How Do I Register My Ar15 Pistol In Washington State

Terminal Updated: May 15, 2021

Disclaimer: While the information provided here is legal in nature, it is not to be construed as legal advice, and is for educational and entertainment purposes only

With the amount of gun laws constantly being proposed and changed at the federal and country levels, it can get confusing trying to keep track of the ones that affect you and your gun rights.

Washington state doesn't aid brand things easier with its own gun laws, especially its strict opinion when information technology comes to handguns.

Fortunately, nosotros've got everything you demand to know to navigate the tortuous gun laws of Washington and have you out protecting your freedoms in no time!

Buying a handgun

The process for buying a handgun in the Evergreen State is relatively involved, so you lot may want to sit down.

To buy a handgun, you must:

Be 21 or older;
Provide state ID; and
Have a background bank check performed past a licensed firearms dealer.

To starting time the buying procedure, you take to fill out an application (in triplicate!) that requires your personal information, as well as a description of the gun, including the brand, model, caliber, and series number.

The application too acts as a waiver of confidentiality and allows healthcare facilities to release information nigh your mental and physical health in club to evaluate your eligibility to purchase a firearm.

Once you lot've filled that out, yous tin proceed to the background check portion.

The background check, unlike other states around the country, cannot be avoided, even if the transaction is with a private seller instead of a licensed firearms dealer. Any private transfers of firearms have to exist completed through a licensed dealer.

Even those with concealed pistol permits (CPLs) who were previously able to provide their CPL and skip the background check now have to go through the unabridged process like everyone else.

Taking it out for a spin

The land defines "transfers" of firearms equally more than than just a transaction that changes ownership of the gun. Even loaning your pistol to a friend or other temporary changes in possession of the firearm requires a licensed firearms dealer to perform a groundwork cheque before you tin proceed.

There are exceptions, still, to the "transfer" definition. If any of the exceptions apply, and then you practice not need to have a background check performed by a licensed firearms dealer before passing off the handgun to another person.

Exceptions to the transfer rule include:

Transfers and sales of antiquarian firearms;
Gifts (not sales) between immediate family unit members;
Temporary transfers between spouses or domestic partners;
Transfers to and back from a federally licensed gunsmith for the purposes of service or repair;
Temporary transfers of firearms at an established shooting range, only if the firearm is kept at the range at all times; and
Transferring firearms while hunting, if the transfer is made only in locations where hunting is permitted, and the person receiving the firearm is licensed to chase.

To be considered an antique firearm , and authorize for an the background check exception, the firearm must:

Not be intended or redesigned for using rimfire or centerfire ignition with fixed armament, and be manufactured before 1899; or
Be manufactured before 1899, and apply armament that is no longer manufactured in the United States, and is non readily available through ordinary commercial channels (i.e. can't just buy ammo from your local Walmart).

If the handgun you program on purchasing meets either of those situations, you tin avoid the background bank check, and make the purchase similar any other non-firearms related item.

Antique flintlock pistol, no background check required!

In the background

Even if you don't autumn into whatever of the categories to skip the background check, in that location'south withal a way you can get effectually it.

If you tin become the blessing of your local Chief of Police force or Sheriff, yous tin avert the groundwork check. At that point though, it may be easier to but suffer through the groundwork check similar the rest of us.

The background check itself could take a few days, but either way, you'll demand to await 10 days before you lot can merits your handgun from firearms jail.

The state is pretty strict nigh who they let purchase handguns, yet, so you will demand to either make the purchase with a state ID, or provide evidence you have been a Washington resident for the by sequent 90 days before the buy.

Otherwise, you may have to wait up to 60 days before you tin pick up your firearm, instead of the standard x days.

On top of all that time waiting, if the police have whatever reasonable grounds to doubtable you are ineligible for a handgun, the purchase can be put on a 30-day concur, which can be extended by additional xxx-twenty-four hour period periods by the court.

Simply wait!

Even once you've managed to meet all those requirements and go through the groundwork check, there are still situations that would prohibit yous from owning a firearm.

