Group Protests Prohibition of Guns in Legislative Viewing Areas

Approximately 50 gun-rights advocates held a rally at the Washington state capitol to protest rules that prohibit openly carrying guns into the House and Senate viewing galleries.

The protesters, including a half-dozen small children, clustered for 90 minutes Saturday morning in a Capitol portico before the building opened to the public and they filed inside.

Rally organizers said they had planned to go into the House gallery openly carrying guns and allow Washington State Patrol officers to arrest them. The gallery remained locked, so demonstrators took turns knocking on the door, then posted a list of grievances upon it.

The crowd then walked to the Governor's office, which was also locked, and to the gate of the Governor's mansion, where they prayed. The State Patrol reported no incidents or arrests.