Posted on 01/08/2009 9:42:42 PM PST by neverdem
In response to recent incidents of violence, including a shooting on May 24 that killed three people at Seattle's Folklife festival, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has recommended that all city departments consider a ban of all concealed weapons on city property.
The ban would make it illegal for anyone to carry a firearm on properties including the Seattle Center and City Hall, even with a concealed weapons permit. State law already prohibits firearms in schools, courthouses and jails.
It would not affect city streets and public sidewalks that are not being used for city events, parking garages and lots, city property leased for residential use or the Roger Dahl Rifle Training Range.
In a press release Nickels said "From the increasing number of patrol offices on our streets, to our Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, we're addressing public safety issues from all directions. Common-sense gun rules are just one more way to protect our workers, residents, families and children."
Some have questioned how effective the rule would be. Kay Godefroy, a West Seattle resident and executive director of the Seattle Neighborhood Group, says that while the rule might be effective in city-owned buildings, it would be difficult to enforce in parks and other open spaces.
"I really don't think that people will obey it," said Godefroy. "If someone doesn't feel safe in a park they're still going to (carry a firearm)."
She added that Nickel's attempt to control youth violence may be misdirected.
"I think the problem is there are too many guns walking around the city," says Godefroy. "It's the availability of guns that has more to do with the recent rise in youth violence."
Others see it as a violation of their second amendment right.
"Second amendment gives us the right (to carry a handgun) whether it's your home or a park or anywhere else," said one West Seattle resident who legally carries a handgun. "I don't think it would prevent assaults because bad people don't obey the law in the first place."
Under the policy city departments would add gun-free terms to most leases and agreements. City property would only be leased, rented or permitted for use to parties that prohibit all attending from possessing firearms on leased city property. Sponsors of major events would be required to take reasonable preventative actions such as visual inspections and safe storage for legal firearms.
Currently the proposed rule does not include any specific penalties but those who refuse to comply could receive citations or be arrested for criminal trespass.
It would not affect city streets and public sidewalks that are not being used for city events, parking garages and lots, city property leased for residential use or the Roger Dahl Rifle Training Range.
Be careful where you tread as a free individual for you may lose your freedom in certain places if you promote your freedom.
Lock and load.
It will probably get shot down.
I believe state law says that no local jurisdiction can pass laws or regulations or ordinances that are stricter than the state laws.
More unarmed [read target rich] environments. The criminals must love it.
See olegvolk.com for some great posters on this subject.
It is the shortage of firearms that allows terrorism to flourish:
Recall that a Jihadist shot up The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, killing one and wounding several of my wife’s friends. Nobody there had a gun.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is such a wuss he’s scared of putting salt on ice. I’m sure the thought of law abiding folks with firearms gives him a pantswetting hissyfit.
The people of Seattle deserve to get the government they voted for good and hard.
I'm guessing that if any of these "incidents" actually involved people with CCWs, the article would have mentioned it.
No matter. Violence happened somewhere in the city - So, let's ban CCWs on city property!
“I suspect the mayor and the gun grabbers that want this prohibition are in violation of state law.”
To quote from that Pirate movie “Not so much of a law - more like a guideline”.
This would be a “ban” on firearms. I believe it would be treated as trespassing. One would be asked to leave first, then I suppose arrested and/or fined if they don’t. At least that is one explanation I recall reading. After the first arrest I imagine (hope) it would go to the state court.
That’s not fair. Mayor Nickels can still hit bad guys with his purse.
The people of Seattle got what they deserved in Nichels, a leftist ahole. Good for them. I wish them many more Nichels until they either clean out the leftists or perish in a cesspool of marxism.
Correct.
RCW 9.41.290
State preemption.
