Editor,
The Oak Harbor City Council and their spokesperson Rick Almberg, have determined to continue their tradition of ignoring the law and the public good.
In an effort to make political gain off of a national tragedy, the council has determined to ignore common sense, the laws of Washington state, the Washington Supreme Court and their own city attorney and promote an illegal statute within the municipal code (6.14.070).
The concealed carry laws of this state are set by the legislature to ensure that cities do not create a patchwork of laws that are not only not enforceable from a practical standpoint but would create instant criminals of those law abiding citizens that do their best to be compliant.
How would one traveling from Oak Harbor to Lynnwood to Tacoma know which neighborhoods have established some hidden restriction if the council has their way?
The federal government understands that interstate airlines couldn’t function if each state could generate their own rules; therefore the feds hold exclusive authority to regulate them.
For the same reason the state legislature holds exclusive authority to regulate the concealed carry laws of this state.
One doesn’t create or continue a local law that is contrary to the law of the land just because it suits some personal agenda, it leaves the city open to civil suit and I suspect since the council is fully aware of the illegality of their actions and have so been advised by the city attorney, the city’s insurance carrier would decline to participate in any action.
Additionally if any action is taken by the OHPD pursuant to this ordinance both the chief and the involved officer would be similarly liable and I suspect the Island County Prosecutor and the attorney general would look into any possible criminal liability on the part of the individual council members.
Does anyone really think that if law abiding citizens are precluded from protecting themselves that the criminals and the insane will stop their havoc because there is municipal ordinance or sign telling them not to?
Criminals prefer unarmed victims, remember, the police respond in minutes when seconds count.
Mike Lauver
John Solin
Bob McConchie
James Johnson
Oak Harbor
