SPOKANE, Wash. — If you're looking to buy a firearm in Washington state, you'll now be required to wait 10 days and complete a firearm safety training program. Turns out, this new Washington law impacts people on both sides of the state line.
This new Washington law went into effect at the start of 2024.
Washington and Idaho both have laws that address how these new restrictions apply to a Washington resident buying a gun in Idaho, and to an Idaho resident buying a gun in Washington.
Washington's RCW 9.41.124 focuses on firearm purchases by out-of-state residents. While it allows out of state residents to buy rifles and shotguns sold in Washington, they are also subject to Washington firearm purchasing laws. This includes the 10-day waiting period, background check and safety training program.
And if a Washington resident wanted to buy a firearm in Idaho, they would still be subject to Washington's 10-day waiting period.
That's because Idaho law says out-of-state residents are subject to both Idaho purchasing laws and laws from the state they currently live in.
Washington State Patrol handles the background checks. While firearm businesses play the middleman. Under the new law, gun dealers can't complete the purchase until the background check clears.
Washington also requires the purchaser to show proof they have completed a "recognized firearm safety training" program within the last five years.
According to state law, that firearm safety training must include:
- Basic firearms safety rules
- Firearms and children, including secure gun storage and talking to children about gun safety
- Firearms and suicide prevention
- Secure gun storage to prevent unauthorized access and use
- Safe handling of firearms
- State and federal firearms laws, including prohibited firearms transfers
The law also requires: "the training must also be sponsored by a federal, state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, a college or university, a nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training, or a firearms training school with instructors certified by a nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training. The proof of training shall be in the form of a certification that states under the penalty of perjury the training included the minimum requirements." (RCW 9.41.092 sect. 2a)
Sporting Systems in Vancouver, WA created a free online firearm safety training program. It meets the state's new requirements covering all the necessary training topics and is sponsored by an NRA Certified Firearms instructor. Once you complete the training, you'll receive a certificate.
You can start the training here.
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