that of Sheena Henderson and her estranged husband Christopher at a Spokane hospital last summer.

The House unanimously approved a bill requiring law enforcement agencies to notify worried family members before returning firearms seized from a person involved in domestic violence or other criminal activities, or from someone being examined for mental illness. Because of a minor change, it is headed back to the Senate, which already gave it unanimous approval.

The bill has support from gun-rights and gun-control advocates. Passage is expected before the session ends later this month.

It may only affect a couple dozen people a year, Sen. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, said, but for them it could be life-saving.

The bill loses a gap in state law that was highlighted by the two deaths last year, Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, said.

Christopher Henderson was evaluated as a potential suicide threat last July, but was eventually cleared and released by Spokane Valley officers. Less than 24 hours later, he retrieved his guns from the Spokane Police Department, which had seized his guns during an early suicide attempt. He went to Deaconess Hospital, where Sheena worked, fatally shot her then killed himself.

Sheena’s family said they knew Christopher had been released, but felt she was safe at work because they assumed he didn’t have his gun. Police had no requirement to notify anyone before returning the guns.

“This is one of these tragedies where something good may come out of it,” Rep. Kevin Parker, R-Spokane, said.

Under the bill, a person seeking return of seized weapons police have seized wouldn’t get them back immediately if a family member had filed a request to be notified first. The agency must hold the gun for 72 hours after the notification is made.

The House agreed to an amendment from Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, to make clear the notification and waiting period doesn’t apply to firearms under temporary holds from routine traffic stops.

Billig and others credited the proposal’s success to the work of Sheena Henderson’s father, Gary Kennison, and her longtime friend Kristen Otoupalik, who made several trips to Olympia to testify for the bill and tell Sheena and Christopher’s story.

The bill is not about gun control or gun seizure, but about notification and gun return, he said.

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