Anti-gun Democrats in Washington state are pushing forward with a bill that would require residents to complete firearm-safety training and to get a permit before they can buy a gun. However, Second Amendment advocates say the proposal is discriminatory, unconstitutional, and ripe for legal challenges if it’s passed and Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson signs it.
“What they’re trying to do really is discourage people from purchasing firearms,” said Dave Workman, spokesman for the Washington-based Second Amendment Foundation. “It treats the right to bear arms under the state constitution as a regulated privilege.”
Several bills regulating firearms survived Wednesday’s cutoff in the Washington State Legislature to consider bills in their house of origin. Other gun bills are likely dead this legislative session.
Controversial House Bill 1163 passed the House of Representatives earlier this month. It would require prospective gun owners to purchase a permit through the Washington State Patrol and undergo gun safety training before being able to purchase a firearm.
Legislation expanding gun-free zones in Washington state passed the Senate on March 5. Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5098, which was amended to exempt concealed pistol license holders, is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee at 10:30 a.m. on Mar. 18.
Other gun bills are almost certainly done for the year.
Senate Bill 5099 to establish additional requirements for the business operations of licensed firearms dealers didn’t make it past the committee state.
Senate Bill 5056, born out of November’s two-week system outage where no background checks were processed and thousands of firearm sales were held up, did not make it past the committee stage. SB 5056 would have had the Washington State Patrol provide firearm background checks when state record systems are unavailable.
House Bill 1118 to expand firearms restoration rights for certain individuals did not advance. The bill would have allowed for the possibility of those with drug-related convictions to have their right to possess a firearm restored.
House Bill 1132 would have proposed restrictions on “bulk” purchases, limiting individuals to one firearm and either 100 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition or 1,000 rounds of other calibers per 30-day period. HB 1132 did not advance.
Senate Bill 1139 to reclassify certain firearm possession offenses as violent crimes, potentially leading to enhanced penalties, did not advance.
House Bill 1386 received a public hearing in the House Finance Committee on the second day of the session, but no vote was taken. It would have imposed a new tax on firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition to fund violence intervention programs and victim support services.
House Bill 1152, a “secure storage” proposal to require gun owners to lock up their weapons in their cars and homes, also stalled out in committee.
Washington Democrats have passed several laws in recent years aimed at curtailing gun rights. In 2023, they passed a ban on so-called “assault weapons.”
Last year, they put new restrictions on gun sellers, including prohibiting them from employing people under 21 and mandating a variety of increased security measures. They also added libraries, transit facilities, zoos, and aquariums to the growing list of locations where gun owners cannot openly carry weapons.
