Washington
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 an Extreme Risk law, laws addressing police accountability, and barring carry at the state capitol and at public demonstrations. Washington also has notably strong minimum age and sales records laws, and has begun to make significant investments in community violence intervention funding.
In 2023, Washington passed laws to hold gun industry members accountable when their actions result in harm, ban the sale and manufacture of assault weapons, expand safety training and waiting period requirements for firearm purchases, and require schools to notify families about secure firearm storage. In 2024, the legislature enacted a law requiring gun owners to notify law enforcement if their firearm is lost or stolen, and strengthened regulations on firearms dealers. And in 2025, Washington passed a law requiring a permit to purchase firearms, including a requirement that applicants to purchase a gun must take live-fire training with a certified firearm safety trainer.
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Washington Legislature Passes Critical Bill to Address Threat of 3D-Printed Ghost Guns
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