Seattle: A city rule that would ban all guns from city buildings and parks

Could Nickles really be this stupid...?

Nickels expects December start to city gun ban

By LEVI PULKKINEN
P-I REPORTER

A public hearing on the proposed city gun restrictions will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at City Hall. Written comments can be submitted at City of Seattle Proposed Firearm Rule - Home Page

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels expects to introduce a city rule change in December that would ban all guns from city buildings and parks, despite objections from state officials and gun-rights advocates.

City staff released a draft of the proposed change to reporters Friday, which shows a change in line with statements Nickels made following a nonfatal shooting at the Northwest Folklife Festival in May.

The administrative change, which would not come to a City Council vote, would ban concealed weapons from city-owned property. Roads, sidewalks and most parking areas would not be included.

In October, the state Attorney General's Office issued an opinion asserting the mayor's proposed restrictions would violate state law blocking cities from enacting gun rules. The move also caught the attention of gun-rights advocates, who see it as an attempt by Nickels to pave the way for additional prohibitions.

Regina LaBelle, legal counsel to the mayor, said the city believes it already has the legal authority to enforce the restriction, which could result in criminal trespass citations for those who repeatedly violate the rule. Still, she said, the city will be asking the Legislature to "clarify" state law during the next legislative session.

"There are a lot of other cities around the state that have demonstrated a desire for their safety in parks and buildings," LaBelle said. The rule, added, "is about trying to reduce the number of guns in circulation."

In addition to the restriction, Nickels intends to formalize restrictions already in place on gun possession at large city-permitted events. For several months, city leasing agents have required that event organizers agree to prohibit gun-toting partygoers from entering, even if the event is on a city street.

The mayor's efforts have already drawn complaints from gun-rights groups, including the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation


Read the entire artire article here...

Nickels expects December start to city gun ban

amazing. and i thought bush infringed on our freedoms. seattle is going nuts. i really hope people will start to realize that gun ownership helps to REDUCE crime.

Below is the proposed firearms policy... Just wait for a person who is a victom of domestic violence, who is killed on Seattle property. Any family that loses a loved one under that circumstance while on city property should sue the city of Seattle.

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Following a shooting that injured three people at the Folklife Festival on May 24, Mayor Greg Nickels directed all City of Seattle departments to study the adoption and enforcement of policies, rules and contractual agreements which would prohibit the possession of dangerous weapons, including firearms on city property. The suspect in the Folklife shooting had a concealed weapons permit, despite a history of drug abuse and mental health problems.

The proposed administrative rule would prohibit the possession of firearms on most City property. The proposed rule would not apply to:

• City streets and public sidewalks except when they are being used for non-transportation purposes such as special events. The rule does apply to sidewalks and other walkways located within city parks.
• Motor vehicle parking garages and parking lots.
• City property leased and occupied for residential purposes.
• City-owned property that is located outside the State of Washington.
• The Roger Dahl Rifle Training Range.

State law allows private property owners to prohibit the presence of firearms on their property. As a property owner, the City has rules at Seattle Center and most city facilities such as City Hall prohibiting firearms unless a person has a concealed weapons permit. Organizations that lease Key Arena also have the ability to prohibit firearms in the facility. In addition to other prohibitions, state law prevents firearms at schools, jails and courthouses.

Policy for city property: To address the safety of visitors including families and children at city-owned properties, as well as the security of city employees, the City of Seattleis also implementing a firearms policy which is applicable to permits, leases or other contractual agreements for use of city property. Under its policy, the City would lease, rent or permit the use of city property only to those parties that prohibit all persons, except law enforcement officers, from possessing firearms on leased city premises. The City would also require sponsors of major events to take reasonable steps to prevent the possession of firearms during the event, such as providing signage, visual inspections, safe storage for lawful firearms, etc. The City would also permit departments to add-gun free terms to most leases and agreements.

Enforcement: The proposed rule does not include any specific criminal or civil penalties, but persons refusing to comply with the rule would be subject to citation or arrest for criminal trespass.

http://www.seattle.gov/firearmsrule/...ft---11-21.pdf

http://www.seattle.gov/firearmsrule/...Draft11-21.pdf

[sandra]

Seattle City Hall will hold a public hearing on the proposed gun law.

The city will hold a public hearing on the proposed administrative rule at 6:30 p.m. on December 15, 2008. The hearing will be held at Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, with sign-in beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Bertha Knight Landes room is accessible from the building’s Fifth Avenue entrance.

Does mayor Numnuts really think the badguys are going to obey this goofy law ??

Another note on Seattle's misguided gun ban...

Who Is This Gun Law Supposed To Protect? | KOMO News - Seattle, Washington | News Archive

and from the Seattle Times....

The Seattle Times: Opinion: Don't let gun-control extremists exploit Capitol Hill tragedy