Washington residents react to federal court's concealed carry ruling

TACOMA, Wash. -- While a federal appellate court ruling on concealed weapons may not directly affect our state, the greater implications still have people in Washington state sounding off on the issue.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled on Thursday that there is no Second Amendment protection for concealed weapons -- allowing states to prohibit or restrict people from carrying concealed firearms in public.

At issue was California's law on concealed weapons, which requires citizens to prove they have "good cause" to carry concealed firearms to get a license. Plaintiffs challenged guidelines in San Diego and Yolo counties that did not consider general self-defense to be enough to obtain a license. The 9th Circuit held 7-4 in the case, Peruta v. County of San Diego, that the restrictions on concealed carry are constitutional, ruling that the Second Amendment right to bear arms does not provide a right to carry concealed arms.

Washington state does not place such restrictions on concealed carry.

In Tacoma, Devitta Briscoe and Shalisa Hayes both lost their 17-year-old sons to gun violence.

“Everyday it’s hard having to live without him, having to spend his birthdays at his grave site,” said Briscoe.

While Thursday’s federal court ruling stating there is no second amendment protection couldn’t save their sons, they believe it’s a step forward.

“I don’t think it’s going to solve the homicide rates, but I think it’s a move in the right direction,” said Briscoe.

But at Surplus Ammo and Arms in Tacoma, the decision stating there is no Second Amendment protection for concealed weapons doesn’t sit well with owner James Bigelow.

“I think most gun owners would say it’s unconstitutional,” said Bigelow. “I’m sure non-gun owners would agree with that.”

Bigelow, and Dave Workman with the Committee for the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, don’t believe the ruling will affect Washington directly because of the state’s constitution. The state does not require a person applying for a concealed weapons permit to prove proof of danger like the state of California does, but they admit it could be a slippery slope.

“What this does is it sends a signal to any anti-gun government that if they can change a state preemption law that they might be able to throw a monkey wrench into the works,” said Workman.

But anti-gun advocates, even in Washington, applaud the ruling nonetheless.

“Gun violence is an epidemic in the United States, 30,000 people die every single year from gun violence and we believe that those deaths are preventable,” said Joanna Paul with the Alliance for Gun Responsibility.

And these still-grieving mothers say they’ve seen that firsthand.

“People say time heals wounds and that’s not actually true,” said Shalisa Hayes. “You learn to cope with it but it doesn’t go away.”