Yes, the 650,000 were on this issue, in fact, the identical wording of the amendment.
The voter turnout in the 1998 governor's election had a higher turnout than the 2002 election, and the signature requirement for constitutinal amendment initiatives is 8% of the total votes cast. We needed 673,000 in 2000, and only got about 650,000 on a shoestring budget, and thus failed to qualify it for the ballot.
This time around, thanks to the dismal turnout in the Simon/Davis contest, which ranked near the lowest turnouts in the nation, 8% of the total votes cast is about 580,000.
We're going to do it this time around, no question, God willing and with every liberty-loving citizen pitching in to help.
http://www.CApropRKBA.org/