Gun permit bill one step away from being law–But legal battle already looming

After weeks of heated debate, a sweeping gun control bill that requires Washington residents to get a permit—and pass live-fire training—before buying a firearm is now on its way to Washington Governor Bob Ferguson’s desk. And if the party-line vote wasn’t a clear enough sign of controversy, 2nd Amendment advocates are already lawyering up for what’s expected to be a major court challenge.

The bill, officially dubbed E2SHB 1163, passed the House for a second time on Tuesday after no changes were made to amendments added by the Senate. All 29 Democrats voted in favor and all 19 Republicans voted against. It previously cleared the House by a similar partisan split. Ferguson, a Democrat and longtime supporter of stricter gun laws, is expected to sign it into law.

So 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. Why should someone be able to buy a deadly weapon without proving they can handle it safely?” said Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), during a committee hearing on the bill.

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 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,” said Sen. Jeff Holy (R-Cheney). “What it does do is create an expensive and bureaucratic system that blocks average citizens from exercising their rights.”

Matt Markovich is the KIRO Newsradio political analyst. Follow him on X. Read more of his stories here.

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