OLYMPIA — A decision to ban openly carried weapons in the House and Senate public viewing areas at the Washington state Capitol also applies to the public hearing rooms at the nearby legislative office buildings.
Officials from both chambers on Wednesday told The Associated Press that that the decision made earlier this month addressing the public galleries in the Capitol also applies to committee rooms in the House and Senate buildings where public hearings are held.
Officials say that signs listing the rules will be put up in the Senate office building as early as Wednesday. Signs have already been placed outside the committee rooms in the House building.
Leaders in both chambers said they considered openly carried guns the same as any prop used for a demonstration, which is not allowed under each chamber’s rules.
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