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AG candidates split on policing and gun enforcement approaches
Summary
At a Tri‑Cities forum, candidates differed on how the attorney general should balance enforcement and rights: Brown defended state gun‑safety measures and litigation, Dhingra prioritized enforcement resources and training for local prosecutors, and Serrano emphasized Second Amendment protections while calling for prosecutions of violent offenders.
Public‑safety policy and police accountability were central themes at a League of Women Voters forum in Pasco where attorney general candidates outlined contrasting enforcement philosophies.
Nick Brown called public safety a principal priority and defended Washington’s gun‑safety laws, saying they “save lives” and pointing to his work defending Initiative 1639 in court. Brown urged partnership with law enforcement to explain legal requirements and provide resources where needed.
Manka Dhingra said the AG must ensure laws keep pace with technology and enforcement needs and that local prosecutors have the tools and training to implement extreme‑risk protection orders and other gun‑safety measures. She highlighted her role in creating crisis‑intervention training for officers and said the AG should take an active role in providing statewide guidance.
Pete Serrano emphasized constitutional firearm rights, citing Article I, Section 24 of the Washington Constitution, and said people must be able to protect themselves. At the same time, Serrano said the AG must prosecute offenders and work with local prosecutors to protect communities. He called for clearer, implementable policies on use of force and for the AG to review and simplify current guidance if necessary.
On police misconduct, all three candidates said decisions must be fact‑driven. Serrano said he would review the AG’s use‑of‑force policy to make it more implementable; Brown stressed legal analysis and accountability; Dhingra emphasized evidence‑based review and training programs she helped develop.
Candidates’ differences center on emphasis: Brown and Dhingra described continued litigation and statewide enforcement to uphold gun‑safety and civil‑rights laws; Serrano emphasized constitutional protections and support for local prosecutors. No candidate proposed immediate suspension of existing cases; each said they would review open matters on day one.
The forum provided voters a direct comparison of how the next attorney general might prioritize prosecutions, resource allocation and training across the state.
