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On Wednesday, hundreds of gun violence prevention advocates gathered in Seattle at the Alliance for Gun Responsibility's annual luncheon to celebrate Washington?s many legislative victories during the past decade. Washington has passed crucial gun safety measures that ban assault weapons and bump stocks, restrict firearms at various public locations, keep guns away from people deemed a danger to themselves or others, require training and waiting periods, and more.
Gun death is a public health issue. In 2021, Texas? rate of gun death was 39% higher than Washington state?s. South Carolina?s rate was double. Mississippi?s was triple.?If Washington suffered Mississippi?s rate of gun death, 1,800 more Washingtonians would have died from gunfire.
?Thirty years ago, I got thrown out of Congress for voting for the assault weapons ban,? Gov. Jay Inslee said during his remarks at the Alliance event. ?Now I?m standing here as a governor who?s signed dozens of gun safety bills.?
In 1994, the U.S. Congress voted to approve a federal ban on assault weapons that would endure for decade. Its supporters paid dearly; many were voted out of office. But the ban worked. In 2004, upon the ban?s expiration, AR-15 rifles accounted for just 3.6% of total firearms produced in the U.S.. They now account for around 25% (a 700% increase). That increase correlates to the rate of increase of mass shooter incidents, which have increased by a factor of 12.2 from 2004 through 2021. A 2019 study found that mass-shooting fatalities were 70% less likely to occur during the 1994-2004 ban period. A city-level study during the ban period found a significant decrease in gun death across three of America?s most-afflicted cities.
Inslee has signed a total of 28 gun violence prevention bills as governor since assuming office in 2013. Washington also has adopted a public health approach to curb gun violence, adopting specific policies responsive to different types of violence. In 2014, the governor signed HB 1840 to require the surrender of firearms by those subject to a sexual assault protection order, or those who have criminally threatened to use a firearm. Most recently, he signed laws requiring reporting of lost or stolen guns, prohibiting gun possession by defendants whose felony charges were dismissed based on incompetency to stand trial, and others.
Those 28 laws have each contributed to Washington?s leadership on gun violence prevention. On public health issues like gun violence where lives hang in the balance, Washington has taken action to save them.
Even the brilliant flashing lights on state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) work trucks aren?t bright enough for some drivers to get the picture: reckless driving hurts people. There were over 1,200 crashes in work zones in 2023. Some drivers were distracted by their cell phones. Some were intoxicated. Some were just brazen, zooming through work zones at top speed. Some drivers attempted combinations of these behaviors: one driver was both speeding and using a cell phone, causing a multi-car collision while attempting to pass in a work zone.
In just one week last September, three consecutive nights of frightening crashes left work crews shaken up. On Wednesday at the Washington State Patrol Fallen Officers Memorial, WSP honored its 33 fallen troopers including Christopher Gadd, killed in March by a speeding and intoxicated driver.
A speeding driver smashed into other, more responsible drivers on Sept. 28, 2023 on SR 28 in a work zone. Several innocent drivers were hospitalized, and the speeder was arrested.
?Unfortunately, 1,200 work zone crashes isn?t really abnormal,? said WSDOT communications director Kris Abrudan. ?It?s surprising, but that?s about average. But the severity of these crashes is getting worse. We?re seeing more injuries because of speed, distraction, and intoxication.?
Washington state suffered an 11% increase in traffic death from 2022 to 2023.
To buck this trend of recklessness and harm, Gov. Jay Inslee and legislators have campaigned for safety improvements over the last few legislative sessions. Following the most recent session, Inslee signed several bills to expand the use of traffic cameras to catch speeding drivers in work zones and elsewhere.
State troopers have been killed by reckless drivers. WSDOT work crews have been hurt. Innocent, responsible drivers have been hurt. The safety advantages of seatbelts, modern road design, and airbags have been overcome by irresponsibility in recent years. That trend must be reversed.
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Washington remains a top state
Washington is the 8th-best state overall, according to U.S. News and World Report?s newest Best States rankings. The Evergreen State earned high marks for infrastructure, natural environment, economy, and health care. In fact, another recent study ranked Washington the very best state for nurses. The state?s poverty rate remains 21% lower than the national average, the uninsured population is 22.1% smaller than average, and renewable energy use is nearly quadruple the national average.
WSP honors its fallen
The Washington State Patrol held its annual Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday morning at the academy in Shelton. At the heart of the academy?s parade grounds, a memorial is inscribed with the names of all 33 fallen officers killed in the line of duty in the department?s history. An eternal flame burns, a symbol of their enduring legacy. Trooper Christopher Gadd was killed in March by a reckless driver; his will be the next name added to the memorial.
?We will always remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the people of this great state,? said WSP Chief John Batiste.
Outstanding employees celebrated during Public Service Recognition Week
The State of Washington observed Public Service Recognition Week this week, celebrating the commitment to service and the outstanding performance of state employees. A total of 25 employees received special recognition: 14 received the ?Extra Mile Award? for innovation and customer service, and 11 received the Leadership Award for their vision and dedication.
Korean governor visits
Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Korea?s Gyeonggi Province visited Washington this week and met Gov. Jay Inslee in Seattle on Thursday. Dong-yeon has a considerable record of climate action. A year ago, he announced the ?Gyeonggi RE100 Vision? to expand renewable energy generation in his region by the equivalent of six nuclear power plants. The plan would multiply renewable energy generation from 5.8% of the region?s mix to 30% by 2030, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40%.
'Friends for Life' campaign teaches the deadly risks of fentanyl
Tuesday was National Fentanyl Awareness Day, an occasion to consider that 70,000 Americans fatally overdosed on fentanyl last year. The deadly drug poses a public health crisis. The Washington State Legislature and Gov. Jay Inslee have moved with urgency over the last several legislative sessions to enact a comprehensive and well-funded strategy to defeat fentanyl and synthetic opioids, with special attention on youth and Tribal communities. The state Health Care Authority?s ?Friends for Life? campaign is reaching out to teens and their families about the risks of fentanyl, encouraging realistic conversations about the drug. The campaign also promotes understanding of naloxone, an overdose-reversing drug that is easy and safe to use, and very effective in saving lives.
State agency reminds teens to ?know your rights? when beginning summer seasonal work
School?s almost out for the summer, and many young adults are accepting seasonal work. The state Department of Labor & Industries urges these workers to learn their rights in the workplace. State law prohibits teens from dangerous jobs or other work involving hazardous equipment such as roofing, meat processing, or demolition, for example.
Invasive ?spongy moth? poses threat; emergency declared.
Infestations of invasive spongy moths have been discovered in Thurston and Whatcom Counties, prompting an emergency declaration by Gov. Jay Inslee this week. The destructive species has established itself in 20 eastern states; it consumes leaves from 300 different tree species and has caused significant defoliation. The state Department of Agriculture will spray a naturally-occurring soil bacteria over affected areas beginning immediately. Btk (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) has an excellent human safety record and is effective in eradicating spongy moths. Visit the state Department of Agriculture?s website to sign up for alerts of treatment flights.
Washington?s ?Internet for All? initial proposal greenlighted by Biden-Harris Administration
Washington state has a goal to connect every resident to high-speed internet by 2028. That goal was helped along by a recent federal announcement: the state?s proposal for the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program was approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The BEAD program is a vital part of the Biden Administration?s ?Internet for All? initiative. Washington state?s approval will allow it to request up to $1.2 billion in federal funding to help close the digital divide.
By following these instructions to test your internet speeds, you can help Washington earn federal funding and improve connectivity in your region. Visit https:/bit.ly/speed-test-map.
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