Kitsap Sun –
I am writing this email to inform you that there will be a picnic held at Silverdale Waterfront Park on May 31, 2009 starting around 11am. In attendance will be members of OpenCarry.org, and will be peacefully protesting Kitsap County’s refusal to fall in line with Washington State law, as well as having a barbeque and meeting with friends. We will be openly carrying holstered firearms, which is not against Washington State law.
Kitsap county is currently violation of RCW 9.41.290, which is state preemption of local firearm codes. The issue has been addressed to the Kitsap County Prosecutors office, which in an internal email last year stated that they knew they were in violation of the law, will not enforce the county code but will not change it either. The Attorney General, Rob McKenna has also issues an opinion on the matter in light of the City of Seattle’s recent attempt at a gun ban on city property. Recently the City of Bremerton has met and repealed their city ordinance banning firearms to fall in line with state law.
Many of our members are from here in Kitsap County, and have also written our county commissioners, but our information has fallen on deaf ears. This is important to us because we believe that the county should follow state law, and if it is not is subject to a lawsuit if someone were to be arrested, detained or otherwise hassled by local law enforcement. We want to be able to walk down the street, go to a park with our families or shop at the local store without the fear of being held at gun point for doing nothing wrong. We are passionate about our rights as gun owners, and law abiding citizens that carry for our personal protection. Our goal is not to intimidate or scare anyone, but to educate the public that there are good guys out there that are carrying firearms. Our goal behind having a barbeque at the Silverdale Waterfront Park is that it is a public place that has signage that is illegal by state law, so our mission is to educate the public that they signs are not legal and that we are not there to harm anyone.
We are advising you for two reasons. Number one, we feel that local media should have to opportunity to come out, talk to members and find out what we stand for, and they we are in fact good people. I know from reading the Kitsap Sun that you like to cover all aspects of the local community, and this is an aspect of our local community here in Kitsap County. Number two, we feel that the media involvement may help bring about change to the local codes that are on the books by helping us get our message out in a way that will reach other citizens of the county.
On a more personal note, I know that you have written articles about guns before, and talked to many people in the county about the issue. The story was wonderfully written article that was very objective, “More Kitsapers Packing Heat for Their Peace of Mind” written by Josh Farley. We are now providing the opportunity to come out, and ask questions of gun owners, and to find out more about the laws that we are aware of, and working tirelessly to change, to preserve our way of life.
We hope that you will be able to join us on Sunday. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.
