10-Day Waiting Period in Effect for All Washington State Gun Purchases as of January 1, 2024
A 10-day waiting period for all gun purchases in Washington state went into effect January 1, 2024.
FOX 13 reported the 10-day waiting period was part of 2023’s House Bill 1143.
The new law also “requires people to go through training before they can buy a gun,” Apple Valley News Now noted.
State Sen. Patty Kuderer (D) supported the 10-day waiting period and the training requirement, saying, “The sad fact today is that over half of suicides are committed with a firearm. There are very few do-overs when a gun is used and that’s why Mr. President, this cooling off period that’s in the bill is so critically important.”
State Sen. Lynda Wilson (R) disagreed, noting, “There may be a mom with a couple of little girls and in a serious domestic violence situation. If even she finds the instructor, and if she can afford the class, and if she can get into one of those classes that don’t exist today — she will still have to wait another 10 days after the purchase of the firearm to protect herself.”
HB 1143 initially also brought a third requirement to bear on would-be gun purchasers by mandating a gun license in order to buy a firearm. However, that aspect of the bill was dropped as it moved through the legislature.