The state of Washington hereby fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms regulation within the boundaries of the state, including the registration, licensing, possession, purchase, sale, acquisition, transfer, discharge, and transportation of firearms, or any other element relating to firearms or parts thereof, including ammunition and reloader components. Cities, towns, and counties or other municipalities may enact only those laws and ordinances relating to firearms that are specifically authorized by state law, as in RCW 9.41.300, and are consistent with this chapter. Such local ordinances shall have the same penalty as provided for by state law. Local laws and ordinances that are inconsistent with, more restrictive than, or exceed the requirements of state law shall not be enacted and are preempted and repealed, regardless of the nature of the code, charter, or home rule status of such city, town, county, or municipality.
This wa sattempted in Ohio as well but it failed. A group of citizens sued the state saying. The gist of the law suit was that civil rights can’t be denied on land paid for with state taxes or something like that. I’ll look for more info.
Please realize this is a COMMUNITY news paper with a small circulation.
That's exactly how I feel about the idiots that recently elected Obama...Only thing is, they're not the only ones that will get it...we will all suffer!
The only solution I see is violent revolution
Three people were wounded, not killed.
Two men attempted to wrestle a gun away from a very angry third man they did not know.
The gun fired once in the struggle.
One man received a powder burn on his face plus a nasal cavity wound.
Two bystanders were also struck by the same bullet, but their wounds were not life threatening.
The owner of the gun did in fact have a concealed weapon permit from Snohomish County, which is north of Seattle, and much more rural.
After the incident it was discovered that the 22 year old gun owner had been in methadone treatment for the last four years, was taking medication for anxiety and schizophrenia, had an extensive juvenile record for petty crimes, and had multiple traffic arrests.
Apparently, none of those things, alone or together, automatically disqualify someone for gun ownership or a CWP in the state of Washington.
Personally, I found that to be shocking, even though I support private ownership and CWP.
The shooter pleaded guilty in August to an assault charge, was sentenced to 90 days, and his CWP was revoked.
On July 28, 2006, fifty-eight year-old Pam Waechter was murdered by Naveed Afzal Haq, who said he was upset about the war in Iraq. Haq, who's father founded a local mosque, also shot five other women that day at Seattle's Jewish Federation. As you mentioned, the women were not able to defend themselves from the criminal because they were unarmed.
It was a homicidal spree similar to the massacre perpetrated by Muslims at Mumbai six weeks ago, and the two killing sprees by Muslims in Jerusalem using front loaders last summer. In Mumbai, the victims had no defense because of draconian (”common sense"?) gun laws that make weapons prohibitively expensive in India. At least one of the rampages in Jerusalem was cut short by a civilian armed with a hand gun, who prevented the driver from continuing his killing spree.
Pictures of the Seattle Space Needle were found on a computer hard drive recovered during combat operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Maybe Bin laden just wanted to hear “It's a Small World After All" played from the international fountain at Seattle Center. Or perhaps he was planning on killing Seattle residents and visitors. Could be either option, I really can't say which one he had in mind, since I don't know the man personally.
This is the key question: Are gun crimes being committed by people with concealed carry permits in Seattle's public spaces? I believe the answer is ‘No’. A good follow up question would be, are the people who commit gun crimes in public spaces concealing their weapons illegally? The answer, undoubtedly is yes. If both of these suppositions are correct, then there is no evidence that prohibiting legal possesion of fire arms by law abiding citizens (those who have been vetted by local police for concealed carry permits,) will make Seattle safer. In fact, it is reasonable to argue that it will make Seattle public spaces more vulnerable. If the mayor's proposal is carried through, only criminals will continue to carry concealed weapons in Seattle's public spaces.
Seattle is blessed with many public spaces that are enjoyed by large number of Satellites on a regular basis. Preventing concealed carry in those locations potentially makes it nearly impossible for law enforcement approved private citizens to exercise their second amendment rights.
Regardless, the change will not impact the criminals activity. They were breaking the law before when they illegally concealed weapons, and any new laws will provide no additional deterrent.
Let's look at a test case. The mayor stops, let's say, an ex-marine who is now a supervisor for a mid-sized company and who also serves on the boards of several local charities, from carrying a concealed weapon while he takes his daughter to the park. Is that going to make Seattle safer?
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