Council passes assault weapons resolution

The Bainbridge Island City Council voiced its support for a reinstatement of the national assault weapons ban at its meeting Wednesday.

January 24, 2013 2:47 am

The Bainbridge Island City Council voiced its support for a reinstatement of the national assault weapons ban at its meeting Wednesday.

The council passed a resolution that authorized the council mayor to sign a letter to officials in Olympia and Washington, D.C. promoting the reinstatement of ban, which went into effect in 1994 but expired in 2004.

The resolution, which follows ones in other states also prompted by the shooting massacre of children and teachers at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., also supports more extensive background checks for those seeking to purchase firearms.

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“For someone like me who believes this should happen, and that a strong majority of my community wants it to happen, this is an appropriate action to bring forward,” said Councilwoman Kirsten Hytopoulos, who originally drafted the resolution.

The resolution passed by a 5-1 vote.

Councilman David Ward was the one vote of opposition to the resolution, mainly on the grounds that he felt assault weapons bans do not work and won’t help.

“I was appalled by the shooting in Sandy Hook,” Ward said. “I want to take steps but I want them to be meaningful.”

“This is doing something, but it’s not doing the right thing,” he added.