OLYMPIA -- A coalition of gun-control groups plans to grade legislators on their efforts to adopt new laws and oppose changes to the background-check law approved last November by voters.

The Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility said Thursday it will score legislators not just on how they vote on bills the groups support or oppose, but on whether they are active in advocating for gun control during debates and deliberations, meeting with those who support gun control or "engaging the public" on the issue.

The coalition expects to back several bills, including one to reduce child access to firearms in homes, and oppose efforts to repeal Initiative 594, a law approved by voters to require background checks on most purchasers of guns through private sales. 

It won't penalize legislators for meeting with gun-rights advocates, said Rebecca Johnson-Arledge, an advisor to the coalition, because "we encourage people to meet with everyone." Legislators who appear at gun-rights rallies will get zeros while those who participate in gun-control events will get points.

"We want to reward good behavior," she said.

The scorecard will be released later in the 2015 session.

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