Senate Bill 5098 to expand the list where it’s a gross misdemeanor to enter with a weapon
Tim Clouser
The Center Square Washington
The list of where possessing a firearm is illegal, even with a concealed pistol license, could soon expand as lawmakers considered a bill Tuesday to ban carrying altogether at more than 5,300 places.
Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, proposed Senate Bill 5098 to expand the list where it’s a gross misdemeanor to enter with a weapon. If approved, the state would prohibit possession at public buildings, parks, fairgrounds and playgrounds where “children are likely to be present.”
State law already prohibits possession in restricted access areas of airports, jails, law enforcement and public health facilities, courtrooms and other related areas, bars and places off-limits to minors, public libraries, accredited zoos and aquariums and transit facilities.
“I’m proposing that this bill extend these protections to neighborhoods and regional parks, public buildings and county fairgrounds,” Valdez said during the Senate Law & Justice Committee’s Tuesday public hearing. “Places where the risk of modern firearms can be as severe.”
While the current list includes an exemption for anyone with a valid concealed pistol license, committee staff Joe McKitrick said SB 5098 would not uphold that same protection.
“The only exception that’s stated in the new language is related to those color guard and honor guard ceremonies related to burial and interment ceremonies,” McKitrick said. “The current exception related to CPL holders would not apply to these new prohibited areas.”
Many people testified in support and against the bill, with some noting their status as survivors of gun violence with others criticizing “gun-free zones” and removal of the CPL exemption.
“Years later, at a playground in Bellingham with my daughter, a man openly carrying a gun frightened the children and alarmed parents,” gun violence survivor Liz Hjelmeseth testified. “Despite being asked to leave, he refused. Police were called, but we learned they could legally do nothing about the situation.”
If approved, the legislation would require signage at common access points for each place where possession is illegal. According to a fiscal note, the law could apply to at least 3,327 city parks, 1,405 city buildings, 345 county parks, 195 county buildings and 39 fairgrounds.
Each sign would cost about $640, with varying amounts needed depending on the location; according to the fiscal note, SB 5098 could cost at least $6.87 million to implement. The bill states that each municipality would designate these areas and post the appropriate signage.
“I’ll just remind you that [existing law] requires the state, when imposing new or expanded requirements upon local government, to also provide accompanying resources,” Paul Jewell testified on behalf of the Washington State Association of Counties. “At the very least, we ask that you provide those resources.”
According to SB 5098, “Park facilities where children and youth are likely to be present include, but are not limited to, park facilities that have: Playgrounds or children’s play areas; sports fields; swim beaches or water play areas; teen centers, community centers, or performing arts centers; skate parks; and other recreational facilities likely to be used by children or youth.”
The bill further defines state and local public buildings as “a building or part of a building owned, leased, held, or used by the governmental entity of a city, town, county, or other municipality or by the state of Washington, if state or local public employees are regularly present for the purposes of performing their official duties and that is not regularly used, and not intended to be used, by state or local public employees as a place of residence.”
If approved, provisions surrounding county fairs and related facilities would only apply during operational hours. The restrictions would also not apply to gun shows on county fairgrounds.
“Earlier in the year, a woman was confronted by a man while walking on the trails who stabbed her multiple times. She needed 186 staples,” Pierce County resident Jane Milhans testified. “The Tacoma Police Department … indicated that people need to take precautions when walking at Point Defiance. Women take precautions by carrying personal protection firearms.”
While the committee only had time for a certain amount of testimony, 552 of those who signed up for the meeting but didn’t testify supported the gun control measure, and 1,581 opposed it.
The Senate Law & Justice Committee will reconvene for an executive session on SB 5098 on Thursday.
This report was first published by The Center Square Washington.
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So…prevent carry to protect children…in what sane mind can this make sense?
Criminals intent on committing mass murder select “gun free zones” because that eliminates the risk of being stopped by armed citizens. This bill creates more safe areas for mass murderers. Why do democrats want citizens to be defenseless against criminals?
I’m not a Democrat but I disagree with you. I’m tired of people pulling a gun out in many situations because they feel power.
Please provide evidence that WA concealed pistol permit holders frequently, or ever, are “pulling a gun…because they feel power”.
Why does every gun rights person think just because someone prefers stricter gun laws they think you are a Democrat. That is not true. Many murders or shootings are on public streets, shopping malls, neighborhoods. My uncle was shot driving on the freeway and my cousin was killed on a hiking trail by someone shooting in the woods.
if they would enforce the many rules on the books now there would be more peace. criminals will not wake up and decide to follow rules because there is still another gun law put into effect.
Gun control is a main plank of the democrat party. The article posted here is about democrats pushing for more gun control laws. I did not say that everyone who supports stricter gun laws is a democrat. By the way, criminals who engage in shootings or murders on public streets are not inconvenienced in the slightest by gun control laws. Murder is also illegal, by the way.
SB 5098 – I just read the article and the sponsor is from Seattle – yes, another Democrat from the metro areas trying to control the rest of the state. Does anyone realize the waste of time involved with this discussion when it is so obvious that it violates our 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms? WA state has a serious budget problem – Democrats love to tax and spend and they have gone too far. Wait until state agencies get the governors “reduce agency by 5% or 10%” – well that is the end game to balance a “out of control spending” budget. Then to come up with all these anti-gun folks, usually Democrats, that will be struck down by the SCOTUS, if not by a lower court. My word, let’s use common sense, for once. They way you reduce crime, when firearms are involved, is to include mental health checks during the check that is used by every sheriff’s office prior to issuing a CCL. Please legislators – drop all the anti-gun bills, take a deep breath and have a cup of coffee and get down to balancing the budget. NO MORE special sessions to balance the budget, that is the first priority! COMMON SENSE.
people keep voting for democrats and get the same result. the newest democrat governor of Washington was on the news the other day complaining how bad things are in the state. that is because we just got rid of a worthless democrat only to vote in another one who will do the same stupid things and policies that has the state in such bad conditions. People need to vote smarter. Garbage in Garbage out.
democrats won’t be happy until they have taken away all your rights, destroyed all your freedoms, destroyed the Constitution, talked people into sitting on the couch watching democrat indoctrination talk shows everyday instead of having a productive job, expanded “reproductive rights” in English that is murder all unborn children, eliminate all signs and history of God and Jesus, close all jails and close down all police and military in USA. I am sure glad my parents taught me right from wrong when I was a kid. I am glad my parents taught their children to work hard. I am sure glad they raised us right and showed us there is good and evil. You sign on and support one or the other. There is no middle ground, no fence sitting. It might be time to look at what or who you support and choose good or evil. Someday you will be judged for it.