Citizens wanting to openly carry firearms in the state Senate gallery are prohibited from doing so, state officials announced Friday, as Southwest Washington activists made plans to carry their own guns in the Capitol’s public viewing areas.

The House is also considering a ban, with a decision expected Monday.

Frank Decker of Vancouver, who is behind the effort to mobilize open-carry advocates to head to Olympia, said the move disenfranchises people.

“There are a lot of people in this state that open carry is a lifestyle,” Decker said.

“If they make a rule you can only conceal carry when you’re in the gallery, they marginalize these people who want to be in state government and who want to listen,” he said.

Lt. Gov. Brad Owen called the decision a “reinterpretation” of existing rules, pointing out that people aren’t allowed to demonstrate in the public galleries and backpacks, placards and props have long been banned.