Traveling To Washington State . . .

[av8er]

So, I'm flying out to the Seattle/Tacoma area for a couple of days. I'm licensed to carry in Ohio, and I have reciprocity. Are there any huge gotchas? I've reviewed the info on handgunlaw, and it's pretty straight-forward. Any advice is welcome!!

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[9MMare]

Hmm, well there is no 'official' sign for public businesses to post...if a business is posted, you are not bound by law to observe it but you must leave if asked or you could be charged with trespassing.

I would keep it well-concealed, Seattle is pretty gun-paranoid, even tho open carry is legal (rarely seen tho).

You can carry into restaurants that serve liquor but you cant go into the lounge area (I dont know the official wording of this). If the age is 21 to enter, you cant carry there....that's a bit more specific and the lounge areas of restaurants have that law.

I can carry pretty much everywhere except federal buidings...and work

And I hope you have a wonderful visit!

[RemMod597]

Yup, that about covers it.

Oh yeah, stay out of the Pioneer Square area of Seattle.
Bad juju there.

Edit: Now to think of it, I would avoid pretty much all downtown Seattle. Belltown area has had a lot of shootings and assaults lately.

Be safe. Watch your six and enjoy your stay!

On a side note here - Everett, just north of Seattle, was one of the coldest cities in the USA yesterday, at 57 degrees.

[9MMare]

Enjoy your stay! On a side note here - Everett, just north of Seattle, was one of the coldest cities in the USA yesterday, at 57 degrees.

You just hesh up you! We dont need anymore negativity!!! lol

[RemMod597]

lol, I am thoroughly basking in the overcast!

[jumpwing]

Hmm, well there is no 'official' sign for public businesses to post...if a business is posted, you are not bound by law to observe it but you must leave if asked or you could be charged with trespassing.

I would keep it well-concealed, Seattle is pretty gun-paranoid, even tho open carry is legal (rarely seen tho).

You can carry into restaurants that serve liquor but you cant go into the lounge area (I dont know the official wording of this). If the age is 21 to enter, you cant carry there....that's a bit more specific and the lounge areas of restaurants have that law.

Although I would argue the level of paranoia in Seattle (it's not that bad), you're visiting and you probably have better things to do than risk the hassle of some hippie freaking out and dialing 911. You can't carry into any area of an establishment that is restricted to 21+. For example, you can go into Applebee's and have a meal, but you can't go into the "bar area" of the restaurant.

You are required to show your concealed permit on demand. You must have a valid CCW to be armed while driving, otherwise the gun must be secured out of your reach.

Washington state has preemption: No local jurisdiction can enact laws, codes, or other legal restrictions that are more severe than the laws made at the state level. This is awesome because you only have to worry about ONE set of rules, and you won't unwittingly become a criminal just because you crossed the wrong street.

Things are pretty good for gun owners up here. It's not Alaska or Vermont, but it's pretty easy to be an armed citizen.

[CrackpotBob]

I know the signage any business posts doesn't have legal backing, but I recently went to a casino on an Indian reservation. I was carrying concealed and didn't notice the signage on the doors until I was on my way out. The lettering was rather easy to miss considering the color of the lettering on the glass door, and the myriad of colors that were in the background. My main question, because it's sovereign land, does the signage have more legal weight behind them?

[tbrenke]

Indian reservations are the sole exception. the Washington state has preemption does not cover that. you need to get permition of the tribe to carry on the res. that is the legal ease.
the reality is that you have to leave it in the car at mostly all of the casinos as a rule thay are all on a reservation.

[LongRider]

My main question, because it's sovereign land, does the signage have more legal weight behind them?

Yes AND a Casino qualifies as a lounge serving alcohol. Really a bad move to get busted in one carrying illegally there can be state, tribal and federal consequences

[C hawk Glock]

Wa in general is pretty good about gun laws. As far as going down town this should be a cake walk compared to large cities in OH. I am not much of a city type of guy, but for the size Seattle is mellow. Hopefully you will be out and about and not just sticking by the Airport. It's a beautiful area of the US.