WA state open carry

Check http://opencarry.org on the WA page to get the open carrier's perspective.

Personally I am more inclined to, and have in the past, open carried in the more rural, eastern side of the state. I have never had anyone there as much as give me a second glance.

In the urban areas, particularly on the western side of the state, I choose to conceal carry. I know it's legal to open carry in most places but the chances of getting involved with others who either don't know any better, or don't believe it's lawful, becoming a MWAG and having to possibly deal with LE is way beyond what I care to take on. I don't have the spare time or the spare money to fight that battle. I respect and admire those that do.

No problems over here on the East side really, my neighbors open carry while out walking, they come to my house openly carrying... I just don't see it as a big deal, most people I know carry a knife too... just another tool.

Open carry is completely legal in Washington state. You must have a CPL to carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle, however.

Proof?

http://www.www.opencarry.org/forums...the-2A-rally-on-4.30.11-(Warning-lotsa-pics!)

Washington State 2A rally on the capitol grounds:



This photo is downtown Seattle. The guy in the middle is Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna:



I personally open carry almost everywhere I go, including SEATAC International Airport while picking up my daughter from her flight. Right up to the perimeter of the secured area.

I have lived in WA since 1970. First a couple different places in Skagit County, and since early 2005, here in Okanogan County.

My first OC was at the Sedro Wolley LoggerRodeo in 1970. They had downtown closed off for a quick draw compitition. After the competition there were all kinds (hundreds) of people from that competition and the rendezvous they have in Sedro every year, and even just citizens, all minding their own business. Never saw a cop stop and talk to anyone that was carrying.

While at that LoggerRodeo, I stopped one of the competitors and talked to him about all the people carrying about town. (in stores, bank, everywhere). He told me it was perfectly legal, even without a license to carry...so...

I went home, strapped on my old Colt revolver, and went to town. I walked all over town and into every business I could...not one word was said. I have OC'd ever since. I now have a CPL so I can carry loaded in a vehicle (wasn't a problem in 1970), but I never dress for my carry. If I don't have a coat on, it is out in the open, if I have a coat on, it may be covered (depends on the coat and which gun/holster combination), or it may not.

I have had one "talk" with a deputy about my carry. We were hunting and I had go into a grocery store, with that same big Colt on my hip, to purchase supplies.

As I was loading the camper in the back of my truck, a Deputy Sheriff drove up and got out of his truck. Walked over and asked "hunting", I answered "Yep", (end of discussion) The Deputy then he went off to look for the person that had called to tell them OC is legal in WA.

I have been OC and stopped by the WSP...never a word from them about my carry, only my speed, and I know they could see it.

BTW: yes, I just keep my carry on when I am in the car. My holsters are made that way, except the hunting holster for the Colt is best on a horse, not in a car. I have several I OC. My present favorite is a CZ-85 in a leather Alessi holster.

Edited to add: We had a discussion here on OCDO about carry into a contract liquor store. I went down and asked the contractor at our little local liquor store if there was anything in her contract about allowing carried firearms in her store (I was carrying a CZ-82, black gun, black holster, black pants) She said, No, there wasn't anything in the contract that she remembered but also stated about her customers...."they do it all the time".... "you mean like this" I asked her..she said, "oh, I hadn't noticed, but yes, like that".

Now, you know I have never seen anyone else OC in town (we live 20 miles out of town) here? But the lady at the liquor store said they come in to her store "all the time"... and she hadn't even noticed I was carrying at the time...What does that tell you?...

-sorry, meant to post in other open carry thread-

MD_Willington said:

No problems over here on the East side really, my neighbors open carry while out walking, they come to my house openly carrying... I just don't see it as a big deal, most people I know carry a knife too... just another tool.

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That reminds me, a couple weeks ago I went to the Skagit Co Clerk's office (in the court house) and they made me put my knife in the lockbox with the CZ at the metal detector. I was going what? It's just a knife!

It's just a knife!

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It depends on the knife. A lot of the "pocket" knives that flip open in a heartbeat, can slit a few throats before being taken down by the sheriff's deputies. Personally I carry a beautiful Lone Wolf, but it's little blade (less than 2") is always razor sharp. So if I happen to have my key chain swiss army knife, that would cut my knuckles more than anybody I tried to stab, on me.. it's just easier for the deputies to restrict ALL knives than try and make judgements as to weapon grade or string cutters.

hermannr said:

That reminds me, a couple weeks ago I went to the Skagit Co Clerk's office (in the court house) and they made me put my knife in the lockbox with the CZ at the metal detector. I was going what? It's just a knife!

