Here is our official voters guide for upcoming 2018 ballot initiatives for Washington State. The goal of this guide is to help Douglas County Republicans make the right choice in the November elections. In this election cycle we have ballot initiatives that could potentially have wide-sweeping affects on Washington state residents. Issues at hand are gun rights, taxes and law enforcement policy.
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Ballot Initiative: 1639 (Gun Rights)
Summary: If enacted, this law would vastly infringe on the gun rights of Washington State citizens. Here are the majors changes:
- 1) Classify semi-automatic rifles as semiautomatic assault rifles
- 2) Increase the buying age of semiautomatic assault rifles from 18 to 21 years of age.
- 3) Mandatory training before firearms can be semiautomatic rifles could be transferred
- 4) Sheriffs or Chiefs of Police are required certify a person can own a semiautomatic assault rifle.
- 5) Criminal penalties for unsecured firearms if a person possesses the firearm and has lost their gun rights.
- 6) Waiting period increased to 10 days.
Voting Advice: Vote No
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Ballot Initiative: 1631 (Carbon Tax)
Summary: This would make Washington State the first state in the union to place an energy tax on carbon output. The fee would be $15 per metric ton of carbon beginning on January 1, 2020, and would increase by $2 per metric ton each year until the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals of 2035 are met and the 2050 goals were on track to be met. This will result in high energy prices for residents and business all across Washington State. Higher costs will be passed along to residents from businesses that are affected.
Voting Advice: Vote No
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Ballot Initiative: 1634 (Prohibit Local Taxes on Groceries)
Summary: If enacted, This measure would prohibit local government entities from imposing any new tax, fee, or other assessment on grocery items. It would not prevent the state from imposing taxes on groceries. This would prevent at least prevent food from be used as a revenue generation item.
Voting Advice: Vote Yes
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Ballot Initiative: 940 (Law Enforcement Restrictions)
Summary: If would create a good faith test to determine when the use of deadly force by police is justifiable, require police to receive de-escalation and mental health training, and provide that police have a duty to render first aid. It would remove the requirement that prosecutors show that a law enforcement officer acted with malice to be convicted. The Good Faith test is vague and would put grey area into policing that will make is harder for our law enforcement to do their jobs. We agree that high quality training is the corner-stone of professional policing but their are better and more productive methods of achieving this goal.
Voting Advice: Vote No
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Closing Note: Most important thing to do and tell your friends and family, VOTE. We need high voter turnout in this mid-term election cycle to elect quality Republicans and stop the increased taxation and limiting of rights for Washington State residents.
