Judge tosses signatures on Wash. gun initiative

SEATTLE (AP) – A Thurston County judge has thrown out more than 300,000 signatures to put a gun-control initiative on the November ballot.

Superior Court Judge James Dixon said the signature petitions for Initiative 1639 did not “comport” with state law. He ordered the secretary of state’s office to stop certification of the ballot measure.

The National Rifle Association and Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation had filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Kim Wyman, claiming the petitions didn’t follow the law by clearly identifying what would change in the statute.

They also said the font was too small to be readable.

The Alliance for Gun Responsibility has filed a notice of appeal with the Washington Supreme Court.

The measure would raise the age for the purchase of a semi-automatic rifle to 21 and require more extensive background checks for these rifles, similar to handgun purchases.