Want to do something about gun violence in the wake of the Orlando shooting? Sign a petition for Initiative 1491 at Pride celebrations this weekend.
Seattle shooting survivor Zach Carstensen argues that if you want to do something about gun violence in the wake of the Orlando shooting, you should sign a petition for Initiative 1491 at Pride celebrations this weekend. KELLY O

One week ago on the Blabbermouth podcast I told you about Initiative 1491. This week I’m flat out telling you: If you want to keep guns out of dangerous hands, go to Pride this weekend, find a booth or one of the dozens of volunteers with a sign that says “Sign Here for I-1491,” and sign that petition.

Ten years ago, I was at work one afternoon at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. Around 4 o’clock I heard gun shots, then screams. People were running past me, so I started running too. Six of my co-workers were shot, one killed, because an angry, hate-filled man had easy access to a gun.

Just over a week ago, 49 mostly LGBTQ, mostly Hispanic young people were killed at a nightclub in Orlando. As a gay man, I couldn’t help but feel the same way I had a decade ago, like that shooter had taken aim at me, at my community. Another angry person, full of hate, and with a history of violent behavior with easy access to guns.

It’s absurd that I even have to say this—it seems so obvious—but people who make violent threats or who are physically abusive or who are clearly a danger to themselves or others, should not have firearms.

We can prevent it.

You can prevent it. Initiative 1491 is a tool right here in Washington State that will allow family members and law enforcement who see those warning signs to take action to prevent tragedy. Instead of sitting by and doing nothing, they’ll be able to go to a court and get a protection order—specifically, an Extreme Risk Protection Order. If the court finds that someone is a danger to themselves or others, they won’t be able to access firearms for a year. It’s a simple, common-sense tool that can save lives.

So look for “Sign here for I-1491” this weekend at Pride, or go to www.gunresposnibility.org to find other locations. Sign the petition this weekend and vote in November for I-1491 and for legislators that make gun violence prevention a real priority. Change can happen, it’s on tap. We can make a difference. We can change these laws, and we can prevent gun violence.

Zach Carstensen is a survivor of the 2006 shooting at the Seattle Jewish Federation and a gun violence prevention activist.