Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009

Richland men consider suit over park sign

By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer

RICHLAND — Two Richland men are protesting a green and white sign at a little-used entrance to Howard Amon Park that outlines a list of things you can't do in the park.

Among the prohibited activities are letting dogs run loose, consuming alcohol, damaging vegetation and carrying weapons.

It's the weapons ban that has David Campbell and Bob Margulies telling the city it's violating state law.

Campbell first pointed the violation out by sending a letter to City Attorney Tom Lampson in November 2008.

In the letter, he told Lampson that state Attorney General Rob McKenna had interpreted state law to mean that governments couldn't enact laws prohibiting the possession of firearms in public places, including parks.

Lampson wrote back on Dec. 2, 2008, that Campbell was right and said he'd ask the parks department to cover or remove the term "weapons" from the parks signs.

Then the council revised the city code in February to allow residents who have gun permits to carry their weapons in city parks.

But as of Tuesday, the sign still is there.

Parks Director Doug Strong said his department had added a note on the sign giving the city code section that anyone could look at and see they could legally carry a weapon.

He said replacing signs is expensive, and he's looking at ways to make the signs more clear.

But Campbell and Margulies told the city council Tuesday that's not good enough, and they believe citizens' constitutional rights are being violated.

"I don't know how else to correct this but with a lawsuit," Campbell said. "It makes me question whether I want to live here."

* Michelle Dupler: 509-582-1543; mdupler@tricityherald.com