Who Is Standing Up For Washington State Gun Owners?

By Bluegrass Bruce

Vote No on Initiative 594
Vote No on Initiative 594
AmmoLand Gun News
AmmoLand Gun News

Kentucky  –-(Ammoland.com)- The biggest battle over gun rights this election season isn’t in Washington, D.C. but in Washington State.

Second Amendment supporters in Washington are facing off with the gun control lobby over dueling ballot initiatives — a pro-gun bill to prevent gun confiscation (I – 591) and an anti-gun bill to expand background checks (I – 594).

So far, it hasn’t been much of a fight. The anti-gun Washington Alliance For Gun Responsibility, supported by Seattle millionaires like Bill Gates and Paul Allen, has already raised more than $7 million in support of I – 594.

The pro-gun side has raised only $1.3 million. The NRA — which just dropped $1.4 million in the Arkansas Senate race — has put only $191,000 into the fight.

Not surprisingly, polls show the anti-gunners pulling ahead, with seventy percent of voters favoring the background checks bill. According to gun rights activist Barron Barnett, many gun rights supporters in Washington aren’t even aware of what is going on. He recently wrote:

“I am terrified. Out of the people visiting their local gun show you would expect at least 90% [to have] heard of what’s going on. It’s more like 50%. Most have no real knowledge of either of the initiatives or their real legal impact.”

Barnett added that he feels abandoned by the NRA, writing that “the NRA is more than happy to take my money but then is no where to be found when things actually go sideways.”

With the NRA out of the picture, the fight is being led by Alan Gottlieb of the Washington State-based Second Amendment Foundation, who challenged Bill Gates to a debate over gun rights last month. But some have questioned Gottlieb’s commitment as well. Last month, the gun writer Claire Wolfe accused Gottlieb of being more interested in money and attention than gun rights, saying that he “need[s] and want[s] gun control because that’s what keeps the money and publicity flowing.”

Gottlieb was also widely criticized for supporting the Manchin – Toomey background check bill of 2013 (although he claims to have done so because the bill actually contained advances for gun rights.)

Time is running out to oppose I – 594 in Washington. One can only hope that gun groups will get their act together before it is too late.

Editors Note: The NRA has an entire website devoted to debunking the Gun Ban that is I-594: Visit: VoteNo594.com

About Bluegrass Bruce
Bluegrass Bruce is a hunter, political blogger, and UK basketball fan from Kentucky. His opinions on gun rights and politics are posted on “Bluegrass Bruce” and shared on websites and blogs across the United States. Visit: www.bluegrassbruce.blogspot.com

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TEX

There is no kind of ‘standing up’ that will help NJ,…its a lost cause because the people in NJ keep voting in tyrannists ! Just that simple ! The NRA or nobody else can fix stupid ! The NRA has better things to do with money than throw it away on lost causes !

Vom Brunhaus

Who is standing up for New Jersey gun owners ??? If ever there was a State requiring attention NJ should be at the top of everyones list. Just read the Shaneen Allen case in Atlantic County !!!

BambiB

Claire Wolfe is a gun writer?

Cecil

Bruce, The NRA is giving $191,000 and they have abandoned you? They have a website debunking the opposition and they are ‘out of the picture’? Why does the the idea of spoiled, entitled, kid come to mind? Taking shots at the NRA will not help you.

Granny Grunch

Just what one would expect from the people of a Western stoner state with their brains altered by cannabis …….