Plug gun loophole

I recently submitted a draft of a resolution supporting HB 1015, an act that would prohibit Public Facilities Districts (PFDs) from preventing concealed pistol license (CPL) holders from bringing their firearms to certain facilities managed by the PFDs, to the Spokane County GOP executive board.

Just four days later, the drones at the Spokane Arena provided the perfect illustration of the absurdity of the gun ban policy, by disarming the sheriff of Spokane County.

The sheriff is right: the policy is not only asinine, I believe it also violates Washington State law. RCW 9.41.300(2)(a)(i) unambiguously prohibits municipalities from denying CPL holders, cops and active military the right to carry firearms “in any stadium or convention center” operated by the municipality.

Unfortunately, Arena general manager Matt Gibson and Assistant City Attorney Mike Piccolo think they have found a loophole that allows them to disarm law-abiding citizens by claiming that they can impose a total gun ban when the Public Facilities District is acting as a private entity. Clearly, they want to have their cake and eat it, too.

It’s time to plug the loophole by making HB 1015 into law.

Vitaliy Maksimov, Spokane County GOP

Spokane