Nick Hanauer
Nick Hanauer

Seattle venture capitalist Nick Hanauer is no stranger to politics, having previously led efforts to institute an income tax for Washington state’s wealthiest residents. That measure, I-1098, went down in flames in 2009.

But now Hanauer, one of the earliest investors in Amazon.com and a co-founder of aQuantive, the online advertising company that sold to Microsoft for $6 billion, is back in the political arena. This time, Hanauer, known for his progressive political stances, is looking to alter gun laws in Washington state by instituting more stringent background checks prior to a gun purchase.

“We want to keep guns out of the hands of people who are dangerous, criminals or insane,” Hanauer told GeekWire media partner KING 5. The gun control bill is expected to be filed on Monday with the Washington legislature, instituting criminal background checks on gun purchases with “no excuses” and “no exceptions.”

Hanauer and Zillow chairman Rich Barton are the planned guests for the GeekWire radio show and podcast, airing Saturday, June 15th.

Previously on GeekWireRich venture capitalist Nick Hanauer sounds off (again) on why his taxes need to be raised

Here’s more of what Hanauer had to say from the KING 5 report, noting that if the legislature fails to act, he will help bankroll a state initiative for 2014 that could go directly to voters.

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