Last week, a new analysis of FBI data revealed that, over a 30-year span, 61 percent of the Washington law enforcement officers were murdered with guns sold to prohibited purchasers. As voters, we have the responsibility to do everything we can to protect the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect us.

That is just one of the reason I will vote “yes” on Initiative 594 this November. Currently in Washington, handguns sold by one of the more than 1,100 federally licensed dealers are subject to a federal background check. This prevents felons, domestic abusers and the seriously mentally ill from buying guns. The problem is that when these same individuals fail the background check, they can go to a gun show or to an unlicensed seller on line and buy a gun with no questions asked. Initiative 594 will close this loophole.

We know that background checks are effective at reducing crime and saving lives. In the 16 states that have initiated background checks on all handgun sales, there are 39 percent fewer law enforcement officers murdered with handguns.

Keep in mind that when I say 39 percent, these are lives saved, not just statistics. Real people whose lives we can save when we cast our vote this November. Please join me in voting “yes” on I-594 and make our communities a safer place to live and work.

Jane Wickstrom, Redmond