Rural House Dems speak out against Seattle gun ban

State Rep. Kevin Van De WegeA number of Democratic state Representatives posted a letter on Monday speaking out against the city's recent ordinance to ban guns from city property. Recently Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels issued an executive order calling for Seattle "to adopt and enforce policies, rules, and contractual agreements that, consistent with state law, prohibit the possession of dangerous weapons, including firearms, on City property."

The group, led by state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim), argues that a city cannot override a law as important as the Constitution's 2nd Amendment.

"Cities and counties have no authority to limit the right of people who have concealed weapons permits to carry firearms," said Van De Wege. "We want to protect the people's right to carry a firearm, and we also want to keep firearms laws consistent throughout the state so law-abiding citizens don't get in trouble for doing something that is perfectly legal in their hometown but is illegal in another town."

The letter was also signed by House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler (D-Hoquiam), state Rep. Dean Takko (D-Longview), state Senator Brian Hatfield (D-Raymond), state Rep. Christopher Hurst (D-Enumclaw) and state Rep. Brian Blake (D-Aberdeen).