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Washington prohibits any person from delivering a firearm to any other person whom he or she has reasonable cause to believe is ineligible to possess a firearm.1

Washington also prohibits any person from changing, altering, removing, or obliterating the name of the maker, model, manufacturer’s number, or other mark of identification on any firearm.2

Washington law incorporates the federal requirement that licensed dealers must conduct background checks on prospective purchasers each time a dealer transfers a firearm.3 Washington also penalizes anyone who knowingly makes a false statement regarding identity or eligibility requirements on the application to purchase a handgun.4

Washington has no other laws aimed at firearms trafficking.

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  1. Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9.41.080. A violation is a class C felony, and any firearms dealer violating this prohibition is subject to mandatory permanent revocation of and permanent ineligibility for his or her dealer’s license. Wash. Rev. Code Ann. §§ 9.41.080, 9.41.110(8)(b).[]
  2. Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9.41.140. See Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9.41.135 for information on the required annual verification of firearms dealer licenses and registration by the Washington Department of Licensing.[]
  3. Wash. Rev. Code Ann. §§ 9.41.090, 9.41.113.[]
  4. Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9.41.090(8).[]