On July 9, 2018, the Seattle City Council passed Council Bill 119266 (“An Ordinance relating to the safe storage of and access to firearms”) which was then signed nine days later by Seattle Mayor Durkan. The Ordinance made it a civil infraction for a person to store or keep a firearm in any premisses unless it was secured in a locked container or inaccessible to anyone other than the owner or other lawfully authorized users. Additionally, it also created a civil infraction for a person who knows or should know that a minor, at risk person, or prohibited person was likely to gain access to a firearm and that they in-fact do gain access.

On July 20, 2018, the Second Amendment Foundation, along with two individuals and another civil rights organization, filed suit against the City of Seattle, alleging the new ordinance violated the state’s preemption law, among other things. The complaint seeks a declaratory and injunctive relief against the City’s Ordinance.

Case Team: Steven Fogg, Eric Lindberg