Washington residents will soon be required to obtain a state-issued firearms purchase permit costing $126 before buying a gun, with additional expenses for mandatory safety training, ammunition and range access.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Washington residents seeking to purchase firearms will face a new financial and regulatory requirement beginning May 1, 2027, when a state law mandates obtaining a government-issued permit costing $126 before completing a gun purchase. The fee, confirmed by the Washington State Patrol, comes on top of mandatory firearms training and other expenses that could substantially increase the cost of legally acquiring a weapon.

The permit-to-purchase program, established under House Bill 1163 and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson in May 2025, requires prospective buyers to obtain authorization through the Washington State Patrol before a licensed dealer can transfer a firearm. Applicants must submit fingerprints, complete an approved firearms safety course and undergo a background investigation before receiving the permit.

The Washington State Patrol confirmed the precise cost in correspondence with firearms dealers, according to a September report by AmmoLand News. The agency explained the fee structure in a statement: “The P2P fee is $126. $90 for the permit and $36 for the fingerprint background check.”

The permit will remain valid for five years, meaning qualified purchasers will not need to obtain a new permit for every firearm transaction during that period. However, individual purchases will remain subject to separate background checks and existing waiting-period requirements.

Conservative radio host Jason Rantz highlighted the additional financial obligations in an October report examining Washington’s firearms permitting system, noting that the government’s $126 charge represents only part of the total expense.

“Course fees, ammunition, range time and travel all come out of the buyer’s pocket on top of the $126,” Rantz reported.

Under the new law, applicants generally must provide proof of completing a Washington State Patrol-certified firearms safety training program within the preceding five years. The curriculum covers safe firearm handling, storage practices, suicide prevention, state and federal gun laws, lawful self-defense and techniques for avoiding violent confrontations.

The training requirement also includes practical shooting exercises at an approved range. Depending on the certification level, participants may need to purchase ammunition, pay instructional fees and arrange access to facilities capable of conducting the required exercises.

The Washington State Patrol has indicated that it will certify qualifying training programs rather than provide the instruction directly. Approved providers will be listed through the state’s firearm permitting information system, leaving applicants responsible for finding available courses and covering associated expenses.

Those costs could vary considerably depending on where applicants live. Residents of rural communities may face longer travel distances to approved shooting ranges, while individuals with limited incomes could encounter additional financial barriers beyond the permit application itself.

The law also requires fingerprints to be collected through local law enforcement agencies. Additional charges may apply for fingerprint collection, separate from the $36 processing fee included in the statewide permit cost.

Successful applicants will receive authorization to purchase firearms for five years, provided they continue meeting applicable eligibility requirements. Renewals submitted before expiration will carry a $90 fee, while late applications may be subject to additional charges.

The legislation establishes a new approval process alongside Washington’s existing firearms purchase requirements rather than replacing them. Licensed dealers will still have to verify a buyer’s eligibility through the state background check system, and purchasers must comply with the state’s mandatory waiting period before taking possession.

Washington already imposes a 10-business-day waiting period on firearm transfers, along with background checks and proof of firearms safety training. The permit system adds a separate application process that must be completed before a covered purchase can proceed.

The Washington State Patrol has been developing the administrative infrastructure needed to implement the law, including systems for processing applications and certifying firearms training providers. The agency expects to make application services available in early 2027, before the purchase-permit requirement becomes mandatory.

The legislation has drawn criticism from Second Amendment advocates who argue that requiring citizens to pay fees and obtain advance government authorization to purchase firearms creates unnecessary obstacles to exercising a constitutional right.

Supporters of the measure maintain that comprehensive background checks and mandatory safety training can help prevent firearms from reaching prohibited purchasers while improving knowledge of safe handling and storage practices.

Ferguson defended the legislation when he signed it in May 2025, emphasizing the consequences of firearm-related violence for Washington families.

“Gun violence in Washington state breaks apart too many families and kills too many children,” Ferguson said.

The law was approved by Democratic lawmakers without Republican support, reflecting longstanding disagreements in the Legislature over firearm regulation and the balance between public safety measures and constitutional protections.

Some opponents have questioned whether the permit requirement will withstand legal challenges under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 24 of the Washington Constitution, which protects the right to bear arms in defense of oneself or the state.

The constitutional debate is particularly significant because Washington already maintains an extensive collection of firearms restrictions. The state requires background checks for firearm purchases, regulates concealed carry permits, restricts certain semiautomatic firearms and ammunition magazines, and authorizes courts to temporarily restrict gun access through extreme risk protection orders.

Washington also regulates privately manufactured firearms commonly described as ghost guns, prohibits bump stocks and requires certain firearm sales information to be recorded by authorities. Additional provisions address firearm storage, dealer licensing and restrictions on carrying weapons in designated public locations.

The gun control advocacy organization Everytown for Gun Safety ranks Washington ninth nationally for the strength of its firearms laws, placing the state among those with the most extensive regulatory frameworks.

Everytown’s assessment includes Washington’s background check requirements, restrictions on certain firearms and magazines, concealed carry regulations, firearm storage provisions and laws intended to prevent individuals considered dangerous from obtaining weapons.

The organization also identifies Washington’s recent permit-to-purchase legislation as an expansion of the state’s existing firearm safety requirements. Its ranking reflects the advocacy group’s evaluation of state policies rather than a judicial determination of their constitutionality or effectiveness.

For firearm purchasers, the practical consequences of the new system will extend beyond paying the application fee. Residents will need to plan ahead for training, fingerprint collection, permit processing and the separate requirements imposed when they actually select a firearm for purchase.

The permit application process generally provides the State Patrol up to 30 days to approve or deny an application, with additional processing time permitted under certain circumstances. As a result, residents who have not obtained the required authorization may face delays before becoming eligible to complete a transaction.

The changes will also affect concealed pistol license applicants and renewing license holders, who will face updated safety training requirements beginning May 1, 2027. A concealed pistol license by itself will not substitute for the new purchase permit.

With the implementation date approaching, the Washington State Patrol continues preparing the certification and application systems needed to administer the program statewide. Whether the new requirements encounter successful legal challenges remains uncertain.

Beginning next spring, however, Washington residents who wish to acquire firearms through covered transactions will be required to navigate a more extensive government approval process, with the confirmed $126 permit charge representing the initial cost of meeting the state’s new purchasing requirements.

Original article
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