You lot are prohibited from owning (and purchasing) firearms if you:

Have been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for over a year;
Are a fugitive from justice;
Illegally abuse controlled substances;
Have been adjudicated as mentally defective of incompetent, or have been committed to a mental establishment;
Are an illegal alien;
Are a former The states citizen who has renounced his citizenship;
Were dishonorably discharged from the U.s. Armed Forces;
Are subject field to a restraining order from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of the intimate partner; or
Were bedevilled of a misdemeanor criminal offense of domestic violence.

In addition to these federal restrictions, the state of Washington also has its ain set of prohibitions, including prohibiting you from owning and purchasing firearms if you:

Have been convicted or constitute not guilty by reason of insanity of whatsoever of the following crimes committed past ane family or household fellow member against another: assault in the 4th degree, coercion, stalking, reckless endangerment, criminal trespass in the 1st degree, or violation of the provisions of a protection order or no-contact order restraining the person or the person from a residence; or
Have been convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity of harassment when committed by one family or household member against some other.

It's quite a list, and so you'll want to go through it advisedly. Equally long as none of those situations apply to you lot, you're practiced to go!

A "serious offense" typically involves any criminal offense of violence or sex-related crimes. If y'all are wondering what specifically qualifies as a serious law-breaking and if your criminal history would prevent you from owning a firearm, the full general rule is that if you have to ask, you about likely do not qualify.

Of course, you can always bank check with your local police section just to be certain.

Bonus round!

As an added bonus, Washington's recently updated "ruddy flag" laws now likewise permit for law enforcement to take away your firearms and prevent you from accessing any if an "farthermost risk protection social club" (ERPO) is issued.

There has always been a "red flag" law on the books, but it previously was limited to situations where y'all were at risk of causing harm to yourself or others, including causing danger as a result of a mental health crisis or violent beliefs.

With the updated laws, a family or household member, or any constabulary enforcement officer, may file for an ERPO against you based on threatening or violent behavior.

So what does that mean?

Setting bated the issue of whether ruby-red flag laws violate the Second Subpoena in the offset identify, you no longer need to be off your rocker for the red flag constabulary to be used against you, every bit long as you lot are deemed to accept "threatening" beliefs.

Threatening behavior gives a lot of room for interpretation, so information technology's a lilliputian tricky and a bit of a slippery slope.

Obviously, someone posting well-nigh how they want to harm the bullies at school would exist worth looking into. But, it'south much tougher to brand a call when a teenager is just upset at a bad course, or a coworker complains to people about being passed up for a promotion and says something in the rut of the moment that they may non really hateful.

With the new "threatening behavior" requirement of the red flag law, in that location may be instances where an ERPO is issued confronting someone only blowing off steam, with no intention, or fifty-fifty thought, of harming anyone, with a firearm or otherwise.

It may accept a flagrantly calumniating utilise of an ERPO and a subsequent lawsuit to really narrow the law to exist more in line with what it was before, focusing on those with mental health issues or vehement behaviors.

Or meliorate yet, bring a lawsuit against the growing number of carmine flag laws springing up effectually the country.

For now, yous'll just have to hope no one considers anything you say or do to exist "threatening beliefs", or you may find yourself on the receiving finish of an ERPO, with not simply purchase and ownership of firearms prohibited, but even access to them being restricted as well.

Don't forget about long guns!

Later on going through that obstruction course in getting a handgun, the good news is that in that location is no additional requirements you'll need to know in order to buy a long gun.

At that place is no license or let required to purchase a long gun in Washington. In fact, local governments are actually prohibited by law from requiring purchase permits! That doesn't mean there are no requirements at all, of grade.

To buy a long gun, you must:

Exist 21 or older;
Provide ID; and
Have a background bank check performed by a licensed firearms dealer.

Just like with handguns, unfortunately, background checks are required, even for private sales.

The same exceptions as well apply in avoiding the groundwork check, as well as the situations that would prohibit you lot from owning and purchasing firearms.

The aforementioned exceptions for handguns too apply here in avoiding the groundwork cheque, every bit well every bit the situations that would prohibit you from owning and purchasing firearms.

What's more than, still, with rifles, the firearms dealer can't actually requite you the burglarize after the 10 twenty-four hour period waiting catamenia until you sign a statement stating you take completed a firearms condom grooming program within the last 5 years of the purchase date.

