They've made it clear that this is an open public meeting. It is a public hearing in a public building -- people will be there.

I just got an email from one of Bellingham's councilmembers saying they've banned public testimony "until further notice."

Gulp.

I responded with this:

Will you make a motion tonight to modify the emergency ordinances to remove these anti-2a provisions?

Subsections 5,7,&9 are clearly unconstitutional, don’t you agree?

Will you help get them removed?

It is an open public meeting so people will be there - councilmembers will be voting on emergency ordinances that change the law but you’re saying the council is prohibiting those people from testifying about those changes before you vote?

How does banning public testimony during a public hearing in a public building make anyone safer? It doesn’t make any sense. Political speech is not as dangerous as a government prohibiting the free exercise of it.

Your disrespect for the First Amendment is now duly noted.

As for your views on the 2nd Amendment, there’s still time to do the right thing. Will you make a motion to modify the emergency ordinances and remove subsections 5, 7, & 9 from the Bellingham Municipal Code?

-- END --

His response:

"not allowing public comment is for safety reasons we can't have people using the same mike."

That is ridiculous. Can't they disinfect the microphone after each person talks?

I and others will not be intimidated. We will go to their meeting and we will speak at their meeting - they cannot get away with this.

I encourage everyone to send another email RIGHT NOW - here's how:

In the "To" line, copy and paste: mayorsoffice@cob.org; ccmail@cob.org; hahuthman@cob.org; mlilliquist@cob.org; laanderson@cob.org; ptvargas@cob.org; dchammill@cob.org; gknutson@cob.org; hestone@cob.org; tim.eyman@gmail.com

Subject line: At tonight's meeting, I ask you to respect our 1st Amendment rights and 2nd Amendment rights.

In the body of the email, copy and paste this or write something like this -- TELL THEM HOW YOU FEEL:

You've made it clear that this is an open public meeting where you will be voting on legislation. How can you invite people into the chambers and then prohibit them from speaking? It makes no sense. So having councilmembers speaking is safe but having citizens speaking is dangerous? Your ignorance about our God-given rights is beyond scary. One councilmember wrote "maybe it would make some sense to prohibit the sale of firearms ... under these extreme circumstances, putting a halt on gun sales may be constitutional." Another councilmember says our rights will only be taken away after a later council vote. That's nuts -- constitutional rights are guaranteed and not contingent on the whims of a bunch of politicians. The emergency powers in subsections 5, 7, & 9 in the Bellingham Municipal Code clearly violate both our US Constitution and our state Constitution (Article 1, Section 24 is clear: "the right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired."). After the council listens to public testimony during this open public meeting, all it takes to remove these anti-2A provisions is for one councilmember tonight to make a motion to amend the emergency ordinance, another councilmember to second it, discuss it, then the council will vote on the amended change. There is absolutely no justification for these blatantly unconstitutional provisions and your emergency ordinances should be modified to remove them. Please confirm you received my email message.

PLEASE, EVERYONE, send your emails immediately.

ACTION ALERT: The city council has made it very clear this is an open public meeting where anyone can attend. I will be there (tonight, Mon, March 23, 7:00pm, 210 Lottie St, Bellingham) to speak out against these outrageous provisions because I'm very concerned the mayor and council will ignore us if all we do is send emails. In-person, vocal testimony has always been the most effective way to lobby politicians. Join me if you want to. I hope to see you there.