VICTORY FOR GUN SAFETY: Washington Senate Passes Life-Saving Permit to Purchase Legislation, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Urge Governor Ferguson to Sign Bill to Law

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statements celebrating the Senate passage of HB 1163. The bill now will go to concurrence before heading to Governor Bob Ferguson’s desk. If signed into law, HB 1163 would require firearm purchasers to obtain a permit and undergo live fire training before purchasing a gun. 

“Obtaining a firearm shouldn’t be easier than getting a learner’s permit – with the passage of this bill, Washingtonians will be more confident that people buying firearms are trained properly on how to use them,” said Rebecca Elbaum, a volunteer with the Washington chapter of Moms Demand Action. “By requiring training before purchasing a firearm, we’re not just protecting individuals — we’re safeguarding families, neighborhoods, and entire communities across our state. This is about responsibility, prevention, and saving lives, which is why we are urging Governor Bob Ferguson to sign this bill into law.” 

“It’s actions like this that can help us make sure that my generation is the last generation where gun violence is the leading cause of death for kids,” said Finley Gonzales, a volunteer leader with the Washington Students Demand Action chapter. “Permit to purchase is really just about common sense at the end of the day, and it’s something the vast majority of us in Washington support. Lawmakers did their jobs by prioritizing our safety over the gun lobby’s agenda and now Governor Ferguson needs to do the same by signing this bill into law.”

Under current Washington State law, all firearm sales are subject to background checks conducted through the Washington State Patrol, as well as mandatory waiting periods and safety training requirements. HB 1163 would create a firearm permit to purchase system that builds upon the existing background check infrastructure. The legislation introduces additional requirements, including submission of a written application and fingerprinting by the local law enforcement in the applicant’s city of residence. The proposed permit would be valid for a period of five years and may be renewed for an additional five-year term.

Washington is an example that strong gun safety laws save lives. After passing a slate of new gun safety laws in the past decade, Washington is among the top 10 states in terms of gun law strength. The Evergreen State’s gun death rate is below the national average. Recently enacted laws include background checks on all gun sales, an Extreme Risk law, laws addressing police accountability, and barring carry at the state capitol and at public demonstrations. 

Statistics about gun violence in Washington are available here, and Everytown’s Gun Law Rankings – which shows how Washington’s gun laws compare to those of other states – is available here. 

If you are interested in speaking with a Washington Moms Demand Action or Students Demand Action volunteer, please reach out to press@everytown.org