Initiative 594 states that “transfer” means the intended delivery of a firearm to another person without consideration of payment or promise of payment including, but not limited to, gifts and loans.

Under the new law, a lawful transfer cannot occur without a background check, with limited exceptions.

Each transfer of firearms, without background checks being done, from one person to another at a recent protest in Olympia was a crime. The Washington State Patrol had announced it did not consider it a crime and would not enforce the law.

The most dangerous law enforcement agency is one that is inconsistent, deciding in one case not to enforce the law and in another to consider the behavior criminal. We are supposed to have rule by law, not by men. The people passed the law, and the State Patrol cannot choose not to enforce it because it may be convenient.

If people didn’t think the law would have this result, perhaps they should have read it more carefully before approving it. By the way, if you thought this would keep firearms out of the hands of criminals, you are terribly naive because criminals do not follow the law.

Don Brockett

Former Spokane County prosecutor

Spokane