Well that didn’t take long. Today, the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation jointly filed a lawsuit on behalf of themselves, their members residing in Seattle, and two named individuals challenging the city’s ordinance requiring firearms to be locked up when not in the personal possession of their owner or an authorized user.
Continue readingCategory: public safety
Understanding the 2017 Seattle Public Safety Survey
For each of the past three years, a Seattle University research team has conducted a survey of Seattle residents to assess their views on public safety issues in their communities and on the police. Called the Seattle Public Safety survey, it is commissioned by the Seattle Police Department as part of their Micro-Community Policing Plan (MCPP) to help it understand how best to engage with each neighborhood in Seattle. The most recent survey was fielded last October and November, and the results were published last month. Yesterday, representatives from the Seattle University team and from SPD briefed the City Council …
Continue readingCouncil passes gun safety regulation; on to court
This afternoon the City Council passed an ordinance requiring gun owners to securely store their firearms at home when not being carried. As I wrote previously, this is a perfectly reasonable idea, but it’s beyond the authority of the city to enact it because state law preempts cities from passing their own gun regulations. This afternoon in an interview I asked City Attorney Pete Holmes for his legal argument as to why the city has the power to enact this ordinance in the face of a state law that clearly prohibits it.
Continue readingGun safety bills advance out of committee; one of them is illegal
The two gun-safety bills that Mayor Durkan and Council member Gonzalez announced last month passed out of committee this morning with minor amendments, and will come up before the full City Council for final approval on July 9th. But even if they pass, as is likely, one is all but guaranteed to be overturned in court.
Continue readingDurkan, Gonzalez announce new gun-safety ordinance
This afternoon, Mayor Durkan and Council member Gonzalez announced a new piece of legislation: an ordinance requiring gun owners in Seattle to keep their firearms in locked containers.
Continue readingUnderstanding the Unreinforced Masonry Problem
The City of Seattle has been studying what to do about buildings with unreinforced masonry (URM) for over twenty years. Soon it might actually do something about it, despite the hefty price tag.
Continue readingUnderstanding the Fair Chance Housing ordinance
Last week the Seattle City Council passed the Fair Chance Housing ordinance, which prohibits most Seattle landlords from using criminal background to deny housing to prospective tenants. Yesterday morning, Mayor Ed Murray signed the bill into law. The bill was not without controversy, and it’s worth understanding the rationale behind it as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments.
Continue readingCouncil passes surveillance technology ordinance
This afternoon the Council adopted an ordinance updating the city’s existing law restricting the acquisition of surveillance technologies.
Continue readingSPD briefs Council on recent gun violence
Recently there has been a cluster of gun-related incidents in Seattle, which have captured the attention of the media, the community, and the City Council. This morning, the Seattle Police Department briefed the Council on what they know, what they are still investigating, and how they are responding.
Continue readingCouncil passes police accountability legislation
After months of work, the police accountability legislation shepherded by Council member Lorena Gonzalez was passed unanimously by the City Council this afternoon.
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