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RCW 9.41.300
Weapons prohibited in certain places — Local laws and ordinances — Exceptions — Penalty.

(1) It is unlawful for any person to enter the following places when he or she knowingly possesses or knowingly has under his or her control a weapon:

(a) The restricted access areas of a jail, or of a law enforcement facility, or any place used for the confinement of a person (i) arrested for, charged with, or convicted of an offense, (ii) held for extradition or as a material witness, or (iii) otherwise confined pursuant to an order of a court, except an order under chapter 13.32A or 13.34 RCW. Restricted access areas do not include common areas of egress or ingress open to the general public;

(b) Those areas in any building which are used in connection with court proceedings, including courtrooms, jury rooms, judge's chambers, offices and areas used to conduct court business, waiting areas, and corridors adjacent to areas used in connection with court proceedings. The restricted areas do not include common areas of ingress and egress to the building that is used in connection with court proceedings, when it is possible to protect court areas without restricting ingress and egress to the building. The restricted areas shall be the minimum necessary to fulfill the objective of this subsection (1)(b).

For purposes of this subsection (1)(b), "weapon" means any firearm, explosive as defined in RCW 70.74.010, or any weapon of the kind usually known as slung shot, sand club, or metal knuckles, or any knife, dagger, dirk, or other similar weapon that is capable of causing death or bodily injury and is commonly used with the intent to cause death or bodily injury.

In addition, the local legislative authority shall provide either a stationary locked box sufficient in size for pistols and key to a weapon owner for weapon storage, or shall designate an official to receive weapons for safekeeping, during the owner's visit to restricted areas of the building. The locked box or designated official shall be located within the same building used in connection with court proceedings. The local legislative authority shall be liable for any negligence causing damage to or loss of a weapon either placed in a locked box or left with an official during the owner's visit to restricted areas of the building.

The local judicial authority shall designate and clearly mark those areas where weapons are prohibited, and shall post notices at each entrance to the building of the prohibition against weapons in the restricted areas;

Yeah, I get the same thing at the .GOV INS building in Spokane, knife goes into the box, I get a little card, its all good.

I open carried frequently before I got my concealed. I got a couple looks from other drivers when I was on my motorcycle, but I think they were just trying to see what type of pistol I had more so than being shocked to see a gun. I always wanted to test the part of the law that states that the courts are required to provide you with a lock box for your firearm while youre in a restricted area.....just to see the look on their face

Ya Navy, I know. It reminds me of TSA and my step FIL (FIL died years ago). little pocket knife, maybe a 2" blade, and only 1 blade too..conficated. At least my little equivilant wasn't confiscated, just stored.

Skagit courthouse was doing right, I just couldn't fathum the "any" knife..

One thing I did notice, which surprised me...the officers at the metal detector were not armed themselves????

You guys need to stop posting all these open carry threads, it's making me depressed when I think that Texas probably won't ever get there.

My girlfriend and I drove to the County Courthouse in downtown Tacoma to renew my CPL, I was carrying openly (and trust me, you do NOT want to walk around in that part of town unarmed). The clerk at the metal detector was a little surprised, but he called a deputy who came and secured my sidearm. I told him I would prefer to leave the gun in the holster and hand it all to him like that, he agreed that it was a good idea. I got it back the same way. No drama.

NavyLCDR said:

This photo is downtown Seattle. The guy in the middle is Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna:

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The guy in the middle there is also running for Governor!

TexasRifleman said:

You guys need to stop posting all these open carry threads, it's making me depressed when I think that Texas probably won't ever get there.

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Keep the faith Tex, be politically active, and patient...

Keep the faith Tex, be politically active, and patient...

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It's hard to be more active than I am already short of running for office, and my patience is wearing with a few of our elected folks.

Maybe someday. Meanwhile I love to see all you guys walking around with guns that are exposed and not hurting anyone. Warms my heart

I don't think WA-Rifleman is taken yet, c'mon up, were a big state, big enough even for a good Texan