Mayors and the right to bear arms | The Firearms Lawyer

Federal Way’s neighboring mayor, Pete Lewis of Auburn, presumably joined Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) to combat violent crime and make Auburn safer. MAIG’s Mission Statement declares: “We support the Second Amendment and the rights of citizens to own guns.”

The anti-gun mayors’ group does not support the right to bear arms, however. Many of the positions taken by MAIG violate our Washington State Constitution and RCW 9.41.290, which “fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms regulation” within Washington state.

According to MAIG, more than 450 mayors from big cities and small towns across the country have joined the coalition. MAIG's real agenda aims to gradually remove the ability of citizens to put a stop to violent crime by armed self-defense.

Legislation supported by MAIG includes repealing the Tiahrt Amendment, which provides for trace data to be provided to law enforcement and prosecutors, but prohibits providing firearms information for lawsuits aimed at closing down gun manufacturers and gun shops. The NRA and The Fraternal Order of Police oppose releasing such data, as releasing some of the data could jeopardize officer’s lives.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg would restrict people on the terror watch list from buying or owning guns. Earlier this year, Homeland Security warned that some of our troops returning from combat zones pose a potential terrorist threat. Do we want our returning servicemen and women placed on a watch list and losing their right to keep and bear arms? Once on the list, many Americans have found that there is no way to get off of it, even where the government admits a mistake has been made.

Mayor Greg Nickels of Seattle, a member of MAIG, has threatened to violate Washington’s firearms preemption law. Why not just punish violent predators to the maximum extent of the law?

MAIG is against HR 2296 and S. 941, which would clarify the standards and improve the process for imposing penalties related to intentional violations of federal gun laws. MAIG’s opposition is apparently because the proposals are not hard enough on simple paperwork mistakes that can presently result in harassing and even closing down legitimate gun dealers.

MAIG’s present goal in Washington state is apparently to remove the so-called “gun show loophole.” The argument (shown to be false by Department of Justice statistics) is that since people can buy guns at gun shows without a background check, many criminals are purchasing guns at gun shows. The Washington Arms Collectors requires that only WAC members (all of whom have passed background checks) can purchase weapons at gun shows.

Under present Washington law, private parties can presently buy or sell weapons away from gun shows without any background check. Will MAIG want legislation closing the private party loophole next? Efforts to prevent the existence of any loopholes work in totalitarian societies. Laws already enacted need to be enforced more strictly before we give up our freedom. Let’s make society safer by making things harder for the predators, not for law abiding gun owners.

Contact Federal Way Mirror The Firearms Lawyer Mark Knapp at knapp.m@comcast.net.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.