Oak Harbor, WA rejects motion to restrict carry in city council meeting

[jamesbeat]

But, what amazes me, is that they claim to be in fear of their life because of the presence of a gun.....but they will stay right there in the presence of the gun to tell everyone how afraid it is making them.

It's irrational, so you can't rationalize it.

I have a bottle of aspirin in my bathroom cabinet. If I took them all right now, I'd probably die. Does than mean I should be afraid of aspirin?
Why aren't these people scared of cars? Far more people die in car accidents than from incidents or accidents involving firearms, so why not be afraid of cars?

Completely and utterly irrational, yet they get an audience because they use tragic events to rationalize their fears.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I have a phobia of spiders. I know that my chances of being injured or killed by one are vanishingly small, yet I'm still afraid of even the non venomous ones.
Having said that, people are sometimes killed or injured by an encounter with certain spiders, so my phobia isn't quite as irrational as a phobia of, say, spoons.
Difference is, I know that the problem is mostly in my head, and I don't have any compulsion to persuade other people that they should be scared of them too.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I dont know if I can get there in time on a workday but I have a couple of friends up there....if they dont already know about it, I know they'd love to attend, cc'ing.

(And it wont be much of a secret....he wears a fishing vest all the time).

Open carry is welcome too. There will be uniformed police officers there. Nothing like a guy with a gun going up and shaking hands and be friendly with the police officers to really get the anti-s going.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Here is the latest reporting on the gun grabbers efforts!

http://www.examiner.com/article/oak...ude-gun-activists-from-debate?cid=db_articles

A Democrat precinct volunteer in Oak Harbor has acknowledged to Examiner that opponents of guns in city parks are trying to pack the city council meeting next Tuesday specifically to keep gun rights activists out.

Fick also confirmed that activists had originally tried to get the council meeting moved to a local school “so they couldn’t bring guns in.” That might also have been designed to discourage attendance from firearms enthusiasts, and if that is the case, then their First Amendment rights are just as much under attack as are their Second Amendment rights.

 

[rsilvers]

Wow - that guy who walked out must pee sitting down.

 

[rsilvers]

I am just a bit extra surprised when men are afraid of tools. A woman who likes guns is impressive. A man who does not feel comfortable with guns, dogs, can't start a fire, or drive a manual transmission - that is weak.

 

[joeschmoe]

tried to get the council meeting moved to a local school “so they couldn’t bring guns in.” That might also have been designed to discourage attendance from firearms enthusiasts

That wouldn't work anyway. That's been tried before, and failed. 2 reasons. WA state open meeting law prohibits such a move (for several reasons), and the gun free school zone law exempts such public meetings from the gun free zone law.

 

[rsilvers]

"the gun free school zone law exempts such public meetings from the gun free zone law."

That is not true. There is no such exemption.

That being said, CCW holders are except from the gun-free school zone in their home state. But there may be state laws.

 

[9MMare]

Examiner quote:

"A Democrat precinct volunteer in Oak Harbor has acknowledged to Examiner that opponents of guns in city parks are trying to pack the city council meeting next Tuesday specifically to keep gun rights activists out."


That shouldnt work...Seattle tried it a couple of yrs ago and it was shot down...there was a legal challenge and it was unConstitutional per the state Constitution.

 

[NavyLCDR]

That wouldn't work anyway. That's been tried before, and failed. 2 reasons. WA state open meeting law prohibits such a move (for several reasons), and the gun free school zone law exempts such public meetings from the gun free zone law.

There is no exception for public meetings in either the Federal Gun Free School Zone law or Washington State law:
RCW 9.41.280
Possessing dangerous weapons on school facilities — Penalty — Exceptions.

(1) It is unlawful for a person to carry onto, or to possess on, public or private elementary or secondary school premises, school-provided transportation, or areas of facilities while being used exclusively by public or private schools:
(a) Any firearm;

(3) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to:
(b) Any person engaged in military, law enforcement, or school district security activities.
(c) Any person who is involved in a convention, showing, demonstration, lecture, or firearms safety course authorized by school authorities in which the firearms of collectors or instructors are handled or displayed;
(f) Any nonstudent at least eighteen years of age legally in possession of a firearm or dangerous weapon that is secured within an attended vehicle or concealed from view within a locked unattended vehicle while conducting legitimate business at the school;
(h) Any law enforcement officer of the federal, state, or local government agency.

(6) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b), (c), (f), and (h) of this section, firearms are not permitted in a public or private school building.

