Seattle Mayor Greg Nickles is still at it. Undaunted by public outcry against his actions, Nickles is moving forward with banning all firearms from Seattle’s parks by executive order. By his word alone, Nickles looks to violate Washington laws on concealed carry of firearms and preemption, the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, and the concept of a representative democracy.
Last June I reported that Nickles was intent on banning firearms from city parks and other public locations solely on his executive decree. This executive order would prevent all legally armed citizens with a concealed weapon permit from carrying a firearm for self defense on public property. Outraged citizens attended public meetings, flooded the mayor’s office with calls, and called their state legislators for help.
The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has repeatedly warned Nickles that his anti-gun fiat is illegal under Washington’s preemption laws.
And still Nickles persists with his unilateral decision.
The executive order was issued by Nickles on June 6, 2008, and it makes it illegal for anyone other than a police officer to have a “dangerous weapon”, including firearms, on city property. Since that time, Nickles has been trying to get city departments to submit plans to implement his order, but those pesky citizens keep getting in the way by showing up at commission meetings and the like.
Nickles claims in the order that the decree is in line with Washington laws regarding firearms, however, Nickles is on video at a Joyce Foundation sponsored anti-gun conference in December of 2007 stating “The state of Washington preempts us…from adopting regulations that are stronger than those [of the state].” So he clearly knew that Washington law prevented him from issuing this order just six months prior to issuing this executive order.
Let me direct this directly toward Nickles: You, sir, are a public servant, elected by free citizens, not lord and king over the subjects in your realm. Your illegal fiats injure us, and are just another example of a government that is no longer serving the people who have established it. Mayor Nickles, your arrogance offends us, and your unlawful power grab will not be tolerated. Govern yourself accordingly.
I encourage everyone to contact the mayor’s office at (206) 684-4000 or via email by clicking here. The mayor’s mailing address is, P.O. Box 94749, Seattle, WA 98124-4749. For information on how to contact your state legislators, please click here.
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- Mayor Bloomberg’s Latest Anti-Gun Group: County Executives Against Illegal Guns
- NRA and San Francisco Close to Deal on Guns in Public Housing
- Montesano, Washington City Council Bans Right to Carry a Concealed Firearm: How to Voice Your Opinion on Gun Rights