The safe training program has to at a minimum, include instructions on:

Basic firearms rubber rules;
Firearms and children, including secure gun storage and talking to children about gun safety;
Firearms and suicide prevention;
Secure gun storage to foreclose unauthorized access and utilize;
Rubber treatment of firearms; and
Country and federal firearms laws, including prohibited firearms transfers.

Fortunately, any legitimate program will include all of this information, so you should be expert to go. And no, reading manufactures on this site doesn't count as a safety program (though it should).

What about attack rifles??

What the heck is an assault rifle, and how do you lot go i?

Well, according to the land of Washington, the beloved AR-15 is a "semiautomatic assault rifle" so you've really had one all along!

Legally, a "semiautomatic assault burglarize" is any rifle that utilizes a portion of the energy of a firing cartridge to extract the fired cartridge case and sleeping room the next circular, and requires a separate pull of the trigger to fire each cartridge.

A rifle is NOT a "semiautomatic assault rifle" if it is an antique firearm, any firearm fabricated permanently inoperable or is manually operated by commodities, pump, lever, or slide action.

Then basically, only a semiautomatic rifle. The word "set on" is substantially meaningless and does non acquit any of the crazy restrictions or requirements y'all'll find in states like California.

But hey, "semiautomatic assault rifle" sounds scary. So there.

But don't utilise it with your fully semiautomatic 30-clip magazine. See? I can brand upwards random nonsense too.

What about the children???

Since July 2019, the previous laws allowing for rifle ownership and possession when you plow 18 were thrown out the window.

You now take to be at to the lowest degree 21 to buy or even possess (i.e. hold in your hands, take in your business firm, etc.) a firearm.

All's not lost, however. The exceptions to the age requirement were nonetheless kept in place, thankfully.

If you are 21 or younger, you can possess and use firearms if y'all are:

On duty as a member of the U.s.a. Armed Forces, National Guard, or reserves;
Attention a hunter'south safety class or firearms safe course;
Practicing at an established shooting range (your backyard does not count);
Participating in an organized contest or functioning that involves firearms use;
Hunting or trapping (with a valid license);
In an area where shooting is permitted, and you are:
- At least xiv years old;
- Take been issued a hunter's safety certificate; and
- Are using a long gun.
Using firearms while under the supervision of a parent, guardian, or developed who is approved by a parent or guardian;
Traveling with an unloaded firearm to/from any of the situations above; or
Are on your ain property or belongings controlled by a parent, relative, or legal guardian, and have the permission of a parent or legal guardian to accept and utilize the gun.
At dwelling; or
At your stock-still place of business (a store that y'all piece of work at, equally opposed to a food truck).

The listing should cover about situations where you would want to have a firearm, though you lot won't be able to walk around boondocks conveying a gun.

Even so, it could exist worse, and you could live in California or New York, and then look on the vivid side!

So be nice to your parents and peradventure they'll allow you go practicing at the range and carry around the house!

Crash-land in the night

For our friends in the state of Washington, at that place was a brief menstruum of awesomeness when bump stocks, officially chosen "crash-land-fire stocks", were legal, and you lot could have what was effectively a fully-automatic burglarize.

The state legislature had to rain on the parade, however.

If you were one of the lucky ones who managed to get your easily on a bump stock and took it out to the range for a couple Sunday Gundays, you hopefully have some footage of those trips to relive the memories.

In response to the excitement of bump-fire stocks a while dorsum, Washington state decided to designate the firearms accessory contraband.

This fabricated ownership, possession, manufacture, and basically anything remotely related to a bump stock, illegal.

There was fifty-fifty a purchase-dorsum program put in place to allow people who legally obtained the bump stocks to exist able to turn them in and be compensated for their now-illegal fun sticks. It wasn't much, but it was something.

As of at present, all crash-land-burn stocks, and anything remotely related to them, are illegal in Washington.

I ain't agape of no ghost (guns)

Non satisfied with just making bump stocks illegal, the WA legislature also decided the land needed to try and proceed up with other states like California to address the manufacture and use of "ghost guns."

Ghost guns, for those wondering, are only firearms without series numbers.

