Hearing on HB 1163: Proposal Would Require Permit to Purchase Firearms, Add Training and Background Checks

House Bill 1163 would require a purchaser to have a valid permit to purchase firearms before a dealer may deliver a firearm. The permit would be issued by the Washington State Patrol following a fingerprint-based background check; permits would be valid for five years and renewable. The bill would move the firearm-safety training requirement from the point of sale to the permit-application process and require certified training programs to include live-fire exercises. The State Patrol would set permit fees to cover program costs, establish annual verification procedures, and be required to issue or deny permits within specified timeframes unless additional records are needed.

Supporters at the Jan. 21 hearing argued permit-to-purchase requirements are effective and cite research associating such laws with reductions in firearm homicides and suicides. Alex McCourt of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions told the committee that research shows states with permit-to-purchase systems experienced substantial reductions in firearm homicide and suicide and urged a favorable report. Testimony from students, faith groups, educational and child-safety advocates and municipal officials emphasized youth safety and suicide prevention and cited comparative state studies showing declines in firearm deaths after permit adoption.

Opponents — including firearms instructors, dealers and industry representatives — raised concerns about implementation burdens, delays in access to self-defense, training availability, and whether law enforcement and agencies can staff and execute the program. Several witnesses described practical effects on instructors and clubs that rely on bulk ammunition for training and competition and argued that applicant training requirements could strain existing course capacity. Industry witnesses and some opponents framed the requirement as an unconstitutional permit on a right and warned of enforcement costs and reduced access for law-abiding citizens.

Committee members asked about timelines, remedies for permit denials, and the bill’s delayed effective date; staff noted the bill contains a delayed effective date of Nov. 1, 2026, and that the bill’s judicial-review provisions do not specify remedies such as attorney’s fees. Witnesses representing hunter-education and conservation groups asked that existing certified hunter-safety courses be recognized to avoid redundant coursework for hunters. The hearing ended without a vote; no formal action was recorded at the Jan. 21 session.