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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2752 Resolution RESOLUTION NO. 2--75'2— A RESOLUTION of the City of Pasco, Washington, Petitioning the Washington State Legislature to Enact Legislation Prohibiting the Possession of Firearms in Urban City Parks WHEREAS, it is recognized that guaranteed both under the United States Constitution and under the Washington State Constitution, the right to own and bear arms is an essential liberty preserved to our citizens; and WHEREAS, the State of Washington has preempted the field of firearm regulations within the State of Washington; and WHEREAS, the legislature has in certain cases recognized the need for public safety may on certain occasions outweigh the specific exercise of individual rights. Those limitations have been recognized concerning the possession of firearms in certain critical locations such as courthouses, public mental hospital facilities, stadiums, convention centers, places that sell alcohol, and more particularly schools and school facilities; and WHEREAS, the reason for the restriction of the possession of firearms in schools and school facilities is to protect our children and to provide a secure environment for their development and learning; and WHEREAS, urban city parks fulfill part of the same function in providing a place of play, expression, and recreation for our children in what is commonly expected to be a secure environment; and WHEREAS, some of the city's parks are adjacent to and integrated as apart of a school playground and, under the existing law, the possession of firearms would be prohibited in that portion of the playground that is owned by the school and tolerated in that portion that is owned by the city; and WHEREAS, it is the sincere concern of the City Council of the City of Pasco, Washington, that the same protection be afforded to children playing on the playgrounds in city parks as is afforded to those children playing on the playgrounds of our schools; and WHEREAS, the same wisdom that dictated that the possession of firearms would be prohibited on school grounds is equally applicable to prohibiting the possession of firearms in city parks; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCO, WASHINGTON THAT: The City Council of the City of Pasco, Washington, earnestly petitions the members of the Washington State Legislature, and particularly its delegates serving the citizens of Pasco, that RCW 9.41.300, the Statute prohibiting the possession of weapons in certain places, be amended to either add urban city parks as an additional public area in which weapons are lawfully restricted, or empower cities, towns and counties to enact laws and ordinances which would restrict the possession of firearms in urban city parks. r i PASSED by the City Council of the City of Pasco, Washington, and signed in authentication of its passage this .2— day of 2003. ichael L. GaWson Mayor ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: Webster U. Jackson Leland B. Kerr City Clerk City Attorney Legislation Prohibiting Possession of Firearms in Urban City Parks - 2