Rules on firearms storage, open-carry, buybacks, and gun dealers advance in Washington Legislature

As the Washington Legislature heads into its final week, four bills that address firearms storage, open-carry, buybacks and gun dealers have passed both chambers and appear headed to the governor’s desk.

HB 1903 establishes a civil infraction and fine of up to $1,000 for gun owners who fail to report a lost or stolen firearm within 24 hours. The owner could be fined if a “prohibited person” subsequently gains access to the firearm.

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Dylan O’Connor is government affairs director with the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, which worked to pass all four bills. He said the potential infraction is one more incentive for people to safely store their guns.

“I would lock it up, I wouldn’t leave it in the glove compartment of my vehicle or anything like that, just to make sure I’m keeping myself safe as well as the community,” O’Connor said.

The second bill, HB 2118, is intended to prevent thefts and straw purchases from dealerships. It requires firearm dealers to adopt specified security features including bars on doors and windows, “alarm and surveillance systems, and safe storage and record keeping practices,” according to the bill report.

Troy Nicholas with the National Shooting Sports Foundation told lawmakers that dealers were willing to accept background check and age-verification requirements for employees, but opposed video-retention requirements as cost prohibitive.

Walla Walla County Sheriff Mark Crider also testified in opposition to that bill last month.

“Its demands are unrealistic and draconian mandates that have zero law enforcement value and appear to have no other purpose than to put Washington [Federal Firearms License] holders out of business,” Crider said.

Supporters say the new requirements will help keep guns out of the illegal market. They noted that in the final version the video-retention requirement was shortened from multi-year proposals to 90 days. The effective date of the bill is delayed until July 2025.

A third bill, SB 5444, prohibits the open carry of firearms in certain locations including transit stations, public libraries and zoos or aquariums.

RELATED: Open carry guns at zoos and bus stops in Washington state? That could soon be banned

The prohibition does not apply to people with a valid conceal carry license. Initially the bill included parks and government buildings on the list of prohibited places but those were removed during negotiations.

And the fourth bill, HB 2021, requires that law enforcement agencies destroy guns obtained during buyback events. The New York Times has reported that some private companies that offer to destroy guns received through buybacks are in fact reselling many of the components.

Everett Police Chief John DeRousse testified in favor of the bill. He said some argue that law enforcement agencies should auction off or sell some firearm components to fund their budgets. But DeRousse said he finds that idea “counterintuitive.”

“While addressing gun violence in our communities cannot be solved with one approach or one House bill, there is one thing that destroying a gun that is turned in during a gun buyback program can guarantee – that it will never be used in a future act of violence or suicide. In Everett that is a total of 543 guns so far and counting," DeRousse said.

That bill also authorizes the Washington State Patrol to destroy “illegal” guns, those seized because they were used in crimes or illegally possessed, something other law enforcement agencies already have the ability to do.

"We’re pretty thrilled by the results" of this legislative session, said O’Connor with the Alliance for Gun Responsibility.

He said his group’s priority for next year’s legislative session will be a proposal for a new permitting system, which did not pass this year.

“So that’s a ‘permit to purchase’ system to require someone who wants to buy a gun to go obtain a permit before doing so,” O'Connor said.