In 1989, Ashford introduced a bill that would require people attempting to purchase handguns to fill out forms asking for their criminal record and mental health problems and institute a seven-day waiting period. On February 9, he announced that he would ask the state legislature to place a constitutional amendment onto the 1990 general election ballot that would repeal the 1989 right to bear arms ballot initiative as the 1989 ballot initiative would render his gun control legislation unconstitutional. The Judiciary committee voted five to two in favor of advancing the bill and the constitutional amendment although Ernie Chambers filed a motion to kill the bill which failed with five to two against.