COUNTY GUN BAN IS REPEALED

The Daily Herald (Everett, Wash.)

County drops ban on guns in parks
The County Council voted to repeal the law to bring it into line with state laws.

By Noah Haglund
Herald Writer

EVERETT " Snohomish County councilmen voted Wednesday
to repeal a ban on guns in county parks and bring the county back
into agreement with state law.

A majority of the council also passed a motion asking the state
to give local governments more authority to restrict firearms at municipal facilities.

That vote divided the council along party lines.

Republican John Koster initially proposed the code change to get
rid of an unenforceable firearms prohibition. In January, the
Democrats who hold the other four council seats declined to support the move.

By Wednesday’s hearing, three Democrats joined Koster and
voted 4-0 to update the code. Councilman Mike Cooper was absent.

“I have reached the conclusion that our code is inconsistent with state law,”
Councilman Dave Somers said.

Snohomish County’s prohibition on guns in parks dates from 1971.

In the 1980s, Washington passed a law preventing local governments
from passing gun laws that are more restrictive than the state’s.
Snohomish County’s discrepancy didn’t draw any attention until
Seattle last year banned guns from city parks, a vote that was overruled in court.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Council Chairman Dave Gossett said
he wanted to approve a motion that would explain to constituents
why he was changing the county code in a way that he doesn’t agree with.

His motion asked that local governments be given the authority to
prohibit guns at all government facilities by people who do not
have a concealed weapons license.

Part of the motion reads, “the Snohomish County Council sees
serious problems with allowing unrestricted possession of firearms
in county parks, a place where children should be able to play and
families gather without feeling threatened.”

Gossett said that state law, as written, would allow people to
carry shotguns or AK-47s into county parks.

Koster challenged Gossett and pointed to a state law that
prohibits people from using weapons to intimidate people.

“All this hype about AK-47s and shotguns is ridiculous,” he said.

The motion passed 3-1, with Koster the only “no” vote.
Koster later called the motion “posturing” over guns. It was the
first time, he said, the council had passed a motion to state what
it wanted the Legislature to do.

Gossett could not recall any similar motion and agreed that the
move is uncommon. The council often does approve resolutions
supporting community projects or economic issues.
[All emfasis has been added by David.]