Police confirm armed citizens in downtown Bellingham, but say no laws were broken
Bellingham WA June 6 2020 The Bellingham Police Department confirmed in a post on its Facebook page that a group of armed citizens have been seen in downtown Bellingham the past few days, but said the citizens were not breaking the law.
“We have become aware of a growing concern some of our citizens have expressed with the presence of armed citizens in the Central Business District during the evening hours over the past few days,” the post read. “First and foremost, we understand and appreciate the presence of armed citizens in our CBD can be upsetting to those passing by.
“BPD has received reports of citizens being concerned by the armed citizens and has responded. Our officers spoke to the concerned citizens and were able to determine no violations of Washington State laws occurred. Citizens are able to possess and carry weapons based on the 2nd Amendment and there are very few laws which limit that right, meaning there are constitutional limitations to curtailing this activity.”
The Bellingham Herald previously has asked Bellingham Police for further information about the report of men carrying rifles in the 1300 block of Railroad Avenue at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, which appeared in the department’s incident log, but did not receive a response.
Earlier Tuesday night, several hundred people gathered at Railroad Avenue and Holly Street in downtown Bellingham for a peaceful protest of the killing of George Floyd.
Protests have been held in dozens of cities after the killing in Minneapolis last week of Floyd, a 46-year-old black security guard, who died after his neck was pinned under a white police officer’s knee. The officer has been charged with murder.
The department’s Facebook post said more information about the Washington state laws pertaining to constitutional limitations on carrying a firearm are detailed in RCW 9.41.270 — Weapons apparently capable of producing bodily harm, Unlawful carrying or handling.
