2024 Brings New Firearm Control Laws

Editor's note: This blog has been updated to clarify that concealed carry of a firearm is allowed within 250 feet of a permitted demonstration, while open carry is prohibited.

The 2024 legislative session brought a handful of new firearms laws to Washington State. As noted in the Seattle Times article (written while the session was still underway) Washington lawmakers consider more modest set of gun restrictions the changes considered and ultimately adopted by the legislature were more of a “small-ball approach” compared to the sweeping package of changes passed in 2023.

This blog covers the firearm-related bills that passed in the 2024 legislative session.

Open Carry of Firearms Now Prohibited in Libraries, Transit Facilities, and More

The state law currently in effect prohibits open and concealed carry in the following locations:

• Courtrooms and other areas used in connection with court proceedings.
• Jails and public mental health facilities (restricted access areas).
• Airports (at screening checkpoints and beyond).
• Election-related facilities. (Lawful concealed carry is allowed at some facilities.)
• In a stadium or convention center operated by the local government but only upon adoption of a local ordinance and not if the event involves a showing, demonstration, or lecture involving the exhibition of firearms.
• Schools and childcare facilities; and on transportation provided by the school or facility. (RCW 9.41.280; RCW 9.41.282.)
• Outdoor music festivals and bars. See RCW 70.108.150 and RCW 9.41.300(1)(d). 

Open carry of firearms is also already prohibited in the following locations, although lawful concealed carry is allowed:

• On state capitol grounds and in state legislative facilities (RCW 9.41.305).
• In city, town, county, or special purpose district building used in connection with meetings of the governing body (RCW 9.41.305).
• At permitted demonstrations and within 250 feet of a permitted demonstrations after law enforcement advises the person of the demonstration and directs them to leave. (This prohibition does not apply to firearm possession by individuals who are on their own private property.)

Effective June 6, 2024, the following premises are added to this list of locations where open carry is prohibited and lawful concealed carry is allowed:

• Libraries established under chapter 27.12 RCW, Public Libraries,
• Zoos and aquariums; and
• Transit stations and transit facilities, as defined in RCW 9.91.025(2)(a). Note: this prohibition does not extend to transit vehicles.

Signage must be posted on the perimeter of the premises to alert the public about the restrictions on open-carry and/or concealed carry of firearms at the location. See RCW 9.41.300(6).

Disposal of Firearms Obtained Through Buy-back Programs

Also effective June 6, 2024, HB 2021 requires that firearms in the possession of a state or local government entity or law enforcement agency that are obtained through the entity or agency’s firearm buy-back program be destroyed, except in the following circumstances:

• Relinquished firearms that have been stolen are to be returned to their rightful owners.
• Antique firearms and firearms that are curios, relics, or of particular historical significance are to be disposed of by auction or trade to licensed dealers or to museums or historical societies.

Additional Requirements for Licensed Firearms Dealers

Existing state law already has numerous requirements applicable to licensed firearms dealers, and the law requires that local governments grant (or deny) a business license to such dealers within 30 days after the dealer files an application (or 60 days in some cases).

ESHB 2118, effective July 5, 2025, adds a new provision that authorizes a law enforcement agency acting within the scope of its jurisdiction to investigate a breach of the licensing conditions.

The new bill also requires the following for anyone under the employ of or applying to work for a firearms dealer: (1) additional fingerprinting and background checks for job applicants; and (2) applicants and existing employees must be at least 21 years of age.

Dealers with sales volumes over $1,000 per month on average over the preceding 12 months must now comply with these new requirements:

• Filing an annual certification swearing compliance with the licensure requirements.
• Installing specified security controls, including a video surveillance system, to prevent unauthorized entry and other nefarious behavior.
• Securing all firearms, except when being shown to a customer, repaired, or otherwise worked on.
• Promptly responding to law enforcement and promptly notifying them of any loss, theft, or unlawful transfer of firearms or ammunition no later than 24 hours after a law enforcement request or after dealers know or should have known of the reportable matter.
• Maintaining records of all firearms purchase and sale, and records of inventory, and make all records available to law enforcement upon request.
• Carrying general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per incident.

Reporting Loss or Theft of Firearms

In addition to dealers now being required to report a loss or theft of a firearm within 24 hours after they know or should have known about the loss or theft, SHB 1903 requires an owner or other person lawfully in possession of a firearm to report any loss or theft to local law enforcement within 24 hours of discovery of the loss or theft, punishable by a $1,000 civil infraction for failure to report. The law enforcement agency must then enter the information about the lost or stolen firearm into the national crime center database.

Local governments issuing a firearms dealer’s license must issue to the dealer the following signage printed in block letters not less than one inch in height, which the dealer must post in a conspicuous place at each point of sale:

FAILURE TO KEEP FIREARMS IN SECURE GUN STORAGE, OR SECURED WITH A TRIGGER LOCK OR SIMILAR DEVICE THAT IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE UNAUTHORIZED USE OR DISCHARGE OF THE FIREARM MAY SUBJECT YOU TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

FAILURE TO REPORT THE LOSS OR THEFT OF A FIREARM MAY SUBJECT YOU TO A CIVIL PENALTY UP TO $1,000.

This law is also effective June 6, 2024.

Those Incompetent to Stand Trial May Not Possess Firearms

Individuals whose felony charges are dismissed based on incompetency to stand trial may not possess a firearm effective June 6, 2024. See ESSB 6246.

The firearms must immediately be surrendered to the local law enforcement. For more details on the bill, see the Final Bill Report for ESB 6246.

Concluding Thoughts

For a number of years now, the Washington State Legislature has passed various laws aimed at firearms control. MRSC has covered the newly adopted laws in our blogs from 2022 (Regulating Firearms in Washington State), 2023 (2023 Brings New Firearms Legislation to Washington State) and through this blog (2024 legislation).

Other recommended resources for firearms coverage are the Washington State Attorney General’s Firearms webpage, which covers a few major statewide regulations, and MRSC’s Firearms Regulation webpage, which focuses on the role of Washington local governments in regulating firearms.