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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Gun rights protesters plan rally outside Foley courthouse Friday

Gun rights activists from across the nation have announced their intentions to demonstrate in front of the Thomas S. Foley U.S. Courthouse Friday in support of an Iraq War veteran arrested for possessing an assault rifle there about a week ago. Anthony Bosworth was taken into custody and has told conservative talk radio stations he was held for several hours Feb. 25. A video of the encounter, posted on YouTube, shows federal agents confiscating Bosworth’s AK-47 rifle and 9mm sidearm. Bosworth, part of a group that protested Washington’s new background check law at a rally in Olympia earlier this year, was cited and released after Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich appeared at the federal courthouse. In advance of Friday’s planned protest, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern Washington issued a news release today notifying the public about a recent rule change on courthouse property. A general order, signed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson on Monday, extends a firearms ban at the courthouse to the grounds surrounding the courthouse and adjacent U.S. Post Office. Bosworth has said in subsequent interviews he was taking part in a 10th Amendment rally at the courthouse to protest the Justice Department’s firearms charges against convicted marijuana growers, the Kettle Falls Five. Bosworth and his group, Liberty for All, have announced the rally will last from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Knezovich said last week that Bosworth was cited for “failure to comply.” Protestors have stated they want federal authorities to return Bosworth’s guns.