Sequim, ex-chief hit with 2nd suit

By Jim Manders, Peninsula Daily News

October 22, 2002

The city and it’s former police chief, Byron Nelson, have been hit with a second lawsuit over a gun show and sale at Carrie Blake Park in April.

Sequim resident, Lawrence J. Witt filed the suit Friday in Clallam County Superior Court alleging that Nelson’s rules prohibiting gun sales by non-licensed dealers caused Witt’s gun show to fail.

In his lawsuit, Witt claims to be a federally licensed collector engaged in buying and selling relic, firearms and related curios.

In addition to providing an eight-page memorandum containing rules for the show and sale, Witt’s lawsuit claims that Nelson announced the rules when he walked through Guy Cole Convention Center at Carrie Blake Park while vendors were setting up tables on the night before the start of the event.

“Lawrence Witt and many of the sellers and potential gun show participants were severely handicapped and intimidated by this action, and significant revenues were lost to the plaintiff,” the suit claims.

Amount of damages

The suit asks the court to determine the amount of damages to be paid Witt. Nelson, who retired as Sequim’s police chief at the end of September, has said he was acting under direction of City Manager, Bill Elliott and City Attorney, Craig Ritchie in setting the rules for the show, which was held on city-owned property.

Earlier, the Pacific Northwest Shooting Association, which sponsored the April gun show, filed suit against the city and Nelson, on the same grounds.

The shooting group is trying to raise funds and public awareness to build a shooting range in Clallam County.

No court dates have been set for the most recent suit.