1997 Washington Initiative 676

1997 Washington state ballot measure 1997 Initiative Measure No. 676 Concerns firearms November 4, 1997 Results by county showing total votes by percentage voting no #FFCCD0 30–40% #F2B3BE 40–50% #E27F90 50–60% #D40000 70–80% #AA0000 80–90% #800000 90–100% Washington, United States 496690 1194004 4362459 275px County results No #32320C 90–100% 1px #AAAAAA solid #5D5D2D 80–90% 1px #AAAAAA solid #8B8B54 70–80% 1px #AAAAAA solid #bcbc83 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid #DEDEBD 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid Source: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/results_report.aspx?e=6&c=&c2=&t=&t2=5&p=&p2=&y= Washington State Secretary of State November 1997 General Election Results https://web.archive.org/web/20141025215544/https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/results_report.aspx?e=6&c=&c2=&t=&t2=5&p=&p2=&y= 25 October 2014 live Initiative 676 was an unsuccessful Washington state ballot initiative concerning firearms regulation that appeared on the ballot for the November 1997 elections. The initiative was filed on February 3, 1997, by Thomas C. Wales of Seattle, who later became a victim of gun violence himself. 239,805 signatures were collected to qualify it for the ballot.Initiatives to the People https://www2.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/statistics_initiatives.aspx 7 May 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20091212181401/https://www2.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/statistics_initiatives.aspx 12 December 2009 live Ballot title The ballot title was as follows: Shall the transfer of handguns without trigger-locking devices be prohibited and persons possessing or acquiring a handgun be required to obtain a handgun safety license? Support Many physicians and medical associations expressed support, claiming it would decrease gun accidents especially in children. William H. Gates, the father of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, donated $150,000 towards the passage of Initiative 676. Bill and Melinda Gates earlier contributed $35,000 to the cause. The Washington Citizens for Handgun Safety raised $575,658 by September 1997. Opposition Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart was opposed, voicing concerns about the strain the passage of the initiative could put on law enforcement, and excessive punishments for violations. Ameripac, a federal-level political action committee, contributed $100,000 to opposing Initiative 676. Gun rights organizations, including the National Rifle Association of America, contributed more than $2.3 million in opposition to the measure.Washington Handgun Trigger Locks, Initiative 676 (1997) https://ballotpedia.org/Washington_Handgun_Trigger_Locks,_Initiative_676_(1997) Ballotpedia 7 May 2023 en https://web.archive.org/web/20141015225111/https://ballotpedia.org/Washington_Handgun_Trigger_Locks,_Initiative_676_(1997) 15 October 2014 live Results Despite polling indicating voters almost exactly split,Lewiston Morning Tribune - Google News Archive Search https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kbReAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BjAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5577,2230783&dq=initiative+673+g:locwashington&hl=en 7 May 2023 news.google.com the initiative overwhelmingly failed to pass, and was rejected in every single county. The highest percentage voting yes was San Juan County at 45.1%. Washington Secretary of State 1997 Washington Initiative 676 496690 1194004 By county +County resultsCountyhttps://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/results_report.aspx?e=6&c=&c2=&t=&t2=5&p=&p2=&y= https://web.archive.org/web/20260311130733/https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/results_report.aspx?e=6&c=&c2=&t=&t2=5&p=&p2=&y= March 11, 2026 live Elections Search Results November 1997 General Munro Ralph Ralph Munro November 4, 1997 Secretary of State of Washington June 23, 2026NoYesMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams3,29787.08%48912.92%2,80874.17%3,786Asotin4,35785.82%72014.18%3,63771.64%5,077Benton34,72885.84%5,72714.16%29,00171.69%40,455Chelan17,07684.27%3,18815.73%13,88868.54%20,264Clallam18,59677.65%5,35122.35%13,24555.31%23,947Clark50,89065.83%26,41434.17%24,47631.66%77,304Columbia1,67093.66%1136.34%1,55787.32%1,783Cowlitz20,04676.51%6,15523.49%13,89153.02%26,201Douglas8,43288.22%1,12611.78%7,30676.44%9,558Ferry2,43291.19%2358.81%2,19782.38%2,667Franklin8,18386.74%1,25113.26%6,93273.48%9,434Garfield1,05992.41%877.59%97284.82%1,146Grant15,63889.67%1,80110.33%13,83779.35%17,439Grays Harbor17,77184.00%3,38416.00%14,38768.01%21,155Island15,47572.71%5,80927.29%9,66645.41%21,284Jefferson7,47067.51%3,59532.49%3,87535.02%11,065King297,45456.70%227,14743.30%70,30713.40%524,601Kitsap52,27671.40%20,94228.60%31,33442.80%73,218Kittitas8,38383.93%1,60516.07%6,77867.86%9,988Klickitat4,56081.75%1,01818.25%3,54263.50%5,578Lewis19,85988.89%2,48311.11%17,37677.77%22,342Lincoln4,18091.27%4008.73%3,78061.02%82.53Mason13,94682.48%2,96317.52%10,98364.95%16,909Okanogan10,20889.86%1,15210.14%9,05679.72%11,360Pacific5,64577.80%1,61122.20%4,03455.60%7,256Pend Oreille4,04392.16%3447.84%3,69984.32%4,387Pierce130,12473.42%47,10626.58%83,01846.84%177,230San Juan3,08454.87%2,53745.13%5479.73%5,621Skagit25,65979.39%6,66320.61%18,99658.77%32,322Skamania2,30379.44%59620.56%1,70758.88%2,899Snohomish116,14671.69%45,87428.31%70,27243.37%162,020Spokane103,81583.16%21,03016.84%82,78566.31%124,845Stevens13,56393.08%1,0096.92%12,55486.15%14,572Thurston49,31970.90%20,24029.10%29,07941.80%69,559Wahkiakum1,25178.48%34321.52%90856.96%1,594Walla Walla12,67984.02%2,41215.98%10,26768.03%15,091Whatcom34,83970.83%14,35129.17%20,48841.65%49,190Whitman8,73778.03%2,46021.97%6,27756.06%11,197Yakima44,81186.56%6,95913.44%37,85273.12%51,770Totals1,194,00470.62%496,69029.38%697,31441.24%1,690,694 References Category:1997 Washington (state) ballot measures Category:Government of Washington (state)