While the Spokane Police Department is in the midst of an investigation into whether armed individuals at protests violated any laws, the Spokane City Council passed a resolution declaring those individuals to be criminals. | Stock photo
While the Spokane Police Department is in the midst of an investigation into whether armed individuals at protests violated any laws, the Spokane City Council passed a resolution declaring those individuals to be criminals. | Stock photo
The Spokane City Council recently voted 6-to-1 to approve a resolution declaring that they consider protesters who have carried firearms at protests to be in violation of state law.
Council member Michael Cathcart was the single dissenting vote on the resolution, according to coverage by KREM.
Prior to the vote, the Spokane Police Department had stated that it is working to determine if individuals who attended protests armed had actually violated any laws, and emphasized support for the right to open carry, according to KREM.
The council’s resolution indicates that the fact armed individuals present during protests share group association – the council chose to label any armed individuals collectively as “militia groups” – is considered by the council to violate Washington state law prohibiting organized groups from associating as either a military company or parade while armed, according to KREM.
The state law cited by the council grants exceptions to recognized militia organizations of the state, armed forces of the United States, military science students or veterans organizations, according to KREM.
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