Firearms and other weapons would be banned in more public spaces, including parks, government buildings and county fairgrounds when the fair is open to the public, under a bill passed by most Washington state Senate Democrats on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 5098 passed the Senate with a 28-21 vote and will now head to the House for public testimony and debate. If passed by the House and signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson, the bill would become law on July 26.
Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, the sponsor of the measure, said the state has “made great progress in keeping people safe” from gun violence, and that he believed gun-free zones improve public safety. It’s critical, he said, to expand the prohibitions to more public spaces.
“This bill is about keeping families — in particular, of course, where kids are gathering — safe,” Valdez said.
Under the legislation, knowingly possessing weapons in the added public spaces is subject to a gross misdemeanor, which typically carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and a fine up to $5,000. New signage would be required at the additional public sites.
A weapon is defined by the bill as “any firearm, explosive as defined in statute, or any instrument of the kind usually known as slungshot, sand club, metal knuckles, or any knife, dagger, dirk, or other similar instrument that is capable of causing death or bodily injury, and is commonly used with the intent to cause death or bodily injury.”
Individuals with concealed carry permits are exempt under the Senate bill, as well as members of honor guards and color guards at certain locations during an event where rifle honors are customarily conducted.
The new proposed prohibitions on public spaces expands on legislation passed by lawmakers in the last few years prohibiting weapons in other places such as zoos, libraries, bars and transit facilities.
Several Republican lawmakers spoke against the proposal during Wednesday’s floor debate.
Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, said he appreciated an amendment added during committee that exempts those with concealed carry permits. He said he believed that everyone has been “battle-hardened” enough to realize that asking those with bad intentions to honor a sign or honor a law won’t work.
“Lawful gun owners are not the problem,” Holy said.
Senate Bill 5268, sponsored by Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro Woolley, which would require 12 months of community custody for convictions of unlawful possession of a firearm passed the Senate unanimously.
Those placed on community custody are under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. They must remain within certain geographical boundaries and are required to notify the community corrections officer of any change in employment or housing.
Wagoner said the bill was brought to him by local law enforcement concerned that prosecutors aren’t prioritizing cases of unlawful possession of firearms because of the current Class B felony classification. His legislation, he said, corrects the “right end” of the gun violence problem.
While the original proposal by Wagoner would have classified unlawful possession of a firearm as a violent offense, he said lawmakers arrived at “a good place” on the legislation.
If passed by the House and signed by Ferguson, the law would also go into effect July 26.
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