Gun rights group prepping lawsuit over proposed King County firearm regulations
Jul 25, 2018, 2:15 PM
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
King County is the latest government to propose new firearm regulations, while The Second Amendment Foundation is doubling down on its efforts to slap them down in court.
The Bellevue-based gun rights organization is already suing Seattle over its recently-passed safe storage gun law. If King County goes through with a proposed five-piece package of gun control laws, the foundation promises to go after it as well.
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“We will definitely be suing the county, there’s no two ways about it,” Attorney Alan Gottlieb with the Second Amendment Foundation told KIRO 7. “The county council is not in a position to break laws to make laws.”
The Second Amendment Foundation has previously cited Washington’s preemption statute, which states local governments cannot impose gun control laws that are more strict than the state’s. Seattle and other agencies have argued their regulations are not from a gun control angle, but a health care one.
King County Councilmember Joe McDermott says gun violence is a public health issue. He intends to propose his package of firearm regulations through the county health board. The proposed rules will require firearm stores to post warnings about gun violence and related dangers. It also includes a safe storage rule similar to Seattle’s.
