Thursday, November 27, 2014

UT: City Officials Forced to Obey the Constitution on guns



Park City, Utah, officials were the latest in a series of local governments that have been forced to respect the Constitution by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF).   SAF has run up an impressive number of legal wins to protect second amendment rights.   It has become the ACLU of the gun culture.  

In the Park City case, the city had adopted local laws in direct violation of the second amendment and Utah state preemption law. 

The city law prohibited all use and possession of firearms; all carrying of concealed weapons; carrying of loaded guns inside a vehicle; showing a gun in an angry or threatening manner (no exceptions for justified use of force); and using a gun in a fight.

A city hall attorney, Tricia Lake, was clear about the illegality of the city's law.  From parkrecord.com:
" Had the City Council not repealed the sections, the restrictions "would amount to unlawfully restricting an individual's rights under the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution . . . " as well as rights outlined in the Utah Constitution, the report said.
The council members were not happy about being required to obey the Constitution.
City Councilor Liza Simpson said it was "simply irritating." Simpson said she would not be the City Councilor who made the motion to approve the repeal.

"Do we have to," Cindy Matsumoto, another member of the City Council, said.
They reluctantly repealed the illegal gun laws on 25 November of 2014.  The council members seem quite willing to create law for others to obey. 

These seem like unusual positions for a rural Utah town of  8,000 people.  Perhaps a reader can comment on the local politics.

Park City received the letter from SAF in July of this year.   It was signed by Alan Gottlieb.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included. Link to Gun Watch

17 comments:

Unknown said...

I used to live in the remote canyons of southern Utah at Escalante. These people are fiercely independent, self-sufficient gun toting hunters and survivalists. However, brain dead leftists are taking over the northern part of the state where Park City is located. Park City is a ski town that draws people from everywhere. It's also the location of Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival. The feds brought Redford to Escalante after they stole 2.1 million acres, now known as the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. In a packed meeting hall Redford told the locals the GSENM would be great for them. One man stood up and told Redford that if he ever came back to the town he would not leave alive. Sheriff Deputies also have a similar problem of staying alive in Escalante.

Anonymous said...

I own and often carry a handgun solely for self-protection. Like automobile liability insurance, you hope you never need it -- but it is good to know it's there. (Just in case.)

Unknown said...

I grew up in Salt Lake city, which is about 20 minutes down the mountain from Park City. Park City is full of liberals and democrats. It's an artsie culture. I hated dealing with the businesses there when I sold beverages wholesale to the restaurants and bars.

whoooie said...

Great job SAF

Anonymous said...

Where are most "gun free" areas/zones? Cities with high populations of minorities and other 3rd world people. The city leaders do not want un-educated adult 12 year olds having access to weapons. And who can blame them. Just look what they can do with the common machete. Politicians are rather leary of getting hacked to death by inner city 3rd world people. And to give them guns would make the politician even more paranoid. Not to mention the family having a pic-nick in a park.
Would you like to encounter mobs of Africans, Mexicans, Chinese etc openly carrying firearms?
When the cities are cleared of 3rd world people. We can then have an armed and polite society. But, until then. The Police State and gun bans/restrictions will remain.

D3F1ANT said...

I remember when the NRA used to handle these issues. Seems like, these days, the NRA has 1,000 folks asking for money for every ONE person fighting the fight.

Anonymous said...

I've been to park city,ITS ran by TRAITORS ,queers and rich california losers,they ruined california,and now their out to ruin UTAH...........

Anonymous said...

I hope you guys realize TILL THESE TRAITORS who took an OATH,are found hanging from a tree limb,THIS WON'T STOP,but they will be hganged by some one or you'll lose your country and your freedom,explain that to your grand children,HOW YOU WERE TO YELLOW TO FIGHT,for their freedom....

Anonymous said...

Park City is Hollywood in the mountains...Think Durango, Vail, San Francisco and you have Park City. A reformed hippie city saved for skiing and jet-set types. Pretty simple actually.

Anonymous said...

Gun Control is only about who gets the guns and nothing else. Fire arms are the great equalizer, any person with any weight size, whatever, with the right fire arm, can give a good show of themselves against any formitable force.

Anonymous said...

Our own politicians are taking away our rights faster than any terrorists ever could.

Anonymous said...

This would be weird for most rural Utah towns, but Park City is a ritzy ski resort town that started out as a little mining town years ago. It's a haven for liberals and the wealthy, and is nothing like the normal rural Utah towns.

Anonymous said...

Treason is a serious crime. The last time I checked it was a capital crime punishable by capital punishment.

Anonymous said...

What a preposterous concept?!
You just said that until the town is 'peaceful' enough for law abiding folks to walk around armed, they have to rely on the police.
The problem is you are ALREADY encountering large groups of armed (select your ethnicity) and are completely helpless in their presence.
Clear the cities of 3rd world people? Seriously? Your president is rounding them up in central America and herding them here for free citizenship (yes, I read his words but don't believe a word of it).
All you will see from here on out will be large bands of ethnic gangs cutting their swath through towns.
I, for one, would not like to go into that situation unarmed.

Anonymous said...

"...The city leaders do not want un-educated adult 12 year olds having access to weapons..."
They DON'T have access to them. It's ALREADY ILLEGAL for 12 year olds to buy weapons. Enforce existing law.
I HAVE encountered all sorts of punks on the street carrying firearms - ILLEGALLY. They don't give a damn about the laws already on the books, in fact they scoff at them and enjoy it when trained and qualified people are disarmed because it enriches the 'victim pool.'
Do you honestly think some MS13 banger (or wannabe) cares about gun laws, or a 'NO GUNS ALLOWED' sign?

Anonymous said...

I have no problem with everyone EXCEPT me carrying a gun. Including conflicted felons.

I also have no problem with ONLY black people carrying guns, again including convicted felons (who should certainly be allowed to vote).

Because I'm such a racist, right?

Patrick Henry said...

Well you know, they can obey their sworn oaths, or we can always goto a charge of treason...I mean your choice...You accept a position ..You have the oath whether or not you actually did it...Without it you have no office and no authority.... I love that Americans are waking up to the treason and deceptions of government... I served this country for one reason to protect and defend those rights...If you do not like our rights and freedoms as Americans leave...Because we are taking them back, like it or not...