gogodawgs
Campaign Veteran
While sitting at our campsite at Fort Worden State Park, #5, Saturday afternoon and enjoying the beautiful North West afternoon with Jim, Bill and Barb (Deros, M1gunr, Mrs. M1Gunr and gogodawgs) we were visited by a Washington State Park Ranger. She exited her truck and came over to our campsite where we were sitting around a soon to be used fire pit. She approached right behind my chair, over my right shoulder, between Jim and I. She asked if she could ask us a few questions.
At this time Bill, Jim and I were carrying our pistols in the open. Jim and I had arrived about 24 hours before. Due to a mix up we were put up in spot #5 by a great park employee, Tina. We ended up in the handicap accessible spot about 10 paces from the restrooms. For the first day Jim and I spent most of our time setting up, sitting by the fire, and driving around town. Both of us took a couple of trips to the restrooms. We enjoyed dinner by the fire and each had an adult beverage as the sun set and the temperatures cooled. The camp chairs didn’t lend much for anyone’s views of our sidearms.
The back of my trailer and our campsite was to our only neighbor and not many people paid us much attention.
After we answered the park ranger that we were willing to answer a few questions she began. “I know all about your rights and all, but we received a complaint that you had your firearms. And if we receive a complaint then you must cover them up, so I was hoping you would just tuck them in.” To which Bill replied that open carry was legal in Washington and no license was required. The ranger responded that she was aware of that, but wanted us to cover. We all stated that we wouldn’t, both verbally and by shaking my head no. Then the ranger asked if she could see our ID’s. We all politely declined. Bill and Jim reiterated that neither license nor ID was required to open carry in Washington.
All this time I am infuriated that my quite time is being interrupted by this police officer (WA Park Rangers are commissioned and dispatched by the Washington State Patrol), we stated our case, she ignored our request to be left alone and unidentified yet the ranger remained at our campsite. There is no crime, no reasonable articuable suspicion that a crime has taken place or is afoot. There is no probable cause as to a felony has taken place. Yet she continues her line of questioning. Ugh.
(Audio starts about here) I only got the last 1:30 of an approximately 3 minute conversation.
She continues, “do you have a license?” We all refuse to answer and restate that none is required. We are not concealing. “But, do you?” I state at this time that I do not consent to this encounter and wish to be left alone.
At this time I can see that other than giving up my 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 4[SUP]th[/SUP] and 5[SUP]th[/SUP] amendment rights to this law enforcement officer, she will not be satisfied.
I state, “at this time I am invoking my right to be silent.” She turns to Jim and then Bill asking them if they are invoking their right to remain silent as well. They confirm and she then, and clearly frustrated that these 3 law abiding citizens will not commit to her state appointed power. There is a brief pause and then she states, “well I will just run your plates…” as if it is some sort of threat. We all remain silent as she walks a few feet to my Jeep and Bill’s Honda. She presumably writes down our plate numbers, gets in her truck and drives off towards the loop. I see her stop for a few minutes, presumably to call in our plates, before driving off and leaving.
We don’t see from her or have personal contact with any rangers the remainder of the day nor Sunday. With the exception of a bike patrol ranger who went through the campground about an hour after she left.
I will be following up with a FOI request and further commentary and some suggestions to the State Park Rangers that they inform the complainants that open carry is legal.
At this time Bill, Jim and I were carrying our pistols in the open. Jim and I had arrived about 24 hours before. Due to a mix up we were put up in spot #5 by a great park employee, Tina. We ended up in the handicap accessible spot about 10 paces from the restrooms. For the first day Jim and I spent most of our time setting up, sitting by the fire, and driving around town. Both of us took a couple of trips to the restrooms. We enjoyed dinner by the fire and each had an adult beverage as the sun set and the temperatures cooled. The camp chairs didn’t lend much for anyone’s views of our sidearms.
The back of my trailer and our campsite was to our only neighbor and not many people paid us much attention.
After we answered the park ranger that we were willing to answer a few questions she began. “I know all about your rights and all, but we received a complaint that you had your firearms. And if we receive a complaint then you must cover them up, so I was hoping you would just tuck them in.” To which Bill replied that open carry was legal in Washington and no license was required. The ranger responded that she was aware of that, but wanted us to cover. We all stated that we wouldn’t, both verbally and by shaking my head no. Then the ranger asked if she could see our ID’s. We all politely declined. Bill and Jim reiterated that neither license nor ID was required to open carry in Washington.
All this time I am infuriated that my quite time is being interrupted by this police officer (WA Park Rangers are commissioned and dispatched by the Washington State Patrol), we stated our case, she ignored our request to be left alone and unidentified yet the ranger remained at our campsite. There is no crime, no reasonable articuable suspicion that a crime has taken place or is afoot. There is no probable cause as to a felony has taken place. Yet she continues her line of questioning. Ugh.
(Audio starts about here) I only got the last 1:30 of an approximately 3 minute conversation.
She continues, “do you have a license?” We all refuse to answer and restate that none is required. We are not concealing. “But, do you?” I state at this time that I do not consent to this encounter and wish to be left alone.
At this time I can see that other than giving up my 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], 4[SUP]th[/SUP] and 5[SUP]th[/SUP] amendment rights to this law enforcement officer, she will not be satisfied.
I state, “at this time I am invoking my right to be silent.” She turns to Jim and then Bill asking them if they are invoking their right to remain silent as well. They confirm and she then, and clearly frustrated that these 3 law abiding citizens will not commit to her state appointed power. There is a brief pause and then she states, “well I will just run your plates…” as if it is some sort of threat. We all remain silent as she walks a few feet to my Jeep and Bill’s Honda. She presumably writes down our plate numbers, gets in her truck and drives off towards the loop. I see her stop for a few minutes, presumably to call in our plates, before driving off and leaving.
We don’t see from her or have personal contact with any rangers the remainder of the day nor Sunday. With the exception of a bike patrol ranger who went through the campground about an hour after she left.
I will be following up with a FOI request and further commentary and some suggestions to the State Park Rangers that they inform the complainants that open carry is legal.