In-Class Write Up

Marc Santiago
msantiago@wsu.edu
(360) 213-8792
Executive Order



An Executive Order issued on the morning of Feb. 10, 2009, by Gregory J. Heep, Pulltown Mayor, prohibits firearms on all property owned by the city.

The order follows the shooting on Memorial Day weekend that left three people injured.

“The city’s parks, community centers and events are safer without guns," Heep said. "We can’t wait for another incident, another innocent victim."

The order doesn't mean that the city will arrest people for violating the policy but instead fined for the violation. The first offense is $500; second $5,000; third $10,000.

A public hearing was held in City Hall later in the evening to allow Pulltown citizens to comment on the Mayor's choice of issuing the Executive order. 500 people attended the meeting.

Keri Calendar, 29, West Pulltown, brought a picture of her hand gun and held it up during the meeting. “I have the right to protect myself, whether it’s at home or in public," Calendar said. "Any sort of ban restricts my constitutional rights."

Comments that argued both sides were brought up by the community.

Carla Worthingham, 36, whose daughter was blinded by a drive-by shooting last June, stood for the issuing of the Executive Order. “It’s madness to bring guns to public gathering places," Witgubgham said. "It only invites disaster."

The city of Pulltown has been working very hard to reduce gun violence. Heep has already urged lawmakers in other cities to ban assault weapons, close the gun show loophole that allows criminals to buy weapons without background checks, deny guns to anyone who has been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility and require trigger locks and safe storage of firearms.

In the state Legislature, representatives and senators requested that state Attorney General, Rob McKenna presents an informal legal opinion for Heep's executive order.