OLYMPIA, WA – The Alliance for Gun Responsibility issued the following statement in response to the introduction of a bill by Rep. Tana Senn (D-41) prohibiting the open carry of firearms on the campus of the Washington State Legislature. The bill’s introduction comes after reports that armed protesters threatened legislative staff and called for resistance against a “tyrannical” government. 

“We are working tirelessly this legislative session for commonsense measures that will prevent gun violence and make our communities safer,” said Renée Hopkins, CEO of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. “This proposal is an important part of that effort. We know that the open presence of guns in public life increases the chances that a simple conflict escalates, causing devastating and irreversible damage to innocent lives. We also know that the open carry of firearms can, and often does, have a chilling effect on public discourse. This effect is particularly relevant to the dozens of survivors, students, and advocates who come to the Capitol to share their personal stories of gun violence. This bill will help ensure that the Second Amendment does not stifle the First and that the Capitol remains a space where safe and robust dialogue about what is best for our communities can happen.”

Nineteen states currently place some kind of restriction on the carry of firearms in capitol buildings.

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