{"id":145579,"date":"2021-05-17T16:05:24","date_gmt":"2021-05-17T20:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=145579"},"modified":"2021-05-17T16:05:24","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T12:05:47","slug":"washington-governor-signs-bill-banning-open-carry-at-protests-state-capitol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/washington-governor-signs-bill-banning-open-carry-at-protests-state-capitol\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington Governor Signs Bill Banning Open Carry at Protests, State Capitol"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Washington
Inslee and his allies say the bill is to protect people from “intimidation.” (Photo: Jay Inslee Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill last Wednesday banning openly carried firearms within 250 feet of any public protest anywhere in the state. The ban also applies on the Capitol grounds and in state legislative buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a commonsense approach that extends our existing prohibition on open carry firearms in limited situations, to ensure an individual can\u2019t use a weapon to intimidate other citizens,\u201d Gov. Inslee said<\/a> at the bill signing on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impetus for the bill stems from the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 and the protests the same day at the Capitol in Olympia, according to local media<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen what happens when people bring weapons to protests,\u201d Democratic state Senator Patty Kuderer, the prime sponsor of the bill, told<\/a> a House committee in March. Sen. Kuderer did not clarify exactly \u201cwhat happens.\u201d None of the protestors on January 6 fired their weapons, and the only person shot and killed, Ashli Babbitt<\/a>, was gunned down by Capitol police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEE ALSO: Federal Judge Upholds Washington\u2019s Draconian I-1639 Gun Laws, SAF Plans to Appeal<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sen. Kuderer also argued that the bill does not restrict Second Amendment rights. Since Washingtonians can carry their firearms elsewhere in the state, the new policy does not infringe on gun rights, she contends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t about squelching the Second Amendment or denying people the right to bear arms. It simply restricts where they can carry them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill, SB 5035<\/a>, prohibits the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n