Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels recently targeted firearms by prohibiting guns on city property, including parks and community centers. His executive order, signed on June 9, directs city departments to develop "a plan to implement a gun-free policy." The mayor cited the May 24 shooting at the Folklife Festival as reason for these measures.
The order from Mayor Nickels comes at an interesting time, given a June ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court. In the most significant Second Amendment ruling in the nation's history – certainly one of the momentous decisions from the last session – the high court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to bear firearms. The ruling struck down the District of Columbia's thirty-year-old ban on handguns.
Despite the win for gun rights advocates, Nickels claimed the ruling "reaffirms our reasonable efforts in Seattle to make our citizens safer."
Critics, such as Dave Workman, senior editor for Gun Week magazine, say Mayor Nickels exceeds his authority. Paul Guppy of the Washington Policy Center says the measure will likely prove ineffective: "people who seek to hurt others don't obey gun laws, so adding more laws won't help," he said.
Washington state law specifically prohibits local governments from adopting policies that are more restrictive than state law. The Washington Constitution also provides strong protection for gun owners: "The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired...."
Commenting on Nickels' proposal, Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "I wouldn't quite say there is a constitutional right to carry a gun at every city-sponsored event or in many buildings that already exist throughout the state."
Hoping to get some legal guidance on Seattle's firearm ban, a group of Democrat lawmakers have requested a formal opinion from the Office of the Attorney General. Fourteen Republican legislators filed a similar request. Attorney general opinions are not binding, but are often relied upon by courts when issuing decisions. A decision on Seattle's gun ban should be issued sometime in October.
Comments
Remember the old adage “if handguns are outlawed only outlaws will have handguns? That is not a joke, but a fact. You will only get handguns out of law-abiding citizens hands. How does that make them safer? It is ridiculous to keep trying to go against an Amendment. One.. It’s not right. Two… the Amendments were written by far better men than those trying to change them. Three … if you don’t like them…MOVE.
Gun Free zones are a violent criminals dream. Its been proven time and again the gun free zones only protect the criminal elemnet. Why don't you gun haters place a sign in front of your house anouncing its a gun free zone. I don't think we will ever see that now will we?
Look at what the Supreme Court and The Constitution of the United States provides "The People" in the way of protection from murder by criminals and madmen:
In 1856, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that local law enforcement had no duty to protect individuals but only a general duty to enforce the laws. South vs. Maryland, 59 US{HOW} 396, 15 L. Ed. 433 {1856}. A U. S. Federal Appeals Court declared in 1982: "There is no constitutional right to be protected by the state against being murdered by criminals or madmen." Bowers vs. devote, U. S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit 686 F. 2d 616 {1982}
In essence, the Constitution and the Supreme Court throws personal protection directly into the hands and the responsibility of the citizen. Without access to Arms, we are nothing more than sheep awaiting the slaughter.
Jesus himself believed in the value of Self-Defense and the most recent interpretation of one of the Ten Commandments is, Thou Shall not Murder. The word "Kill" has been found to be an incorrect interpretation of the original text.
It is our duty from God and Man to protect ourselves and our loved ones from harm and from murder. The Bible give us the right to protect ourselves from murder. The Declaration of Independence recognizes our God given right to Self-Defense and the Constitution gives us the 2nd Amendment and the Right to Arms for use in personal and family protection.
Everything in life states that the Leftists are absolutely wrong in their attempt to disarm the population and if they become serious about their task, we need to become equally serious about our task and fight for our God given rights. What God has given let no man put asunder!
I wonder if that Folklife Festival had anything to do with concealed carry permit holders carrying guns legally. Probably not. Just goes to show they try to fix something that isn't broken.
Gun free zones are simply illogical.
A criminal bent on murder is not going to be deterred by any law.
Isn't it illegal to murder someone?
Mayor Nickels thoughtless gun ban most likely violates the state constitution as well as the recent Supreme Court Decision (Heller). This irresponsible action will cost the taxpayers in legal fees and detracts from other more pressing issues such as mass transportation. What next Mayor? Banning garbage cans to eliminate flies?
Whether you support gun ownership or not the greater issue is the support of the U.S. and Washington State constitutions. All citizens should be outraged that the Mayor has acted so irresponsibly. Hopefully the Attorney General's opinion will be forthcoming and help lay this red herring issue to rest so that we can focus on something that will benefit Seattle.
I think Mayor Nickels' proposal is just as ridiculous the rest of you do, but can you please get it right? Nickels *didn't* ban anything. As you clearly and correctly state right there in your first paragraph: he just asked city department to come up with a plan to have a ban.
It does our side no good to overstate things.
If this little mini tyrant Nickles is smart enough to tie his shoelaces he knows that he's playing with the safety of Seattle citizens by providing safe killing zones for homicidal nut cases. He's just lining up a little CYA coverage with the liberal media who would rather see any of us outlined in chalk on the ground, than have the means to defend ourselves from the crackhead thugs their own liberal social and crimilal justice policies created. Don't let him get away with it.
I would hope that His Honor, the Mayor would recognize that creating "gun free zones" has only greatly increased the vulnerability of all people who pass through such zones during their daily activities. Suppressing the fundamental right of self-protection is just as foolish as imposing "poll taxes" or policitical correctness -- any restriction on personal civil rights in the interests of creating an atmosphere of "public safety" and amounts to imposing a cancerous tumor on liberty.
As a Jewess in the US, I just want to remind everyone that America wasn'r won with a registered gun. And that criminals are stopped by FIREARMS, not by talk. That is why all REAL Americans put our 2nd Amendment FIRST! Oh, one more thing, Alan Howard.....you CANNOT tax a RIGHT! Seattle's anti-gun "Mayor" Greg Nickles' gun ban will FOLD!
When Nichols can't get something banned he attempts to make it as inconvenient as possible.
He can't get guns banned so he will try to make it as difficult as possible for those who carry legally to stay within the bounds of law.
Federal buildings, courthouses, military installations, bars, schools and airports are off-limits to concealed weapons already.
Many guns used in crimes are stolen, more guns left in cars means more stolen guns, so there is one way he is actually making things worse.
Even Penaluna, one of the folk-life victims, doesn't think it will help.
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