By Pepper Fisher
OLYMPIA — The Washington Legislature has approved a measure, introduced by 24th District State Rep. Mike Chapman, that would ban the open carry of guns at the Capitol and surrounding grounds and at or near any permitted public demonstration across the state.
The bill now heads to Gov. Inslee’s desk for his signature.
Rep. Chapman, a Democrat and former law enforcement officer who still holds a concealed weapons permit, introduced the bill following a tense and unpermitted pro-gun rally at the State Capitol building in February of 2020.
“This is a bill to show people, don’t use your weapons as intimidation. And that’s what happened at the Capitol year ago. And the reason I know that’s a fact is because the Capitol emptied out as people showed up inside the Capitol with their weapons slung over their shoulder, large high-capacity weapons, which I don’t care that people own them. I do care when they come into a building like the Capitol and stand at four corners. And there were 20 or 30 of them, walking through the hallways. It was intimidation and it was a borderline takeover.”
Chapman says the bill had broad support from the State Patrol, who’s members are responsible for Capitol security.
“The State Patrol now has the tools to say, ‘You’re not coming in.’ Because I think they know that if somebody then tries to get in, it’s like January 6. They’re trying to get in for a purpose. And then the State Patrol says, ‘Look, you can go put your weapon back in your vehicle and then you can come in and talk to the Speaker of House or whoever you have an appointment with, but you’re not coming in with that’.”
We asked if he is confident the Gov. will sign it into law.
“He actually has not been super enthused about this piece of legislation, and he wasn’t last year. But I’m assuming that after January 6, he’s going to have to sign it. So, it may..hopefully he’s changed his mind a little bit after, you know, what he saw on the TV like the rest of us.”
Rep. Chapman reiterated his support of the Second Amendment, and says this new bill is not antigun legislation.
“If I could speak to a group of 2000 NRA members, I would just look them in the eye and say, ‘Look, you’re hurting your own cause by being so aggressive. Just back off. You don’t have to show everybody that you own five weapons. Like, you’re not in the military anymore. This is America’.”
(Photo: Participants in the unpermitted “March for Our Rights” demonstration rally on the steps of the State Capitol on February 4, 2020.)