OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington Senate has approved a measure that would ban the open carry of guns and other weapons on the Capitol campus and at or near any permitted public demonstration across the state.
The bill was passed 28-20 and heads to the House for consideration.
That was after an hour of emotional debate where many Republicans objected, saying the measure tramples on the Second Amendment.
The bill would prohibit people from carrying weapons, either on their person or in their vehicle, while attending a permitted demonstration at a public place or while being within 250 feet of a permitted demonstration.
It also prohibits openly carried weapons in the state Capitol or on the Capitol’s grounds.