(The Center Square) – A bill expanding gun-free zones cleared a major legislative hurdle on Wednesday, passing the Washington State Senate on a 28-21 vote.
Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5098, sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, would prohibit the possession of firearms in parks, government buildings and locations where “children are likely to be present.”
The legislation was previously amended to exempt concealed pistol license holders.
Ahead of a final vote on the Senate floor, Republicans offered several amendments, which were rejected, except for one.
Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, offered up the amendment that was adopted as part of ESSSB 5098.
“Just a few years ago, this Legislature passed a bill … prohibiting the open carry of weapons on the Capitol Campus, and at that time we inadvertently made a prohibition that would disallow service organizations such as the VFW and others from conducting military rifle honor ceremonies, and I want to make certain that in this legislation we are allowing for certain service organizations to do the rifle honor ceremonies,” he explained.
Other Republicans offered amendments that went nowhere, including one from Sen. Leonard Christian, R-Spokane Valley, to give warnings to lawful gun owners who may unknowingly enter a park area where children are present, not realizing it is a gun-free area.
“The reality is, with all of the confusion and the breakneck pace that we are putting together these anti-gun bills, we need to give folks a break,” Christian urged. “Even drug dealers get a warning before they go to jail, it seems like in this state, so why wouldn’t somebody who made a mistake and walked into the wrong area at least get a warning before being thrown into jail?”
Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Seattle, urged her colleagues to vote against adopting the amendment.
“The signs are there to educate people on the law and to clearly articulate for them what a violation entails,” she said.
Sen. Keith Waggoner, R-Sedro Woolley, responded to Dhingra’s assertion that signage would be sufficient notification.
“How many of us have run a stop sign because we didn’t see the sign?” he asked. “I think this is just an important point to make. You may not see the sign and be totally unaware, and I think a law enforcement officer would be able to ascertain that.”
Ahead of the final vote, Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, commended Valdez for the exemption for concealed pistol license holders.
“One of the things he did provide in committee was an amendment to exempt concealed carry holders from the bill,” Holy said, noting he came close to supporting the final bill.
The focus on law-abiding gun owners was a sticking point for Holy.
“Lawful gun owners are not the problem,” he said.
Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, spoke in opposition to the bill ahead of the final vote.
“We’re not trying to take away your gun rights. You just can’t carry here, and you can’t carry here and over there,” he said. “It makes it more difficult for a legal gun owner to obey the law, and it’s like we’re trying to create a situation where the person we’re targeting isn’t the bad guy who’s going to do some harm to someone, but the average citizen. People intent on doing harm aren’t stupid. They’re going to go someplace where they know there isn’t going to be any resistance.”
Sen. Liz Lovelett, D-Anacortes, testified in support of the bill.
“There is no way to know who the good guy with a gun is, and who is the bad guy with a gun,” she noted. “All we are seeing is a person at the playground with a gun, and we just have to hope that they are not there to shoot our children. Playgrounds should be a place for juice boxes and picnics and pushing your kid on a swing. It’s no place for lethal weapons.”
Two Democrats, Sen. Adrian Cortes, D-Battle Ground, and Sen. Claudia Kauffman, D-Kent, joined all Republicans in opposing the bill.
It now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.
