Blanchette: Seahawks, M’s fans packing heat? Really?

John Blanchette/SR weighs in on the goofy idea from Washington State Rep. Matt Shea re: fans being allowed to concealed weapons into stadiums and arenas, like Safeco Field and CenturyLink:

The usual hand-wringers are assembling again to bash State Rep. Matt Shea (R-’Murica) and his wingmen for some of the proposed bills they’ve floated in advance of this year’s Legispalooza.

Like secession. What we know now as the 509 is what Rep. Matt and the boys want to turn into the 51st state – ripping eastern Washington from the bosom of Mother Olympia and having it branded henceforth as Liberty . Very splashy and symbolic.

One big problem with this one, however. Well, two.

A) Would the postal abbreviation be LI? Or LY?

B) The Liberty State Cougars? That’s going to screw up college football’s best logo.

Possibly there are other downsides, as well. New license plates and such. Sounds like just more government if you ask me.

But the real talker from Shea’s satchel is House Bill 1015 , which would allow concealed pistols, properly licensed, to be ferried into sports stadiums and other arenas owned or maintained by a public facilities district. This would include, notably, Safeco Field and CenturyLink over the mountains in Gomorrah and the Spokane Arena right here. But PFDs also administer spaces like the Comcast Arena in Everett and the Toyota Center in Kennewick. Even the INB Performing Arts Center down on Spokane Falls Boulevard would have to allow licensed handguns.

Naturally, the alarmists are out already, saying stadiums need to be firearms free.

Just what are they implying? More here.

Question: Should fans be allowed to pack guns into stadiums and arenas?