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Exclusive: Oak Harbor Coucilman Rick Almberg stands by attempted gun ban

BY Jillian Raftery  on February 6, 2013 @ 12:33 pm (Updated: 5:31 pm - 2/6/13 )

Despite the controversy, Councilman Rick Almberg defends his attempt to take the gun away from a veteran at a City Council meeting.

Hundreds came to the latest City Council meeting, on the city's gun laws, which ban gun from city parks. Many of them carried guns in support of their Second Amendment rights. The Council repealed the law, which they found was not consistent with the Washington State constitution.

Councilman Almberg gave an exclusive interview to The Dori Monson Show to explain why he walked out of a Council meeting last month.

"At that particular time I was going to exercise my First Amendment right to protest the ridiculousness of our state law," said Almberg.

He said he wasn't trying to do anything illegal by advocating for keeping guns out of city parks. He just wasn't in a hurry to change a law he thought was appropriate and safe.

But the Second Amendment Foundation said they would sue the Oak Harbor City Council if they didn't change the law, which they said was a violation of the Washington State constitution.

"When that came to us, it was right immediately after the Sandy Hook issue," said Councilman Almberg, "and I reacted to that by saying I cannot believe that we're going to sit here and say yes, it's okay to do that - even though our City Attorney said that state law preempts the city ordinance that prohibits weapons in our park."

For Dori it wasn't just a matter of protest.

"Isn't it your job, Councilman," asked Dori, "to uphold the constitution rather than pick and choose the parts you agree with?"

The Councilman didn't think he violated the constitution - or his oath of office - in any way. They just "chose to not take any action" when they delayed repealing the unconstitutional city ordinance after several meetings on the subject.

And when army veteran Lucas Yonkman spoke about carrying a gun for protection during a City Council meeting on January 15, Councilman Almberg decided to make a point with his motion to take Yonkman's gun away.

Yonkman was shocked. He doesn't just carry for personal protection, but to protect the people around him. He's never pulled his gun in anger. He said that some police officers have told him that he has better training than they do.

But to Councilman Almberg it's not a matter of training.

"When people are armed in council chambers," said Almberg, "it intimidates other people to participate."

He says it's an "unfair advantage" and that guns could be used to intimidate people with unpopular or minority opinions.

When the motion failed, he says that he walked out in protest.

Although he doesn't want guns in city parks, the Councilman said that he doesn't want to ban guns completely. He just doesn't buy the "good guys with guns" argument.

"I don't need vigilantes to protect me," said Almberg.

Jillian Raftery, Social Media Captain
Jillian Raftery is a social media captain for the Dori Monson Show. She loves the neighborly vibe of the Pacific Northwest and spends as much time as possible outdoors.
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Comments (18)


