City tells me i cant carry in public buildings? WTF

[nuhler]

So for some background I made an inquiry about the city not allowing guns in a public pool because it is on school ground. After school hours it is leased by the Parks Dept. so i feel the RCW allows legal carry. There is an exemtion that states it must be used exclusively by the school to ban guns.

Here is the response:

Mr. Uhler,

We have been advised that RCW 9.41.280 clearly states that no firearms (weapons) are to be in a person's possession on public or private school buildings. This is 24/7 whether or not school is in session. A commissioned law enforcement officer would be the only person allowed to carry a firearm on school or public property.

We have contacted the Sumner Police Department to discuss the RCW further. We were informed that no firearms are to be in public buildings or bars (taverns). They suggested that you leave your firearm at home or locked in the trunk of your vehicle.

The Sumner Police Department said that they would happy to discuss any firearm concerns with community members.

Bill Gaines

No legal carry in public buildings WTF!

Here is my response:

Bill Gaines

To be clear who exactly has advised you about this law? I would not recommend asking police departments for law interpretations. The reason I am contacting you about this matter is because I have already been through this with the City of Auburn and they are in the process of correcting their "Gun Free Zone" signs.

What do you think the RCW means when it states "While being used exclusively by the public school?" If firearms were never allowed in school buildings then there would be no reason for them to add this. Nowhere in this RCW does it state 24/7 as the Sumner Police have advised you.

At 5:30PM it is not being used exclusively by the school infact it is being leased by the Parks Dept for Sumner and Bonney Lake.

This can get very complicated as Washington State Laws must be read very carefully.

Also on a side note what did the Sumner Police mean when they said no guns are allowed in Public Buildings? Are you sure they didn't say Official Government Buildings (City hall, court room, police station, and jail?)

[mhen]

Firearms are allowed into public buildings in Washington, except for the ones that you mentioned. This is just another example of ignorance of the law.....

On a side note, if the pool is being leased by the Parks and Rec Department then that means it is a School facility which would make it illegal to carry there. Same thing for when Churchs lease schools for Sunday service. They are a school facility first, leased facility second.

[john_bud]

In general, schools (public and private) are 24/365 off limits for any guns. Even in locked boxes in many (?some? all? )states.

Also in general, getting legal advice from anyone but a highly skilled professional with vast and recent experience is probably not advisable. Especially when it concerns things that can result in automatic jail time.

[Justin89t]

Originally Posted by john_bud

In general, schools (public and private) are 24/365 off limits for any guns. Even in locked boxes in many (?some? all? )states.

Also in general, getting legal advice from anyone but a highly skilled professional with vast and recent experience is probably not advisable. Especially when it concerns things that can result in automatic jail time.

You say schools, what about public universities? EWU, UW, WSU? Yes, I'm talking in Washington State (obviously)

[mhen]

Originally Posted by Justin89t

You say schools, what about public universities? EWU, UW, WSU? Yes, I'm talking in Washington State (obviously)

In Washington state it is left to the individual colleges if they wish to allow carry or not. It is not illegal to carry, but you can be asked to leave/expelled/fired depending on you affiliation.

[Vhyrus]

This is not unlike something I have run into here in New Mexico. I asked the local district attorneys office to clarify the law about carrying deadly weapons. They punted and told me to ask the police. I asked three separate police departments (city, state, campus) and got 3 different answers.... big shocker there. And guess what? None of them remotely sound the way the law is written. I'll leave you with this though: according to the chief of the New Mexico State Police, everyone in New Mexico that carries a knife, ANY KNIFE, concealed or open, is breaking the law.

[PhxAz XD9]

A knife?!!!... I carry concealed there regularly. Legally of course.

[Vhyrus]

Originally Posted by PhxAz XD9

A knife?!!!... I carry concealed there regularly. Legally of course.

Oh you can carry a gun any way you want in New Mexico (as long as you have a license), but NO KNIVES! Those things are dangerous!

This is, of course, only the opinion of the chief of NMSP, so take that for what its worth.

[pietro_beretta]

Up here in Oregon the Port of Portland claimed that it was illegal to carry firearms in any port, PDX airport is under POP jurisdiction, they had to be told by a judge that the POP can't make ordinances that conflict with State law; Oregon law is clear that only the state legislature may restrict the carry of handguns , NOT THE POP.

You may have to test the water on this one to get a judge ruling.... I wouldn't advise that, in fact I am not advising you to do anything, as I am not a lawyer.

[Justin89t]

Originally Posted by mhen

In Washington state it is left to the individual colleges if they wish to allow carry or not. It is not illegal to carry, but you can be asked to leave/expelled/fired depending on you affiliation.

That was my impression as well but I have a co-worker who swears up and down that it's against state (and he tried to say Federal before I laughed at him) laws to carry on campus. A cop told him it was against state law, but keeping in tune with the rest of the thread that doesn't carry much weight