State gun laws under question following Ingraham High School shooting
SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle officials and students are calling for a change in gun control laws following the recent Ingraham High School shooting to prevent future attacks from happening.
Under Washington State law, cities are prohibited from implementing their own gun law, stating “the State of Washington hereby fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms regulation within the boundaries of the state.”
It means local laws more restrictive than state gun laws can’t be enacted. The law can be found here.
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In the days after the school shooting, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell called for Washington to lift the state law.
“The truth is we continue to see gun violence spike at unacceptable rates," said Mayor Harrell. "Too many guns on our streets. too many guns in the wrong hands."
RELATED: Student shot at Ingraham High School in north Seattle dies, person in custody
A 14-year-old boy faces charges for the targeted attack in the school hallway that killed one student earlier this week.
Days after a student was gunned down inside the school, Ingraham High School students are planning a classroom walkout demanding better protection for students and gun control measures.
The walkout is planned for Monday, Nov. 14 at Ingraham High School followed by a rally at Seattle City Hall to call for gun control measures.
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At a school board meeting held Wednesday, the district superintendent said the district is putting together a threat and community action team, working with the mayor and police chief, to figure out what the district can do to improve safety at school.
The walkout is scheduled at 9:50 a.m. and the rally at city hall is planned for 11:30 a.m.
Student board director Luna Crone Baron addressed the city board Wednesday night, calling for school and city leaders to do more with safety measures to prevent future attacks.
“We’re all feeling heartbroken and equally angry that this happened in the first place,” said Crone Baron. “What we don’t come to school for is –well obviously— to be killed on campus.”
At the school board meeting held Wednesday, the district superintendent said the district is putting together a threat and community action team, working with the mayor and police chief, to figure out what the district can do to improve safety at school.
“As we think about how we make sure this never happens again, I think we need to have the conversation of how in the world we let this happen in the first place and I want to see that kind of accountability,” said Baron.
State Representative Liz Berry said in the next session that she is working to fight the issue and to push for safety measures that include a ban on assault weapons. 10-day waiting periods and training requirements for all firearm purchase permits to buy firearms, and civil liability for gun dealers and manufacturers were also among the issues discussed.
“Lives are at stake,” said Rep. Berry. “We will do everything we can to pass common sense gun measures at the state level, but we should local municipalities and cities to do more to keep their citizens safe. What we’ve done is tied their hands by not allowing them to do that.”
