Republic police chief’s 2nd Amendment Sanctuary City proposal to be introduced tonight

REPUBLIC, Wash. — The Chief of Police in Republic says his department will not enforce new gun regulations, passed by Washington voters two weeks ago.

Although the initiative passed with nearly 60 percent of the statewide vote, it was rejected by 73 percent of northeastern Washington’s Ferry county voters, which is where Republic is located.

Tonight, Republic Police Chief Loren Culp will present an ordinance to the city council that would make the town a sanctuary city for guns and declare Initiative 1639 null and void within city limits.

Chief Culp says the new gun regulations– which include a higher age to purchase an assault rifle, new storage requirements, and enhanced background checks– violate both the state and federal constitutions and he will not allow his officers to enforce them.

“We took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Washington, and [I-1639] completely flies in the face of both the U.S. and state constitution,” Chief Culp said on the phone with KXLY last week.

The text of the proposed ordinance, posted here, says the initiative would be declared invalid, and rejected within the city of Republic. Chief Culp goes on to add that no agent, employee, or official within city limits will be allowed to support or enforce the new regulations when they begin go into effect in January.

He also encourages neighboring communities to pass similar ordinances. Several posts about the proposal have been shared and commented on thousands of times.

The proposal will be presented to Republic’s city council during their meeting at 5:00 tonight. It’s not clear whether they’ll discuss or vote on the ordinance after it’s introduced.

Chief Culp says although he hopes the city council passes it, he does not need their approval to move forward with his enforcement policy.

KXLY4 will have a crew at the meeting tonight and will bring you the latest developments as we get them.

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