Gates Solidly Behind Gun Safety Initiative It’s First Voter-Initiated Attempt At Handgun Control In U.S. In 17 Years

Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates is a leading contributor to a handgun safety and licensing initiative, even gathering signatures for the measure, state records show.

“Bill is concerned about the number of people who are being killed or injured by handguns in this state, and he feels we need to do more to protect our communities from the irresponsible use of handguns,” Microsoft spokesman Mark Murray said.

Gates and his wife, Melinda, have given $35,000 of the $164,000 raised to date for Initiative 676, which would require that handgun owners be licensed and that each handgun sold in the state be accompanied by a trigger-locking device.

A petition received from Gates was mangled by the time it reached the campaign office through the mail, so organizers asked him to collect the signatures again.

His father, William Gates, a prominent lawyer, also has given $1,000, attended campaign events and co-sponsored a fund-raiser.

Other major supporters, each giving $10,000, include developer-investors Kenneth Alhadeff, Jack Benaroya and Bill Clapp, Visio Corp. president Jeremy Jaech and his wife, Linda, and former Active Voice development director Barry Shaw and his wife, Alison.

The measure has been touted as the first voter-initiated attempt at handgun control in the United States in 17 years. Four years ago, firearms advocates in Florida failed in an attempt to use a referendum to repeal a gun control law.

Organized as Washington Citizens for Handgun Safety, backers are led by former state first lady Jean Gardner, former Lt. Gov. Joel Pritchard and Washington Cease Fire President Tom Wales. They have until July 3 to submit at least 179,248 valid signatures of registered voters to put the measure on the ballot in November.

Joe Waldron, chairman of Washington Citizens Against Regulatory Excess, said the measure would require lengthy and costly classes for gun owners and would be expensive for the state to enforce.

“The initiative is being misrepresented and goes much further than the promoters indicate it does,” Waldron said. “There is a place for trigger locks, and there is a place for safety training, but I don’t think it should be a requirement for everybody.”