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CHEHALIS, Wash. -- The top law enforcers of Lewis County are making bold statements regarding the recently enacted gun background check Initiative 594. The sheriff-elect and the prosecutor put out a public letter saying they're not going to make average citizens into criminals.
The new law stemming from I-594 is just 12 days old and already stirring up controversy. The initiative passed by nearly 60 percent of Washington voters requires background checks for private transactions of guns whether at gun shows, online or in person.
Last weekend, the state patrol estimated 1,000 people gathered at the state Capitol for an "I will not comply" rally.
Now a public letter has gone out from sheriff-elect Rob Snaza and prosecutor Jonathan Meyer of Lewis County saying they won't be going out and prosecuting people who inadvertently violate the background check law.
"We wanted to make sure that the citizens of Lewis County knew that we weren't looking to make criminals out of ordinary citizens," Meyer said.
Meyer and Snaza are the first elected officials to come out publicly saying I-594 is too over-reaching. They put this message out because they feel there's too much confusion about I-594 and they want to make it clear about what they'll do and what they won't do.
"'We're not going to try to trap citizens into transferring a gun to a friend and then try to nab them on a violation of 594," Meyer said. "That's not what we're interested in."
People who voted against the initiative say they like what they're hearing. Plus, they believe the enforcement would be too costly.
"And to go out of their way to find people, it's going to be costing taxpayers more money," said Centralia resident Leonard Hoffman.
But the authors of I-594 say the Lewis County officials are living up to the intent, but overreacting.
"It sounds to me like his is going to be doing what his legal responsibility is," said Sandy Brown of the Center for Gun Responsibility. "So we don't really understand why he's using such flagrantly and flamboyantly incorrect language about the intention of 594."
Those who voted for initiative want it enforced.
"I just want to feel safe in my neighborhood," said Centralia resident Romney Griffith.
But nothing has happened so far -- no arrests have been reported anywhere for violating I-594.
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CHEHALIS, Wash. -- The top law enforcers of Lewis County are making bold statements regarding the recently enacted gun background check Initiative 594. The sheriff-elect and the prosecutor put out a public letter saying they're not going to make average citizens into criminals.
The new law stemming from I-594 is just 12 days old and already stirring up controversy. The initiative passed by nearly 60 percent of Washington voters requires background checks for private transactions of guns whether at gun shows, online or in person.
Last weekend, the state patrol estimated 1,000 people gathered at the state Capitol for an "I will not comply" rally.
Now a public letter has gone out from sheriff-elect Rob Snaza and prosecutor Jonathan Meyer of Lewis County saying they won't be going out and prosecuting people who inadvertently violate the background check law.
"We wanted to make sure that the citizens of Lewis County knew that we weren't looking to make criminals out of ordinary citizens," Meyer said.
Meyer and Snaza are the first elected officials to come out publicly saying I-594 is too over-reaching. They put this message out because they feel there's too much confusion about I-594 and they want to make it clear about what they'll do and what they won't do.
"'We're not going to try to trap citizens into transferring a gun to a friend and then try to nab them on a violation of 594," Meyer said. "That's not what we're interested in."
People who voted against the initiative say they like what they're hearing. Plus, they believe the enforcement would be too costly.
"And to go out of their way to find people, it's going to be costing taxpayers more money," said Centralia resident Leonard Hoffman.
But the authors of I-594 say the Lewis County officials are living up to the intent, but overreacting.
"It sounds to me like his is going to be doing what his legal responsibility is," said Sandy Brown of the Center for Gun Responsibility. "So we don't really understand why he's using such flagrantly and flamboyantly incorrect language about the intention of 594."
Those who voted for initiative want it enforced.
"I just want to feel safe in my neighborhood," said Centralia resident Romney Griffith.
But nothing has happened so far -- no arrests have been reported anywhere for violating I-594.
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