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If you are a member of CityClub or Town Hall, it might be worth attending <broken link removed> :
My guess is that the public hearing didn't go very well for City, so this will be used to generate more "positive" feedback on the proposal. Attend if you can. Actually, CityClub is a pretty good group to join if you're interested in regional governance-type issues.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
CityClub, The Seattle Channel and Town Hall present:
Seattle Speaks: The City's Gun Ban - Where Do You Stand?
Town Hall (downstairs) 1119 Eighth Avenue, Seattle
Doors open: 6:00 pm Audience overview: 6:30 pm audience must be seated at this time to hear important instructions! Live program: 7:00 8:30 pm
Free to attend for CityClub and Town Hall members, but you must register in advance.
Can't be there in person? Visit www.seattlechannel.org to watch and join in live!
To register: CityClub members call 206.682.7395 - Town Hall members call 206.652.4255
CityClub, The Seattle Channel and Town Hall invite you to join us for a new and exciting joint venture. Come with an open mind and be prepared to be challenged as we walk through the legal, constitutional, personal, local and national aspects of recently proposed gun regulations in Seattle. Broadcast live and online from Town Hall, our audience will hear a variety of opinions, voice their own, and vote along the way as we deliberate the many sides of this complicated issue. Only the first to arrive will get voting devices so come early to get the best seats!
Following the shooting at the Seattle Center's Folklife Festival in May 2008, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels proposed banning all firearms from City property, including: parks, community centers, and City Hall. While it's clear Mayor Nickels is committed to instituting a gun ban in Seattle, the constitutionality (both federal and state) of such a proposal is not as clear. Moreover, Washington law has traditionally pre-empted local jurisdictions from enacting gun restrictions measures, though a recent State Supreme Court case raises questions about just how far the state's "pre-emption" law actually reaches. Nickels' ban is due to go into effect later this spring, which gives citizens a chance to continue to comment on the idea before it becomes policy. Some have pushed for the State Legislature, in session until mid-April, to weigh in to clarify the state's pre-emption law, as well as consider whether to deny guns to anyone who has been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility.
How do you feel about this issue? Do you support Nickels' proposed gun ban? Do you think guns cause or prevent violence? If shown enough data on the deterrent effect of individual gun ownership, would you be open to changing your position? Do you feel confident that the screening process for owning a gun and acquiring a concealed weapons permit is strong enough? Do the United States and WA State Constitutions leave any ambiguity on the right to own weapons and for what purpose? Has the rise in youth violence made you rethink this issue? Bring your own questions, an open mind and join us as we tackle the topic of guns in our region.
My guess is that the public hearing didn't go very well for City, so this will be used to generate more "positive" feedback on the proposal. Attend if you can. Actually, CityClub is a pretty good group to join if you're interested in regional governance-type issues.