Washington Moms Demand Action, Everytown Applaud Washington House Committee for Advancing Common-Sense Gun Safety Legislation

HB1315 Would Require Concealed Pistol License Applicants to Undergo Training and Show Proof of Completion Before Being Issued a License 

The Senate Law and Justice Committee Advanced Similar Legislation Last Week 

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded the Washington House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee for advancing House Bill 1315, a bill that would require all concealed pistol license applicants to undergo safety training and pass a practical test. 

“If I have to pass a driver’s license test to drive a car, gun owners should have to pass a training course and practical test to carry a concealed firearm,” said Barbara Culp, a volunteer with the Washington chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “Concealed pistol license training is a common-sense measure that would keep more Washingtonians and communities safe from gun violence. It’s encouraging to see that our lawmakers are taking the necessary steps to get this bill on the books.”

Currently, Washington is one of only 10 states in the country that does not require training before issuing a license to carry a concealed handgun in public. Almost every state requires some version of training for license applicants, and more than half of these states require that a person complete a live-fire training component before being issued a license to carry a concealed handgun. The concealed pistol license training will ensure that only responsible gun owners who are properly trained are able to carry firearms in public spaces. 

Statistics about gun violence in Washington are available here, and information on how Washington’s gun laws compare to other states overall is available here.