The initiative was filed on February 3, 1997, by Thomas C. Wales of Seattle, who later became a victim of gun violence himself.

Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart was opposed, voicing concerns about the strain the passage of the initiative could put on law enforcement, and excessive punishments for violations.

Ameripac, a federal-level political action committee, contributed $100,000 to opposing Initiative 676.

Gun rights organizations, including the National Rifle Association of America, contributed more than $2.3 million in opposition to the measure.

[2] Despite polling indicating voters almost exactly split,[3] the initiative overwhelmingly failed to pass, and was rejected in every single county.