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.
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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