HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2863

BYRepresentatives R. Meyers and Basich

Prohibiting firearms near judicial proceedings and capitol structures.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (15)

      Signed by Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Republican Member; Dellwo, Forner, Inslee, P. King, Locke, R. Meyers, Moyer, H. Myers, Schmidt, D. Sommers, Tate and Wineberry.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Hargrove.

House Staff:Rob Lopez (786-7591)

                  Bill Perry (786-7122)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY FEBRUARY 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The law prohibits a person from entering a courtroom or judge's chambers while either the courtroom or the judge's chambers are being used for any judicial proceeding.  The definition of courtroom or chambers does not include the common areas of egress or ingress of the courthouse.

Currently, no prohibition exists for bringing guns on the state capitol campus of the Legislature.

SUMMARY:

The prohibition against bringing guns into a courtroom or a judge's chambers is expanded to include other specifically restricted or posted areas of a building in which a judicial proceeding is occurring if the restrictions are necessary for the security of those involved in the judicial proceeding.

Guns may not be brought into any buildings on the west side of the state capitol grounds where the Supreme Court, Governor's mansion, House and Senate buildings, and other legislative buildings are located.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The original bill provided that the prohibition extended to a building that was being used for a judicial proceeding.  The substitute added that the prohibition would extend only to posted and specifically restricted areas of buildings and the requirement that the prohibition is necessary for security reasons. The original bill extended the prohibition to all structures on the state capitol building lands.  The substitute limits the prohibition to the west side of the campus.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Ted Cowan, Jill Gurnsey, Pierce County Executive.

House Committee - Testified Against:      John Hosford, Citizens Committee on the Right to Bear Arms; Dennis Cook, Washington Arms Collectors; Al Woodbridge, Washington National Firearms Act Association.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The suggested amendments should be adopted to give everyone proper notice and not unduly infringe on the right to bear arms. The same security reasons that exist for prohibiting guns in courtrooms apply to other areas of buildings where judicial proceedings are being conducted.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      Gun restriction bills infringe on the right to bear arms.