Local legislator joins call for clearer gun laws
July 1st, 2008 - 5:34am
(Olympia) -- A local lawmaker has joined a call to keep cities from banning legally concealled weapons in parks.
"Cities and counties have no authority to limit the right of people who have concealed weapons permits to carry firearms," said state Representative Kevin Van De Wege.
He says it's clear to him: With only few specific exceptions, a local government -- whether it's a Seattle or a Montesano -- can't override state and federal laws with restrictive gun laws of their own. The Sequim representative and five of his fellow Democratic lawmakers fired off a letter Monday seeking an Attorney General's opinion on the matter.
"We want to protect the people's right to carry a firearm, and we also want to keep firearms laws consistent throughout the state so law-abiding citizens don't get in trouble for doing something that is perfectly legal in their hometown but is illegal in another town," said Van De Wege.
In addition to Van De Wege, the letter was signed by House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler of Hoquiam, Senator Brian Hatfield of Raymond, and Representatives Brian Blake of Aberdeen, Dean Takko of Longview and Christopher Hurst of Enumclaw.
Fourteen Republican lawmakers have also separately requested
McKenna's opinion. An attorney general's opinion gives state
officials detailed legal analysis, but isn't legally binding.
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