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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Gun-safety group wants new ballot measure

Martha Bellisle Associated Press

SEATTLE – A gun-safety group is turning its attention to voters in Washington state after lawmakers failed to pass a bill to create “extreme-risk protection orders.” These are orders that would let law enforcement take guns from people considered serious threats to themselves or others.

The Alliance for Gun Responsibility, the group behind the recently approved private-sale background-check initiative, plans to hold a news conference Thursday morning to launch its campaign for a ballot initiative to create a new category of protection orders.

The extreme-risk protection orders are modeled after the well-established domestic violence protection orders. The group says they would empower families and law enforcement to petition a court to temporarily suspend access to guns if a person threatens violence.

Only three states – California, Indiana and Connecticut – have enacted such laws.