NRA Ups Pressure On Washington State Lawmakers - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - The National Rifle Association is increasing pressure on Washington lawmakers who have endorsed a plan to expand gun background checks.
    
NRA officials have asked members of the organization to contact their lawmakers to express opposition to the bill. The group has also sent out a mailing for members to specifically call Republican Rep. Mike Hope, who is a police officer previously supported by the NRA.
    
Hope supports the background check plan, saying Tuesday that it is a reasonable way to help keep guns away from violent criminals and the mentally ill.  Hope says he's received about 300 emails related to the gun bill and believes there are a lot of misconceptions about what it does.
    
Gun buyer already have to undergo a background check if they purchase from a federally licensed firearms dealer. The bill would expand that to sales between private parties.

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