Gun-toting man asked to leave community center

After a gun-toting Kent man was asked to leave a West Seattle community center Saturday, he said he had accomplished a first step toward legally challenging Mayor Greg Nickels' ban on firearms in city parks, community centers and other facilities.

After a short, civil showdown with a parks department employee, Bob Warden left the Southwest Community Center with a Glock pistol holstered inside his leather jacket. Warden, who holds a concealed-weapons permit, had come to the center to protest Nickels' gun ban. A licensed attorney, Warden had alerted the city and press to his noon protest.

Warden, 44, said the city's gun ban violates state and federal law. Four gun-rights groups and five individuals said last month they are suing the city and Nickels over the ban. But Warden believes those plaintiffs lack standing to challenge the city's ban because they hadn't personally been evicted from city property for carrying a gun.

He said he expects to file a lawsuit and have a judge hear his complaint: "I think this is a pretty good bang for the buck in terms of standing up for our rights."

He said his confrontation with city officials went as anticipated. Followed by a pack of reporters and cameras, Warden entered the community center shortly after noon. He was greeted by Lisa Harrison, a parks security employee, who asked him to leave. Under the watchful eye of several Seattle police officers, Warden promptly complied, as he said he would.

A labor-relations specialist with the federal government, Warden said he is not a member of the NRA, not a gun-rights activist, and not a political conservative. He maintained his protest was "something a good citizen should do."

With so many men and women "fighting for our rights overseas, it seems kind of offensive for people back here to just give them away," Warden said.

The ban went into effect last month in certain park facilities and eventually will include hundreds of playgrounds, community centers, sports fields, swimming pools and water-play areas.

Nickels proposed the ban to protect children, but the move quickly drew fire from gun-rights advocates who questioned its legality.

State Attorney General Rob McKenna has said that state law pre-empts local authority to adopt firearms regulations, unless specifically authorized by law.

Nickels said state law does not prohibit a property owner from imposing conditions on the possession of firearms on his or her property. The mayor argues that a municipal property owner such as Seattle may impose limits on firearms as a condition of entry or use of particular facilities, especially those where children and youth are likely to be.

A Nickels spokesman said the city expects to prevail against those who challenge the gun ban. "We'll meet them in the legal arena. We are very confident in our our case and look forward to arguing it," said Alex Fryer.

Warden disagreed.

"Mr. Nickels never presented evidence how a legally carrying citizen is a threat to anyone" in city parks, Warden said. "The mayor has not presented any argument how a gun ban like this would prevent bad guys from sneaking into [a city facility] with a weapon."

His retired parents were on hand to support him. Fred and Barb Warden, also of Kent, said they taught their son to stand up for what he believes in. "He's always had the courage of his convictions and we respect what he's doing," his mother said.

Warden said he has never fired a weapon outside a shooting range. He also couldn't recall any other laws he had publicly protested. "I expect by this time next week everyone will forget me," he said.

Bob Young: 206-464-2174 or byoung@seattletimes.com

Staff reporter Susan Gilmore contributed to this story.