Gun rights in Washington state are taking another hit — this time with a sweeping new permit requirement that Second Amendment advocates say burdens law-abiding citizens while doing little to stop criminals.
Governor Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 1163 into law on Tuesday, ushering in a strict permit-to-purchase mandate that will take effect May 1, 2027. Under this law, Washingtonians must now seek government permission before buying or even receiving a firearm — a sharp departure from the constitutional freedoms Americans have long known.
The law forces prospective buyers to jump through a series of bureaucratic hoops, including:
- Submitting to fingerprinting by local law enforcement
- Completing state-approved firearms training within the last five years
- Providing personal identification and background data
If that sounds like a backdoor registry, many gun rights supporters would agree.
And it doesn’t stop there. The Washington State Patrol will oversee the background check program and reserves the right to deny or revoke permits for reasons that go well beyond federal prohibitions — including if someone has an outstanding warrant, is under certain court orders, or fails to complete a government-approved training course.
Dealers will be banned from delivering any firearm — even privately transferred ones — without a valid permit being presented first. That means even gifting a firearm to a family member could be blocked by red tape.
Supporters of the bill claim it will improve public safety. But critics argue the law targets responsible gun owners, not criminals, who are unlikely to comply with any permit system to begin with.
The Washington State Patrol will also conduct annual eligibility checks on all permit holders, raising concerns about constant surveillance and overreach.
As gun rights continue to be chipped away in blue states like Washington, this latest law serves as a stark reminder of why many Americans view the Second Amendment as not just a right — but a right under siege.