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  • mpblue wrote...
    It's telling to watch the original video
    February 6, 2013 2:58 pm
    In that video, Mr. Yonkman brought to the attention and testified to the fact that state preemption overruled the city's park rules regarding firearms. In the video, Almberg stepped way out of normal procedures to ask and challenge a citizen. After Alberg leaves in what can clearly be described as a huff, the mayor goes on to apologize and then affirm the rights of Mr. Yonkman. If Almberg had tried to get OHPD to disarm Mr. Yonkman, he would have learned a hard lesson in that officers and the chief would not have participated.
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  • Pair o'dimes wrote...
    So will they take our guns or not?
    February 6, 2013 5:08 pm
    So many posters on this site seem to think that it is inevitable that the government will try to circumvent the second amendment. mpblue says not so fast. If most law enforcement and military members take an oath to uphold the constitution, what is everyone afraid of?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mpblue wrote...
    Also . . .
    February 6, 2013 3:01 pm
    Almberg seems to forget that the open carry of a firearm is absolutely legal in public places.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • master_educator wrote...
    The local discussion on this issue...
    February 6, 2013 3:08 pm
    ....is at: "Oak Harbor Changes City Ordinances to follow our State Laws on Firearms" http://www.islandpolitics.org/?p=8971
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Common Sense Conservative wrote...
    City Councilman Flees, Abandons Constituents to Armed Crowd
    February 6, 2013 3:18 pm
    "I don't need vigilantes to protect me," said Almberg. I'm not sure who "Run-away Rick" Almberg is expecting to protect him, but if they take their jobs as seriously as he does, they'll bolt at the first sign of conflict. This guy must have a spine made out of rubber to not be able to accept a decision that doesn't go his way. Regardless of their position on this issue, I hope the voters of Oak Harbor will remember this shining example of incompetence come election time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • just thinking wrote...
    Being a bully typical for Almberg
    February 7, 2013 6:44 pm
    Reminder on Almbergs history. This is not the first time he's upset the citizens of O. H.. Being a bully and grandstanding is normal behavior for this councilman. Just look back on past council meetings.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    Councilman Almberg...
    February 6, 2013 4:45 pm
    is a weasel that should lose his seat on the Council. I suspect he's nervous otherwise he wouldn't have come within a country mile of Dori Monson.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Mavilla A WEASEL?
    February 6, 2013 7:02 pm
    You don't seem to understand that a Weasel would never have even gone on the Monson Show. He showed he is a man of strong beliefs and should be complemented not chastised. You simply HATE the guy because is beliefs on guns are 180 different then yours.This issue points out exactly the problem you far rightys have on most political issues which is "My way or the highway"
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  • Mavila wrote...
    It's not my way...
    February 6, 2013 7:32 pm
    it's the unequivocal meaning of state law. His "beliefs on guns", as you say, turned on a dime rather quickly, didn't they? First, he's making a spectacle by trying to either disarm or eject Yonkman and the next thing you know he can't second the motion to repeal the law fast enough. He obviously can smell the political reality that he's made a colossal fool of himself. Appearing on Dori's show was nothing less than a desperate attempt to try and salvage his political career. If he thought he was safe, he would not have made the appearance on Dori's show. It's just that simple.
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  • Madness7 wrote...
    Not a weasel
    February 6, 2013 9:13 pm
    As an intermittent listener to the Dori Monson show, I agree with Messiah101. Almberg's action notwithstanding, I think the political theater put together by the 2nd amendment foundation with its request for people to show up at the council meeting armed was in particularly bad taste given the Newtown massacre.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    It was...
    February 6, 2013 10:05 pm
    symbolic. A response to Almberg's pretentious display a couple of week's ago.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • just thinking wrote...
    question for messiah 101
    February 8, 2013 9:25 am
    Just have to wonder if your basing your opinions of Almberg from the Monson show alone. I guess that is what these comments are based on. However this is a man who puts on a good show and disrespects good people continually. This is just one instance that confirms for the majority of us who deal with him at council meetings he's on his own agenda again. He is good at making himself look right and other honest people seem wrong. He is the bully on our council!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Robin W wrote...
    Messiah101
    February 10, 2013 5:40 pm
    He was voted into office to hold a position and act on our behalf. What everyone is upset about is that he got all emotional when his motion was not passed and left the chamber. You seem to like him and that is your choice to make. if he is not present in the chambers to vote on and discuss topics of concern then how can he represent our city's best interest? I compliment him for having beliefs and convictions but I cannot condone his action of leaving the chamber, that was just selfish.
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  • Cash wrote...
    Wow
    February 6, 2013 7:21 pm
    That is a stunning statement from messiah! You only got one thing right in that statement; he does have strong believes but he is not much of a man and he should be interviewed and pressed to explain his actions. If he does not like guns then he does not have to carry one so problem solved. As for your statement about hating the dude because his ideas are 180 from someone elses was enough to make me cry from laughing so hard... I think of all the commenters on this site you are by far the biggest hater of all by far. I think that you not only hate those who you disagree with but I would also say you hate those with the same beliefs as you. My lord that made me laugh!!!
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  • Cash wrote...
    Beliefs
    February 6, 2013 7:55 pm
    Not believes... I don't want to get hit by the grammar cops again...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    It is...
    February 6, 2013 8:03 pm
    the tried and true strategy of liberals, unfortunately, to appeal to the emotional rather than the factual. There are a lot of buzz words, but you know a liberal is on the intellectual ropes when words and phrases like, "hate", "hurtful", "bullying" and "mean (spirited)" are used to characterize their opponent's argument. Amazingly, it works with a lot of intellectually lazy people who figure the accuser must be right.
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  • Madness7 wrote...
    Liberals?
    February 7, 2013 11:02 am
    Seriously? I don't think that this kind of word usage is owned by any particular group. I've seen it from Liberals, Reactionaries and everything in between.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Always bringing up Newtown , Always trying to create "gun free" zones.
    February 7, 2013 12:59 am
    That Adam Lanza really showed us how bad society has ROTTED and Rick Almberg showed us how a COWARD acts.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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