Under current Washington state law, it is legal to openly display a gun with a permit.
On Jan. 28, a state Senate Committee approved Senate Bill 5038, which now means that the bill will head to the first state senate. The bill would prohibit people from carrying weapons including knives and other metal tools, either on their person or in their vehicle, while attending a demonstration at a public place or while being within 1,000 feet of a demonstration. The bill also defines a demonstration as “conduct by one or more persons communicating or expressing views or grievances which has the effect, intent, or likelihood of attracting a crowd.”
The bill’s consideration comes just over three weeks after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. That day also saw dozens of protesters gathering near the governor’s executive mansion in Olympia, many of the protesters openly carried guns and other weapons.
The measure was originally debated by the State Senate Committee on Jan.26, despite objections that it would infringe on the Second Amendment rights of Washington State citizens and make law-abiding gun owners less safe.
