How the City of Edmonds Wasted Tax Payers' Dollars on Gun Control

Published on April 29, 2022
Duration: 11:36

This video details how the City of Edmonds' attempt to enact local gun control ordinances, specifically safe storage mandates, was unanimously struck down by the Washington State Supreme Court. William Kirk, President of Washington Gun Law, explains that these local laws violated state preemption laws (RCW 9.41.290), which reserve firearm regulation to the state legislature to ensure uniformity. The legal challenges, initiated by Mr. Bass and the NRA, resulted in a series of losses for the city, culminating in a 9-0 Supreme Court decision affirming state preemption.

Quick Summary

The Washington State Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Bass v. City of Edmonds that the city's safe storage gun laws were unconstitutional. This decision affirmed Washington's state preemption law (RCW 9.41.290), which reserves firearm regulation to the state legislature to ensure uniformity and prevent conflicting local ordinances.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Supreme Court Ruling Introduction
  2. 01:00Bass v. City of Edmonds Case
  3. 02:00Origins of the Safe Storage Ordinance
  4. 03:25Washington State Preemption Law
  5. 05:12Legal Challenges and Initial Defeats
  6. 05:45Appellate Court and Final Verdict
  7. 07:37Justice Gonzalez’s Legal Opinion

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the outcome of the City of Edmonds' gun control laws?

The City of Edmonds' safe storage gun laws were unanimously struck down as unconstitutional by the Washington State Supreme Court in the Bass v. City of Edmonds case, affirming state preemption.

Why were the Edmonds gun control laws deemed unconstitutional?

The laws violated Washington State's preemption statute, RCW 9.41.290, which reserves firearm regulation to the state legislature to ensure uniformity and prevent conflicting local ordinances.

Who challenged the City of Edmonds' gun control ordinance?

The ordinance was immediately challenged by Mr. Bass and the NRA, leading to a series of legal defeats for the city at county, appellate, and supreme court levels.

What is Washington State Preemption Law regarding firearms?

RCW 9.41.290 explicitly states that the Washington legislature fully occupies the field of firearm regulation, meaning local ordinances cannot be more restrictive than state law.

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