Guide to bringing guns to Washington State

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Van-Tramp

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Bringing your gun to Washington?
http://www.van-tramp.com/wp/bringing-your-gun-to-washington/

Following my previous blog post about transporting guns through Canada to Alaska, I though I would continue the trend and discuss transporting guns within our very own United States and the issues associated with each state. As I end up having to research each state’s laws before traveling into or through, I will go ahead and share my findings.

Let me first get this out of the way; I am a conceal carry weapons permit holder (Colorado permit). I own multiple firearms, have passed through no less than 8 Federal and State background checks in the past couple years, been fingerprinted and photographed (though I have committed no crime), and have taken my fair share of educational and safety classes to acquire my permit and to safely handle my arms. With that said…

Washington State is generally very welcoming to people with firearms, with one major caveat; as long as you are a resident of Washington State. Washington State honors permits from other states, but that list is extremely short. I happen to be in one of the 40 states in which they do not recognize my permit. Significantly more than 80% of the country is not permitted to conceal carry within the State of Washington.

However, Washington’s State constitution does permit open carry of handguns (and rifles) without the need of any permit (open carry is permitted in more than 60% of the country with no permit at all). It also does not allow more restrictive local laws. This means each county or city may not create their own, more-restrictive laws than the State’s. which means I can travel through the state without worry of inadvertently committing crimes as a cross through invisible county/city lines. Still, there is another caveat;
Open carry is lawful in Washington without any permit. Open carry of a loaded handgun in a vehicle is legal only with a concealed pistol license.- RCW 09.41.050

Though it is legal for me to carry my gun (openly) it is illegal to carry it in a car (openly or concealed) if it is loaded, since I do not have a Washington conceal carry permit. Take a moment to ponder the consequences of this…

[insert Jeopardy music here]

I must un-holster my loaded gun, remove the magazine containing the bullets, rack the slide to remove the bullet in the chamber, then re-holster my gun, all before entering my vehicle (and reversed when exiting the vehicle). This is text-book definition of “brandishing” by their very own laws;
It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon… –RCW 9.41.270

I asked this with the local Sheriff in 2013 and to my surprise he verified that I must actually “brandish” every time I enter or exit my vehicle to stay within the laws of openly carrying a gun in the great state of Washington.

Long guns are not allowed to be loaded in a vehicle at any time (permit or not), but can be carried openly without a permit, even loaded.

I hope this helps anyone considering packing ‘heat’ in Washington.
Al-ki!
 
I confess I'm a bit perplexed by this post.  According to the HandgunLaw site, WA recognizes the UT non-resident permit.  You don't have one of those?

Either the UT or FL non-resident ccw permit should be the first permit a travelin' man should acquire after getting his home state permit.

Regards
John
 
I certainly wish Congress had passed the legislation a few years ago that would have streamlined this whole mess. The House did but the Senate tabled it, AFAIK. From the information I have [as a WA state CWP holder], my permit is reciprocated in a lot more states than other states' permits are reciprocated in WA.
 
I have a Florida permit, but I don't know why you say it should be among the first to acquire along with UT. Care to explain? I do know that it is recognized by most states. Is that what you mean? Is it one of the more universally recognized permits?
 
ramblingvanman said:
I have a Florida permit, but I don't know why you say it should be among the first to acquire along with UT. Care to explain? I do know that it is recognized by most states. Is that what you mean? Is it one of the more universally recognized permits?

Yea, it is about coverage... number of states covered.

So, you can get a permit in the state in which you reside (for me that is Colorado at the time). Once you have that permit, Utah offers a non-resident permit (most states do not offer non-res permits) that has good coverage on it;s own. However, you can not get it by itself, you must have a permit in your home state first.

For me (CO permit holder) I would gain only Washington State by *also* getting a Utah permit. I'm not sure that is worth all the costs and paperwork considering I rarely come all the way up here.
 
Van-Tramp said:
So, you can get a permit in the state in which you reside (for me that is Colorado at the time). Once you have that permit, Utah offers a non-resident permit (most states do not offer non-res permits) that has good coverage on it;s own. However, you can not get it by itself, you must have a permit in your home state first.

Wrong info Van-Tramp.   I got Utah first, then AZ, then OR.

Having a DD214 will allow you to not have to take a safety course in most states as well.   After all, we vets are trained killers and are taught how to handle weapons safely.

Here in CA at almost all gun shows you can take the course for both UT and AZ and they will do the fingerprinting and certifying for you for less than $200.00.   I did that and received both in the mail in less than 60 days.

With what I have, I'm good to go anywhere from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic for the states that I would really want to travel through except for CA and CO.     CA is a lost cause, so I don't really care, as I carry concealed in the van because in CA one can keep a loaded firearm in their home, and courts have ruled that living in an RV is tantamount to a home, and CO I have no plans to visit.
 
You can open carry in CO, and they too consider your vehicle a literal extension of your Home, so you can carry in your van in CO too.

I would be very, very careful of that in CA. I don't think they have given you the right to carry in your car when they agreed that a vehicle is an extension of your home.
 
Ya know and most of you do that this so freaking crazy!
This really should be a federal permit that applies to any US citizen that can pass a stringent background check and safety course, Blanket, that's it no difference in any state.



I know I'm dreaming but it should be that way.

Mike R
 
well I am in kalifornia so I can't even post on this without getting political. however the courts recently said that CA was way to restrictive with there permits, unfortunately it was ignored. highdesertranger
 

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