In wake of Friday’s deadly mass shooting at a Colorado movie theater, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News asked the state's leading candidates for governor where they stand on the issue of regulating guns in Washington.

KIRO 7 reporter Essex Porter asked Democrat Jay Inslee and Republican Rob McKenna for their responses on the subject.

For example, Seattle’s mayor would like to ban guns in city parks, but the state law does not allow it. When weapons are sold at gun shows, rules that gun shops have to follow, do not apply. Allowing cities to impose tighter restrictions and closing the gun show loophole are two ideas are opposed by the major gun rights groups.

Over the phone, Democrat Inslee told KIRO 7 he is in favor of closing the gun show loophole, but he didn't directly address the idea of giving cities the  flexibility to impose tighter restrictions than the state.

“I just think today, is not a day for policy discussions. It’s a day for reflection and prayer. And that’s what we should focus on today,” Inslee said.

KIRO 7 found Republican McKenna in Seattle for a lunch with women supporters that his campaign invited reporters to cover. The event started with a moment of silence for the victims in Colorado. McKenna’s press secretary told KIRO 7 there would be time for questions regarding the women’s event, but no time for answers on gun control.

After the event, KIRO 7 caught up with McKenna and asked questions about gun control issues, but McKenna declined to answer.

“Essex, I’d be happy to sit down and talk to you about this. Can we sit down another time? Come on, I’m not prepared for this,” said McKenna after being asked about the gun show loophole.

KIRO 7 spoke with McKenna’s campaign later in the day and they clarified what he meant when he said he was unprepared.

“He was not given time today to provide an answer to the best of his ability. He had not talked to the Attorney General’s Office about any pending legal issues involving gun control,” according to McKenna’s campaign.

KIRO 7 invited McKenna to address the issue in a later interview.