 

[joeschmoe]

I was wrong then. This came up a few years ago regarding a similar issue.

 

[Alfonse99]

This post is very informative. I didn't realize Washington's preemption laws are what they are. Here, the City of Chelan has its council chambers and City Hall posted as "No Guns Zones." I'll have to bring that to their attention.

 

[NavyLCDR]

This post is very informative. I didn't realize Washington's preemption laws are what they are. Here, the City of Chelan has its council chambers and City Hall posted as "No Guns Zones." I'll have to bring that to their attention.

RCW 9.41.300
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.300

RCW 9.41.300
Weapons prohibited in certain places — Local laws and ordinances — Exceptions — Penalty.

The local judicial authority shall designate and clearly mark those areas where weapons are prohibited, and shall post notices at each entrance to the building of the prohibition against weapons in the restricted areas;

Washington Court Rules, Chelean Superior Court:
http://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rule...=superior&set=supche&ruleid=superiorsupche101

LR .01
COURTROOM SAFETY


No person (except for duly and regularly commissioned
law enforcement officers of the State of Washington and
other states of the United States of America not appearing
on their own family law matter) shall be on the Fifth Floor
of the Chelan County Regional Law and Justice Center,
Juvenile Justice Center or Auditorium (when being used for
court purposes) while armed with ANY firearm or taser or
explosive device or any knife having a blade length of more
than three inches or any billyclub, blackjack, truncheon or
bat, nor shall any such person be in any of the fore-
mentioned areas while possessing any gas gun or other device
used for the spraying of tear gas, mace or other noxious
chemical substance, nor any incendiary device.

Any person found having any of the articles or devices
heretofore mentioned which are banned from the fifth floor
of the Chelan County Regional Law and Justice Center,
Juvenile Justice Center and Auditorium (when being used for
court purposes) is subject to having such articles or
devices seized by law enforcement officers, bailiffs on
court order, or as otherwise directed by the Court.

Any person violating this rule shall be subject to
punishment for contempt of court and prosecuted under RCW 9.41.300.

The locations of the "gun free" zones must be limited to the areas specified in the court rules, but there must be signs at the entrances to the building saying that firearms are prohibited in the restricted areas.

 

[Alfonse99]

Thanks for the links. In the City of Chelan (different from the county courthouse above) there are signs at the entrance for the council chambers, and I believe the entire city hall building, of it being a "gun free" zone. There are no court chambers involved.

I'm sure it will be brought up and addressed.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Thanks for the links. In the City of Chelan (different from the county courthouse above) there are signs at the entrance for the council chambers, and I believe the entire city hall building, of it being a "gun free" zone. There are no court chambers involved.

I'm sure it will be brought up and addressed.

Only if you bring it up and address it.... otherwise, they will continue to take advantage of those people who will not take the time/effort to find out what the real law is.

 

[flip888]

I live very close to Oak Harbor, im glad the mayor did what he did. I actually learned a lot from that video. Thanks for the link to the video.

 

[Ryanxia]

The good folks in that jurisdiction need to unseat those two city council members at the soonest opportunity.

 

[NavyLCDR]

This is how it is done, folks!

http://www.oakharbor.org/video-view.cfm?series=34&id=265

Email from Oak Harbor City Council Member:
John I don't know how many were at our meeting tonight but it was about 40 to 1 Pro gun. A bunch talked in Citizen comment and by my count it was 12 pro gun 1 anti. Not everyone spoke during that period because they were waiting for the agenda item on the ordinance to come. When it did come up Bob Severns made 3 motions
1, suspend the rules
2. Declare an emergency session because we were about to be sued
3. Approve the ordinance to make it legal

The ordinance should have been approved in mid November.

One citizen during his comments demanded that Almberg and Servatias resign. After the citizens got thru I made a request that Almberg speak to the subject of him resigning. He gave a fair response. Servatias on the other hand did not speak to the question. He read a document that described how the Mayor ran the meeting. I asked again and got ignored by Servatias

We di have several TV trucks on hand.
Jim Campbell

 

[Cesiumsponge]

Local KIRO news radio's Dori Monson finally got councilman Rick Almberg to do an interview earlier today Here: http://kiroradio.com/listen/9951979

 

[NavyLCDR]

And Lucas Yonkman's reply.....

http://kiroradio.com/listen/9951982

 

[klover]

Here is the heart warming Feb 5th meeting:

http://www.oakharbor.org/video-view.cfm?series=34&id=265