General Restrictions. Weapons, including firearms, are prohibited statewide in the following places:
The perimeter of any such location must be posted at reasonable intervals to alert the public as to the existence of any law restricting the possession of firearms on the premises.
Schools and Childcare Premises. Weapons, including firearms, are prohibited in any public or private school or secondary school premises, school provided transportation, or areas of facilities while being used exclusively by public or private schools.
It is unlawful for a person to carry onto, or possess on, licensed child care premises, child care center-provided transportation, or areas of facilities while being used exclusively by a child care center, any weapons, including firearms.
Demonstrations. It is unlawful for a person to knowingly open carry a firearm or any other weapon, whether on their person or in a vehicle, at any permitted demonstration, or within 250 feet of the perimeter of a permitted demonstration after an authorized law enforcement officer directs the person to leave until they no longer possess the weapon. This later prohibition does not apply to any individual possessing or controlling a weapon on private property that person owns or leases.
Penalty. A person who violates any of these prohibitions is guilty of a gross misdemeanor which carries with it a sentence of up to 365 days imprisonment in the county jail, a fine up to $5,000, or both.
Local Ordinances. The state of Washington fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearm regulation within the state. Local governments may enact only those laws and ordinances relating to firearms specifically authorized by state law, and any local law or ordinance inconsistent with, more restrictive than, or exceeds the requirements of state law must not be enacted and are preempted and repealed.
Under state law, cities, towns, counties, and other municipalities may enact laws and ordinances restricting the following:
Violation of any such local ordinances must have the same penalty as provided in state law.
Cities, towns, counties, and other municipalities may enact laws and ordinances restricting the open carry of firearms or other weapons at any public meeting; any building or facility owned or operated by a city, town, county, or other municipality; or any permitted demonstration within their respective jurisdictions. These allowances apply both to the current law that expires on July 1, 2022, and the mirror replacement law which takes effect on that same day.
PRO: This bill will let individual cities figure out what their needs are at their meetings and on their facilities. Give us the power to keep our meetings robust and fully involved. It is imperative that local governments have the ability to make decisions on where people can carry guns within their jurisdictions. In many spaces the open carrying of guns not only intimidates but endangers the public. Local decision making is a core principle for local governments in Washington. This bill allows local governments to decide the proper restrictions that are appropriate for them.
This bill would allow local governments to reject armed intimidation and protect their citizens and public servants from gun violence. Extremist have shown up to protests and public meetings armed with assault weapons and local leaders could do nothing to stop the armed intimidation.
I worked with teachers to have a peaceful protest in Federal Way, individuals were on a nearby rooftop pointing weapons meant for war zones at us and there was nothing I could do. The message we are sending is that protecting property is more important than my child's and my safety. Last year the Legislature took an important first step in protecting Washingtonians, and this is a smart bill that will empower local leaders to decide how to keep their communities safe. This bill would prevent armed intimidation by extremists at public meetings and demonstrations. The threat of armed extremism extends to local government meetings and public demonstrations. This bill would allow local governments to be nimble in responding to emerging threats. Armed individuals have caused local government meetings to recess and adjourn to safe rooms, creating an air of fear and intimidation. No city counsel member or school board member should be in fear during their service to the public.
Firearms have no place at city hall or school district offices. One of the most concerning trends recently is the increased threat of armed intimidation. This bill would keep guns out of local meetings and allow municipalities to set their own rules regarding these matters. This is a matter of equity and one borne out of necessity. This bill builds on traditions in Washington ensuring democracy is not carried out at gun point. This bill would allow each community to decide what role, if any, a threat of violence should play in healthy public discussions. Carrying weapons does not further local government decision making. To solve our deepest problems we need everyone's ideas and passion and this often leads to conflict and this bill would allow local governments to address that conflict without the treat of serious injury or death.
CON: Violence against Asian communities has increased, and this bill would compromise those communities right to defend themselves. Gun laws can be very difficult to interpret, and any accidental violation could put an individual in serious and life-changing trouble. Bills like these disproportionately affect people of color. This bill would create a punitive checkerboard of laws across the state for individuals carrying firearms or carrying firearms to recreational activities. My experience has shown me that under this bill white protesters would not be stopped by law enforcement while people of color would be disproportionately target by law enforcement. Recently minority groups have been empowered by learning and investing in defending themselves, and instead of supporting the guardians of our families and communities this is an attempt to strip them of the ability to defend themselves.
Self defense is a right of the LGBTQ+ community, and this bill is another erosion of Washingtonian's protection against individuals who would threaten our lives. We are not scared to walk into a room where people might be armed, we are worried about walking into an area where everyone is armed but us. This bill does nothing to create safe spaces. Firearms laws are extremely complex. This bill adds another level of complexity by allowing municipalities to further restrict firearms. Right now, a gun owner only needs to know federal and state gun laws, if this bill is passed all 39 counties and 281 cities and towns would be able to add additional regulations on gun owners. This is an unreasonable burden.
This is another attempt by this Legislature to further restrict our Second Amendment rights. This will lead to a confusing patchwork of local laws and will cause a chilling on a person's right to participate in the governmental process. While the ideas behind this bill are sound, as written, this bill leaves a lot to be desired. Throughout my life I have suffered intimidation with or without guns. You can be intimidated in thousands of ways. The elderly do not have the ability to defend themselves and the only way they can defend themselves is by leveling the playing field. Law enforcement is not there to protect citizens and thinking we can protect ourselves by disarming everyone is simply not true.