BELLEVUE, WA –-(AmmoLand.com)- Another Washington state city is now being sued by the Second Amendment Foundation and National Rifled Association for violating the state’s 35-year-old preemption statute by adopting a local gun control ordinance. They filed a similar lawsuit against the City of Seattle last month.
Today’s lawsuit is against the City of Edmonds, a suburban community north of Seattle. Joining in the legal action are two Edmonds residents, Brett Bass and Swan Seaberg. Named as defendants are the City of Edmonds, Mayor Dave Earling and Police Chief Al Compaan. Plaintiffs are represented by Seattle attorney Steven Fogg, at Corr Cronin LLP.
Under Washington law, the State Legislature has exclusive authority for all firearms regulation, including but not limited to “registration, licensing, possession, purchase, sale, acquisition, transfer, discharge, and transportation of firearms, or any other element relating to firearms or parts thereof, including ammunition and reloader components.” The Edmonds ordinance mandates so-called “safe storage” and sets fines for civil infractions ranging to $10,000.
“It is clear to us that a handful of cities are trying desperately to erode Washington’s long-standing preemption law,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb.
“Their goal is to discourage citizens from exercising their rights under the state and federal constitutions by financial intimidation. The city council clearly understands preemption, but went ahead with this ordinance, anyway, undoubtedly knowing it would be overturned by the court. It seems as though their ultimate goal is to convince voters that gun law uniformity is somehow a bad idea, so it should be changed.
“They would like to take Washington back decades to a time when citizens had to contend with confusing and conflicting local ordinances and regulations,” he added. “Preemption was adopted to eliminate that mess and make sure it doesn’t happen again. The law has worked for more than three decades. It doesn’t need fixing.
“This is a legal action that should have been undertaken by Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson,” Gottlieb added. “Unfortunately, he is more interested his political agenda and attacking people on his political enemies list, so the constitutional rights of Washington citizens come last.”
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.
Us code 18 s. 242, deprivation of civil rights under colour of law….. Look here. If the surrender monkeys whiney letspeeintheair and his lap dog crisp cox at the nra would read the law instead of running around like their foot is nailed to the floor, maybe we could get more of our rights back. But they step on their overpaid dicks then spend more money trying to defuck their surrenders when they get called on it immediately. They both need to go, fully my opinion, but they are entrenched like Turkey lice. And dont start, I’ve donated more time… Read more »
The Wasnington Legislature need to enact some teeth into that thirty five year old preemption law such that those who promote and enact laws clearly in violation of that state law will be charged with felony level crimes, thus disabling them from gun ownership, AND from holding public office. Then some serious monetary penalties, and/or some signficant time in one of our wonderful local GreyBar Hotels. Then levy monetary penalties agsinst them to repay the lublic money wasted in defending the rights of Washington’s people to be free of the confustion and dangers of each city having their own gun… Read more »
I grew up in Edmonds, and I can tell you that the city council, the mayor, and most assuredly the chief of police, do not have the best interests of the citizenry at heart! I do not know why this is the case, but the Edmonds power structure seems to attract truly lackluster individuals, who have no constructive engagement talents, nor for that matter, any ethics or morals! It is all about how much money can you make through graft, before the people catch on and vote you out of office! Edmonds still has a piss poor reputation for keeping… Read more »
After the last admin, it appears that this has become the new American Way. When are some of these pols going to be arrested and tried for violating the laws of their state and federal Gov. The deep state at work. Laws only apply to you, not to us. Now, please send us more money.
I hope the gun groups also sue for the cost of the court, lawyers, loss of pay at work, loss of income and TERRORISM, (According to the Dictionary), by these idiotic communities with their anti-gun nuts.
Yet another “public official” who ignores or enforces the law when convenient.