"Officers Down": New Analysis Of FBI Data Reveals That Nearly Two-Thirds Of Washington Police Shot To Death In 30-Year Span Were Murdered By People Barred From Possessing Guns

SEATTLE, Sept. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Officers Down," a new analysis of FBI data released today by Everytown for Gun Safety, reveals that nearly two-thirds of Washington State police shot to death in a 30-year span were murdered by people who had been barred from possessing guns. Everytown's analysis was completed in the final months of the campaign for Initiative 594, the ballot measure that would close the loophole in Washington's background check law by making sure all Washington gun-buyers undergo a background check when buying a gun. Initiative 594 would expand background checks to cover all gun sales—including those between strangers at gun shows and online— and protect law enforcement by preventing convicted felons and other prohibited purchasers from getting guns. Research shows that in states that require background checks for every gun sale, 39 percent fewer law enforcement are killed with handguns. Everytown's "Officers Down" analysis is available here.

Washington law enforcement will discuss the analysis with media on a call today at 11 AM Pacific. Please RSVP to [email protected] to join.

Of the 36 Washington State law enforcement officers murdered between 1980 and 2013, 28 were killed with firearms that were not their own. And of those gun murders, at least seventeen — 61 percent — were committed by individuals who were prohibited from possessing firearms.

To conduct the analysis, Everytown obtained the FBI's Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) database covering felonious deaths of law enforcement from 1980 to 2011 and updated it with additional incidents documented in press clippings. For all incidents in which an officer was killed with a firearm that was not his or her own, Everytown identified the assailant and then researched state and federal criminal records and contemporaneous newspaper records to determine if the individual was prohibited by law from possessing firearms. Details of those incidents are available in the "Officers Down" analysis here.

As the analysis was released, Washington law enforcement made the following statements:

"Nearly two-thirds of Washington police officers shot to death on the job were murdered by someone who was legally prohibited from having a gun—and that's more than tragic, it's unacceptable," said Don Pierce, former Bellingham Police Chief. "We must do more to protect our men and women in uniform, and we can—by passing Initiative 594, which will close Washington's background check loophole and help keep guns out of dangerous hands."

"The research demonstrates what police officers have long known, that unregulated firearms sales make it far too easy for convicted felons and other prohibited purchasers to obtain firearms," said Brian O'Neill, former Auburn Police Officer. "Taking steps to reduce their access will reduce crime and save officers' lives—and that is why passing Initiative 594 is so important."

About Everytown for Gun Safety
Everytown for Gun Safety is a movement of Americans fighting for common-sense policies that will reduce gun violence and save lives. Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than two million supporters including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for reforms that respect the Second Amendment and protect people. At the core of Everytown are Mayors Against Illegal Guns, founded in 2006 by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Boston Mayor Tom Menino, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots movement of American mothers founded on the day after Newtown. Learn more at www.everytown.org and follow us @Everytown

About The Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility
The Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility is a coalition of concerned citizens and organizations working together to forge commonsense solutions to reduce gun violence. We support the Second Amendment right of citizens to own guns. We also believe with that right comes basic responsibilities. As a society we are responsible for keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and promoting solutions that reduce gun violence.

CONTACT:
Kate Downen: [email protected] or 406-224-5056
Geoff Potter: [email protected] or 206-659-6737

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SOURCE Everytown for Gun Safety