OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Supporters of a bill to expand checks on gun sales are counting votes in the Washington state House.
Lawmakers may consider the bill later Monday as part of a larger package of bills focused on public safety. Democratic Rep. Jamie Pedersen says he's still working to find enough votes to ensure the measure's passage.
Gov. Jay Inslee has been making calls to encourage lawmakers to support the bill.
Gun buyers currently must undergo a background check if they purchase a weapon from a federally licensed firearms dealer. Those checks are not required for private gun transactions, and supporters say the expansion is necessary to make it harder for criminals and the mentally ill to acquire guns.
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