Trading a Weapon in Private

In Washington, an individual does not require a handgun dealer permit to sell a gun privately. Even in a private transaction, the vendor is obligated under WA Rev Code 9.41.113 to use a licensed merchant to carry out the requisite federal background investigation on the potential Purchaser.

Banned from Purchasing

The individuals outlined below are barred from possessing or acquiring a firearm in Washington, according to WA Rev Code 9.41.040:

• An individual, whether an older person or minor, is guilty of the felony of illegal possession of a handgun in the first degree if the individual has, has in his or her possession, or has in his or her custody any handgun after having formerly been sentenced or found not guilty by grounds of derangement in Washington or somewhere different of any critical felony as described in this Section.

• An individual, whether an older person or minor, is guilty of the felony of illegal possession of a handgun in the second degree if the individual does not qualify under subdivision (1) of this division for the felony of illegal possession of a handgun in the first degree and the individual has, has in his or her possession, or has in his or her custody any handgun:

  • After having formerly been sentenced or found not guilty by grounds of insanity in Washington or a different state of any crime not exactly outlined as prohibiting weapon possession according to subdivision (1) of this division, or any of the following felony when perpetrated by a family member against another or by a cordial partner against another, perpetrated on or after July 1, 1993: Abuse in the fourth degree, coercion, trailing, careless danger, illicit violations in the first degree, or trespassing of the provisions of a protective order or no-contact order confining the individual or exempting the individual from a dwelling (RCW 26.50.060, 26.50.070, 26.50.130, or 10.99.040);

  • After having formerly been sentenced or found not guilty by grounds of derangement in Washington or a different state of abuse when perpetrated by a family member against another or by a cordial partner against another, perpetrated on or after June 7, 2018;

  • During the duration of time that the individual is subject to a court order given under section 7.90, 7.92, 9A.46, 10.14, 10.99, 26.09, *26.10, 26.26A, 26.26B, or 26.50 RCW that:

    • Was issued after a trial of which the individual got a real notice, and at which the individual had a chance to participate;

    • Confines the individual from assaulting, trailing, or menacing the individual secured under the order or an offspring of the individual or secured individual, or involved in other conduct that would put the guarded in logical fright of physical injury to the secured individual or child; and

    • Adds a discovery that the individual represents a plausible threat to the physical security of the safeguarded individual or child and by its conditions expressly bans the use, attempted use, or menacing use of physical threat against the safeguarded individual  or child that would logically be anticipated to result in physical wounds; or

    • Includes a law under RCW 9.41.800 mandating the individual to tender all handguns and bans the individual from handling, getting, or owning handgun;

  • After having formerly been unwillingly confined for mental health care according to RCW 71.05.240, ** 71.05.320, 71.34.740, 71.34.750, chapter 10.77 RCW, or similar statutes of another authority, except his or her right to own a handgun has been restored as offered in RCW 9.41.047;

  • After the dismissal of felony charge subject to ineligibility to stand trial according to RCW 10.77.088 when the court has made a discovery which indicates that the accused has a history of one or more brutal acts, except his or her right to own a handgun has been restored as offered in RCW 9.41.047;

  • If the individual is below eighteen years old, except as supplied in RCW 9.41.042; and/or

  • If the individual is free on bond or private acceptance pendent trial, appeal, or convicted for a critical felony as described in RCW 9.41.010.

Weapon Registration

Privately held weapons in Washington are not required to be registered with the state.

Hidden (Concealed) Carry

To carry a hidden weapon in Washington, a resident must have a valid Concealed Pistol License.

How to Request a Concealed Carry

A Concealed Pistol License candidate has to be at least twenty-one years old.

Step 1: Contact the Postulant's Municipal Education Agency for a Concealed Pistol Permit Application.

Step 2 – Fill out the request and include the details outlined below: 

• One-color passport photo of the postulant, and also one set of dactylograms.

Step 3: Tender the request to the sheriff's office in the postulant's municipality or county.

Step 4: Make a payment for the application cost.

Step 5: Pass a background investigation conducted by the federal government.

Step 6 – Within thirty days after getting the application, the issuing authority will accept or reject it.

Reciprocality

As established by WA Rev Code § 9.41.073, Washington will approve the concealed carry license of any state that approves Washington’s in return. The states outlined below have licenses that are not accepted by Washington: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode, Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.