State patrol won’t arrest I-594 protesters exchanging guns at capitol

The Washington State Patrol say troopers won’t arrest demonstrators who plan to exchange guns at the capitol in protest of Washington’s new background check law.

The demonstrators plan to bring guns to the state capitol Dec. 13 in protest of I-594 and exchange them in what they claim would be a violation of the measure passed last month. The Secretary of State will certify I-594 on Dec. 4.

“We’re going to pass guns. We’re going to encourage people to freely buy and sell guns. We’re going to violate I-594 in every possible way because it’s void and we’re declaring it publicly that I-594 will not be tolerated,” Gavin Seim, a professional photographer and gun owner who is organizing the “I Will Not Comply Rally,” told KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross.

But the group that led the campaign for I-594 said earlier this week the new law would not make temporarily handing a gun to someone else a crime.

Washington State Patrol spokesman Bob Calkins says troopers have no plans to arrest anyone.

“We’re not sure we can prove that’s a transfer under the law,” Calkins says. “And we really try to be very accommodating of people who come to the state capitol to express political opinions, engage in free speech.”

However, Calkins says the state patrol is asking demonstrators to practice “good firearm safety practices” by handling guns safely and not pointing them at others or intimidating people.

Calkins says the state patrol doesn’t expect any problems. But troopers will be on hand to monitor the protest and step in if protesters do other things that violate the law or intimidate other capitol visitors.

Seim predicts upwards of 8,000 people will take part in the demonstration.