Drawing a line: Klickitat County sheriff says he won’t enforce Washington’s new gun law

“I think it’s a bad law and I think it violates people’s rights,” says Sheriff Bob Songer of I-1639, the law putting stiff requirements on the sale and ownership of semi-automatic rifles. YAKIMA — Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer says he’s not enforcing the state’s new initiative that places stiff requirements on the sale and ownership of semi-automatic rifles such as AR-15s, calling it unconstitutional. “I think it’s a bad law and I think it violates people’s rights,” he said. “This law will do nothing to stop crime or do anything to make our communities safer. But what it will do is make criminals out of our honest citizens.” Initiative 1639 — approved by voters statewide in November — raises the age to purchase a semi-automatic rifle from 18 to 21, calls for enhanced background checks, and requires buyers to complete a firearm safety course. The initiative also holds gun owners accountable if someone else uses their firearm to harm themselves or someone else. Yakima County Sheriff Bob Udell didn’t return several phone calls seeking comment on the initiative. Not all law-enforcement agencies in the state are taking a stance as hard as Songer’s. But many are concerned about the constitutionality of the measure and the additional workload enhanced background checks will bring when the initiative takes effect in July, said Steven Strachan, executive director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and Republic Police Chief Loren Culp[1] announced shortly after the November general election that they wouldn’t enforce the new law. “Certainly it is something that has led to a lot of conversation and consideration,” he said. “I think there’s an expectation from a lot of people — not just from law-enforcement agencies — that there will be some court challenges to this initiative.” In November, the National

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