Typically when someone decides to brand their own firearms, at that place isn't really a point in putting a series number on them, since the goal is simply to have a fun new range toy, rather than having any kind of identifying information.

That, and it'south an unnecessary extra step to engrave or compose a serial number as part of the gun-making process.

The ghost gun laws in Washington, fortunately, are aimed at preventing the illegal industry of firearms, rather than firearms enthusiasts interested in putting together their ain guns.

The Land went one footstep further, however, and too fabricated it illegal to make/own/look at "undetectable" firearms.

These firearms are any that are not as detectable as 3.7-ounces of 17-four PH stainless steel by airport metallic detectors, or whatever firearm where the parts, such as the barrel or receiver, would not generate an epitome that accurately depicts the shape of the part when examined by airport x-ray machines.

Basically, any small firearm that is less than the iii.7-ounces stainless steel requirement, or has parts that somehow trick x-ray machines, is considered "undetectable", and is illegal to have, and of course, illegal to make.

Ghost guns, or "untraceable" firearms, on the other mitt, but use to firearms made after July 1, 2019, and is basically any firearm that is non an antique and does not have a series number put on it by an FFL manufacturer or importer.

While an undetectable firearm is illegal in general, an untraceable firearm is only illegal if it is made with the intent to sell it. If yous decide to auto your own parts and put together a rifle, as long equally you do not intend to sell the gun, but are but making it for personal apply, information technology would be perfectly legal under Washington police force.

Of course, if you endeavour to get cute with the law and say you didn't intend to sell the untraceable firearm when you made it, but then a calendar week subsequently, changed your mind and decided to sell it, you're welcome to try your luck and see what happens.

Don't phone call me when you're put in jail though. I'll be busy.

Have gun, will bear

Once you've jumped through all the hoops of the gun buying procedure, you'll probably desire to show off your shiny new toy. This is where things get tricky, though.

Washington state does not officially have any laws prohibiting open carry of firearms. However , there is a constabulary that prohibits carrying, exhibiting, displaying, or drawing firearms in a manner that seems like you have an intent to intimidate someone else, or that causes someone to exist alarmed for the rubber of others.

There are as well specific situations where carrying is not immune.

Depending on where you are and the people around you lot, the sight of your otherwise legal open carry firearm may cause some people to be alarmed for their safe and the safety of others. In that state of affairs, under Washington law, your open carry would be considered illegal. Unfortunately, information technology's up to you to guess your surroundings and decide how your display of American liberty volition be received past others.

In plain sight

Another choice to avoid the open carry problem would exist to acquit concealed. Carrying concealed, notwithstanding, is much easier said than done. A curtained behave permit is required in guild to conduct curtained handguns in Washington. In that location are no permits for carrying concealed long guns, because awkward trench coats are usually dead giveaways for people trying to hide their long guns.

Y'all practice not need a concealed comport allow to comport a concealed handgun in your domicile or in your place of business, however. Yous'll only need to think to open carry when you caput out to tiffin, or lock information technology away in your gun safe until you get back to the office (or become back home).

For those of you interested in getting a concealed carry allow in Washington, hop on over to our Washington CCW Laws section to get the lowdown on the application process and the additional laws you'll need to keep in mind when carrying concealed.

Off limits

Regardless of whether or non you have a concealed carry permit, there are certain places in the land where firearms are prohibited for everyone.

Firearms are not permitted:

On unproblematic or secondary school property;
On school-provide transportation or areas of facilities being used exclusively by schools
In restricted-access areas of a jail;
In courthouses;
In restricted areas of a mental health facility;
In areas of restaurants that are off-limits to people under 21 (usually the bar); and
In restricted areas of commercial airports.

New laws limiting open carry were added to the mix in 2021.

It is now illegal to openly behave a firearm if you are within 250-anxiety of a "permitted demonstration" in a public identify. What'due south more, is that the law applies if you are actually openly carrying on your body, or even just have it inside your machine.

Fifty-fifty if y'all leave your firearm locked in the trunk of your car, it is considered "open acquit" under the newly enacted law. And so basically you can't drive, let solitary park within 250-feet of a permitted public demonstration. Hope in that location's a Waze setting for that.

