Seattle mayor bans guns on city property

Seattle mayor bans guns on city property

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Story Published: Jun 9, 2008 at 2:00 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 9:23 PM PDT

By KOMO Staff & News Services

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SEATTLE -- Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has signed an executive order that asks all departments to come up with a plan within 30 days to ban guns at all property owned by the city.

The mayor's office says a public hearing will be held to gather comment on Monday's order but it does not require city council approval.

"It is my responsibility to keep people safe when they are using city facilities," he said.

Nickels says the added gun restriction is needed because of a shooting at last month's Folklife Festival at the Seattle Center that injured three people.

"Suspect at Folklife Festival issued concealed weapons license even with a history of drug abuse and severe mental health problems," said Nickels.

State Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske support the new rule.

"We need to do everything we can to insure the safety of everybody. That's the number one priority," said Kohn-Welles, D-Seattle.

But Dave Workman with the Second Amendment Foundation says the mayor doesn't have the legal rights to enforce it.

State law prevents local governments from passing gun laws that are stricter than state codes.

"The mayor is way overstepping his authority," Workman said. "The state constitution is very clear on this. The individual citizen has the right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state."

But Nickels insists there is a loophole which allows for gun regulation on city property.

State law already bans guns at courthouses, schools and jails.

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