OLYMPIA, Wash. — Hundreds of people against Initiative 594 protested at the Capitol in Olympia on Saturday by displaying their guns.
The law, which went into effect last week, requires universal background checks.
The protest was held right in front of the State Capitol Building -- within feet of Washington State troopers.
"This is a Romanian AK-47,” Craig Martindale explained, showing a gun he had slung over his shoulder.
Open carry is still legal in Washington State -- but those against I-594 said the new law is taking away other gun-related freedoms.
"It's a simple problem in that I cannot hand my gun, whether it's a handgun, rifle or shotgun, to anyone, even in the privacy of my home, without breaking the law,” or -- explained Jeremy Boehmer who attended today’s rally -- at a rally.
KIRO 7 took a closer look at the law.
The backers of 594 say unless someone is selling or trading a gun at Saturday’s rally, people are allowed to simply hand their guns back and forth to each other without a background check.
594 does make it illegal to loan your gun to anyone other than immediate family though -- without a background check at a licensed firearm dealer.
The protesters weren’t breaking the law, but that didn't keep a handful of 594 supporters from quietly expressing their frustrations.
"This is really disappointing. God -- we're right at the anniversary of Sandy Hook and I don't care who you are, it's a tragedy to come out here on a day like today. It's insensitive,” said Timothy Moses.
KIRO
