- Messages
- 9
- Reactions
- 10
To all Clark County residents and gun dealers. I have been doing some research on ordinances in Clark Co. We discovered that two of our current commissioners had voted back in 2005 to amend our Declared Emergency Ordinance to disarm legally armed citizens during a declared emergency. It was discovered back a few months ago and brought to the attention of the County Commissioners. However, after over 4 months, the issue had not been dealt with. I began research as to how this could still be on the books. I found that not only is our county ordinance illegal, but so is the state of WA. In 2006, about a year after the chaos that occurred with the Katrina hurricane and legally armed citizens were disarmed, sometimes causing great distress and injury, federal legislation was passed that guaranteed we could no longer be disarmed during a declared emergency. Our state law never caught up and still has this disarming section in there. After addressing the CC Commissioners, they assured me it would be corrected to reflect federal law.
About 2 weeks later I did more research on Parks Ordinances throughout CC. Most park signs indicated that firearms were prohibited on park grounds. I originally thought it was just the signs that were wrong as about 3 years ago the Mayor of Seattle tried to ban firearms from city parks and were sued by the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation. After an expensive court battle, the city lost. Assuming the County of Clark didn't wish to be sued, I only assumed they had amended the ordinance but failed to fix the signs. But, that is not what I found. The ordinance stated, "No person shall, at any time, bring into or upon, possess , nor discharge within or upon the park properties of the county any bow and arrow, crossbow, slingshot, spring or gas propelled BB and pellet guns, spears or javelins, or any other weapon....." It is clear that any other weapon included firearms. This was illegal. I again, brought it to the Commissioners attention. They had addressed this issue and had amended this particular Ordinance about a year ago....so I am not sure why they worded it the way they did. It clearly prohibited firearms. As it will be written, though, they have excluded firearms but still states "any other weapon, except firearms..." This could include pepper spray and Tasers. Should it? As of next Tuesday, July 31, this amendment to the Ordinance will be voted upon to correct the prohibition. (10am, 901 W Franklin, 6th floor).
TO ALL FIREARMS DEALERS -- The Commissioners have amended the Emergency Ordinance but have kept in two sections that should cause concern...(e) requiring the discontinuance of the sale, distribution or giving away of firearms and/or ammunition for firearms in any or all parts of the county". and (g) "requires the closure of any or all business establishments where firearms and/or ammunition for firearms are sold or otherwise dispensed; .... It seems that during a time of emergency, they have now "allowed" you to carry your firearm, but should you not have ammunition, you are plum out of luck. As well, you don't have a firearm, you will not be allowed to purchase one. If all protocol is the same as during non-emergency purchases, why should this be any different?
I will be at the Commissioners meeting on Tuesday to thank them for the corrections but still ask them why the restrictions of firearms sales, etc.still is present in the ordinance. If you are concerned with this part of the Ordinance, the strength in numbers cliche' is paramount here. If the Commissioners understand that the Firearm community believes the action of shutting down their businesses during this time is wrong, please come and voice that opinion. It might change their minds and they could dispense with that part of the ordinance.
About 2 weeks later I did more research on Parks Ordinances throughout CC. Most park signs indicated that firearms were prohibited on park grounds. I originally thought it was just the signs that were wrong as about 3 years ago the Mayor of Seattle tried to ban firearms from city parks and were sued by the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation. After an expensive court battle, the city lost. Assuming the County of Clark didn't wish to be sued, I only assumed they had amended the ordinance but failed to fix the signs. But, that is not what I found. The ordinance stated, "No person shall, at any time, bring into or upon, possess , nor discharge within or upon the park properties of the county any bow and arrow, crossbow, slingshot, spring or gas propelled BB and pellet guns, spears or javelins, or any other weapon....." It is clear that any other weapon included firearms. This was illegal. I again, brought it to the Commissioners attention. They had addressed this issue and had amended this particular Ordinance about a year ago....so I am not sure why they worded it the way they did. It clearly prohibited firearms. As it will be written, though, they have excluded firearms but still states "any other weapon, except firearms..." This could include pepper spray and Tasers. Should it? As of next Tuesday, July 31, this amendment to the Ordinance will be voted upon to correct the prohibition. (10am, 901 W Franklin, 6th floor).
TO ALL FIREARMS DEALERS -- The Commissioners have amended the Emergency Ordinance but have kept in two sections that should cause concern...(e) requiring the discontinuance of the sale, distribution or giving away of firearms and/or ammunition for firearms in any or all parts of the county". and (g) "requires the closure of any or all business establishments where firearms and/or ammunition for firearms are sold or otherwise dispensed; .... It seems that during a time of emergency, they have now "allowed" you to carry your firearm, but should you not have ammunition, you are plum out of luck. As well, you don't have a firearm, you will not be allowed to purchase one. If all protocol is the same as during non-emergency purchases, why should this be any different?
I will be at the Commissioners meeting on Tuesday to thank them for the corrections but still ask them why the restrictions of firearms sales, etc.still is present in the ordinance. If you are concerned with this part of the Ordinance, the strength in numbers cliche' is paramount here. If the Commissioners understand that the Firearm community believes the action of shutting down their businesses during this time is wrong, please come and voice that opinion. It might change their minds and they could dispense with that part of the ordinance.