It's important to keep in mind, too, that while many places in Washington may have signs that say "no firearms immune" or "firearms prohibited" hanging on the window, these signs have no legal issue. You'll probably still exist hassled by the storeowners if you make up one's mind to bring your firearms in any way, which is a unlike issue you lot'll have to deal with. Information technology'south probably a amend idea to simply support stores that actually welcome you lot and your freedom pals anyhow.

And because it'south Washington, there is a specific law that prohibits carrying of firearms while on the site of an outdoor music festival!

Truckin' along

Aside from carrying while on foot, you'll also exist transporting your firearms in vehicles at some indicate.

Unless you accept a concealed carry license, you must ship all handguns unloaded . Fifty-fifty when yous exit the vehicle, the pistol has to be unloaded and must be locked in the vehicle and concealed from view. Basically, you can accept unloaded handguns in the car, and stowed abroad in a gun safe while you're away from the vehicle.

Long guns must likewise be unloaded when being transported. Because of the manner they are loaded, even so, long guns specifically cannot contain shells or cartridges in the magazine or bedchamber, and cage-loaded firearms cannot exist loaded and capped or primed.

What this substantially means is that any time yous take your guns into the car with you lot, you'll want to make certain they are unloaded and have no ammo anywhere nigh the magazines or bedroom. You can have ammo close past, simply the firearms themselves must remain unloaded.

Stick to your guns

Bated from being fun range toys, firearms are also pretty expert at defending your life and liberty. Fortunately, in Washington, there are laws allowing for the use of mortiferous strength in cocky-defense situations.

Defending the castle

Under what is commonly known as the "Castle Doctrine," y'all are permitted to utilise deadly force if you reasonably believe information technology is necessary to preclude a felony or slap-up personal injury to yourself or someone else nearby.

This typically means defending yourself or others when someone breaks into your dwelling or your apartment. Rushing to defend someone who is being attacked in the apartment next door, while admirable, would probable non be considered self-defense. If your neighbor ran into your apartment, however, that would be a unlike story.

Who moved my cheese... — Who moved my cheese…

Standing your ground

Aside from defending yourself and others while at dwelling, you are likewise allowed to defend yourself exterior the home. Washington does not accept any laws that require yous to retreat when faced with a threat of felony or great personal injury when you are non at abode. However, it is more hard to convince a jury that deadly strength was necessary in a situation where y'all could accept escaped to safety instead.

Of class, if you cannot retreat without risking damage to yourself and are backed into a corner, then you lot should use whatever force is necessary to terminate that threat to yourself and others around you. No matter what state of affairs y'all ultimately find yourself in, you should e'er use your best judgment to decide what type of force is appropriate.

One last thing

With that, yous've now got all the information you need to be a responsible gun owner in the great state of the great state of Washington! Well, almost.

With the new group of firearms laws in 2019, a new police has been passed regarding storage of firearms. Depending on what is done with your firearm if it is accessed without your permission and how it was stored in the starting time place, you may be guilty of "community endangerment," or even a felony!

Luckily, it doesn't take much to avert existence hassled by the new police force and keep the nanny country off your back.

Time for another safe! — Fourth dimension for some other safe!

Every bit long as you store your firearms in a secure gun storage selection or secure your firearms with a trigger lock-type device to forbid unauthorized utilise or belch of the firearm, yous'll be skillful to go.

You'll accept to get used to not leaving your guns laying around the firm where anyone can grab one off the table and run off with it, but maybe it'due south a good idea to continue them locked upwardly so they don't become stolen in the first identify.

Vaultek MXi, High Capacity — Vaultek MXi, Loftier Capacity

The good news is that at that place are no requirements on how or where to store your firearms, as long as they are secured, or at least have devices to prevent unauthorized utilise or discharge.

That means you can put your guns in a nice study safe subconscious abroad in your bedroom closet, similar i of our recommended safes, or even in a clandestine compartment backside that huge American flag painting in your living room.

The sky'south the limit! Or your wallet or any.

Now go out in that location and pew pew! Tactically, of course.

To read up on other laws, check out our State Constabulary Page and CCW Law Page.