Washington Legislature Considers Anti-Firearm Bills

Evidently the old adage “When it rains, it pours,” holds true in the Evergreen State. Less than a year after imposing some of the most costly and ridiculous requirements on FFLs in the country, the Washington legislature has its sights set on not only more onerous requirements for FFL operations, but also severely restricting citizens’ ability to lawfully purchase firearms and eliminating gun owners’ choices regarding safe firearms storage.

Next Tuesday, the Washington State Senate and House are both holding hearings on legislation designed to limit lawful commerce in our industry, while also making it harder for Washington State residents to exercise their Second Amendment rights. If passed, these bills would fundamentally change how firearm manufacturers, retailers and ranges operate in the state.

House Bill 1163 - Establishes a permit-to-purchase scheme and adds requirements relating to the purchase, transfer and possession of firearms.

House Bill 1132 - Restricts firearm purchases to 1 gun every 30 days and places arbitrary restrictions on the purchase of ammunition.

House Bill 1152 - Requires mandatory locked storage of firearms separately from ammunition in vehicles and residences.

Senate Bill 5099 - Imposes additional business operations management on FFLs, on top of those egregious restrictions imposed last session which have yet to take effect. This bill will make operating as a lawful and licensed firearm business so expensive and onerous to comply with that it will eliminate more gun stores across the state.

House Hearing

Senate Hearing

NSSF^® needs your help to stop these bills! Please contact your legislators and tell them to vote “No” on HB 1163, HB 1132, HB 1152 and SB 5099

You can find your legislators by clicking here.
 
Additionally, we’re asking you, your employees and your customers to let the committee know that you’re opposed to these bills. Follow these steps to help us protect FFLs in the state:

• Visit this website
• Select the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee and then select the meeting for 01/21/25 10 a.m.
• Select “Agenda items”
• Select the link for I would like my position noted for the legislative record
• Mark your position as Con and complete the rest of the form

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• Visit this website
• Select the Law and Justice Committee and then select the meeting for 01/21/25 8 a.m.
• Select agenda item “SB 5099 Firearm Dealers”
• Select the link for I would like my position note for the legislative record
• Mark your position as Con and complete the rest of the form

NSSF’s Government Relations team is committed to defeating all egregious bills this session and will provide updates on the situation as the session unfolds.

Click here to “Find Your Legislators”

Click here for additional information on the hearings.