Gun permit bill signed into law by Gov. Ferguson

Starting in 2027, Washington residents will be required to get a permit—and pass live-fire training—before buying a firearm in the state.

Governor Bob Ferguson signed the bill, officially dubbed E2SHB 1163, on Tuesday after it passed on a party-line vote following weeks of legislative debate.

Democrats argued this will help prevent gun violence and suicides, while Republicans and 2nd Amendment advocates call the law unconstitutional and expect legal challenges.

What does this bill actually do?

In short: if you want to buy a gun in Washington, you’ll need a state-issued permit first—and that’s going to require a lot more than filling out a background check form at your local sporting goods store.

To get a permit under the new law, applicants will have to submit fingerprints, pass a detailed background check, and here’s the kicker, complete a state-certified firearms safety course that now includes live-fire training.

That means every applicant must physically go to a range, handle a gun, and demonstrate basic shooting proficiency. It’s not a symbolic formality either: the concealed carry training specifically requires applicants to fire a minimum of 50 rounds as part of their instruction.

Supporters of the bill say this is exactly the kind of responsible regulation needed to reduce gun violence and prevent untrained individuals from owning deadly weapons.

“You can’t legally drive a car without taking a driving test,” Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond) said during a committee hearing on the bill. “Why should someone be able to buy a deadly weapon without proving they can handle it safely?”

The bill also adds new requirements for firearm dealers, who will be prohibited from completing any sale unless the buyer has a valid permit. All firearm transfers—including rifles and shotguns—must now be logged and reported, expanding rules that previously only applied to handguns and semi-automatic rifles.

Washington’s Department of Licensing (DOL) will retain those transfer records, and the state’s background check program will conduct annual eligibility checks to revoke permits if a holder becomes legally disqualified.

Concealed pistol license requirements

And there’s more: the law also tightens rules for getting a concealed pistol license (CPL), adding its own live-fire training requirement. However, if a person already holds a valid purchase permit, they’ll be exempt from another background check when applying for a CPL.

Exemptions are carved out for law enforcement, military personnel, armed security guards, and private investigators—but they’ll have to show proper ID.

Republican lawmakers blasted the bill as a “backdoor gun registry” and an overreach that punishes law-abiding citizens instead of targeting criminals.

“This bill does absolutely nothing to stop criminals from getting guns,” Sen. Jeff Holy (R-Cheney) said. “What it does do is create an expensive and bureaucratic system that blocks average citizens from exercising their rights.”

Contributing: Matt Markovich, KIRO Newsradio

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