Washington voters may face a new gun-safety initiative on the ballot this fall.
It would let police and family members get temporary orders to keep guns away from people who might hurt themselves or others.
At a campaign kickoff rally today, Marilyn Balcerak said she was helpless when her adult son became angry and suicidal last spring.
"I remember talking to the police officers asking if there was anything I could do to make sure he did not have access to a gun. But under current state of law, there was nothing I could do," she said.
So James Balcerak legally bought a gun from Fred Meyer, and used it to kill his step-sister, Brianna Smith, before turning the gun on himself.
An Extreme-Risk Protection Order would allow families and law enforcement to petition a judge to temporarily suspend gun access up to a year, if an individual poses a serious threat to themselves or others.
Seattle Police expect to contact at least 10,000 people in mental distress this year.
"A good percentage of these people are armed, posing danger to themselves, danger to their loved ones, danger to the police," said Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole.
Zoe Ann Moore's daughter died by suicide after legally buying a gun, despite her mental illness.
"She didn't have a criminal record. So this Extreme-Risk Protective Order is the most important thing to my life today," Moore said.
The Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation understands the advocates.
"I know what suicide looks like up close and personal," said online magazine editor Dave Workman.
But Workman worries that false accusations could infringe on the constitutional right to own a firearm.
"If you are safe and responsible with it, it doesn't matter what your neighbor thinks," said Workman."
Still, in memory of James and Briana, their parents press forward.
"If this law is passed, we'd feel their murder-suicide wasn't in vain; it would help somebody else," Balcerak said.
It will take roughly 250,000 valid signatures to put the initiative on the November ballot.
The deadline is July 8th.
Cox Media Group
