(1) A person applying for the purchase or transfer of a firearm must provide proof of completion of a recognized firearms safety training program within the last five years that, at a minimum, includes instruction on:

(a) Basic firearms safety rules;

(b) Firearms and children, including secure gun storage and talking to children about gun safety;

(c) Firearms and suicide prevention;

(d) Secure gun storage to prevent unauthorized access and use;

(e) Safe handling of firearms;

(f) State and federal firearms laws, including prohibited firearms transfers and locations where firearms are prohibited;

(g) State laws pertaining to the use of deadly force for self-defense; and

(h) Techniques for avoiding a criminal attack and how to manage a violent confrontation, including conflict resolution.

(2) The training must be sponsored by a federal, state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, a college or university, a nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training, or a firearms training school with instructors certified by a nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training. The proof of training shall be in the form of a certification that states under the penalty of perjury that the training included the minimum requirements.

(3) The training may include stories provided by individuals with lived experience in the topics listed in subsection (1)(a) through (g) of this section or an understanding of the legal and social impacts of discharging a firearm.

(4) The firearms safety training requirement of this section does not apply to:

(a) A person who is a:

(i) General authority Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020;

(ii) Limited authority Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020 who as a normal part of their duties has arrest powers and carries a firearm;

(iii) Specially commissioned Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020 who as a normal part of their duties has arrest powers and carries a firearm; or

(iv) Federal peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020 who as a normal part of their duties has arrest powers and carries a firearm; or

(b) A person who is an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, an active member of the national guard, or an active member of the armed forces reserves who, as part of the applicant's service, has completed, within the last five years, a course of training in firearms proficiency or familiarization that included training on the safe handling and shooting proficiency with firearms.

Effective date—2023 c 161: See note following RCW 9.41.090.

(1) A person applying for a permit to purchase firearms must provide a certificate of completion of a certified firearms safety training program within the last five years that, at a minimum, includes instruction on:

(a) Basic firearms safety rules;

(b) Firearms and children, including secure gun storage and talking to children about gun safety;

(c) Firearms and suicide prevention;

(d) Secure gun storage to prevent unauthorized access and use;

(e) Safe handling of firearms;

(f) State and federal firearms laws, including prohibited firearms transfers and locations where firearms are prohibited;

(g) State laws pertaining to the use of deadly force for self-defense;

(h) Techniques for avoiding a criminal attack and how to manage a violent confrontation, including conflict resolution; and

(i) Live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range that include a demonstration by the applicant of the safe handling of, and shooting proficiency with, firearms.

(2) As it relates to the renewal of a permit to purchase firearms pursuant to RCW 9.41.121, the live-fire component of subsection (1)(i) of this section must be completed within the last 10 years.

(3) The training must be sponsored by a federal, state, tribal, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, a college or university, a nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training, or a firearms training school with instructors certified by a nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training. The certificate of training shall be in the form and manner of documentation developed by the Washington state patrol under RCW 43.43.575.

(4) The training may include stories provided by individuals with lived experience in the topics listed in subsection (1)(a) through (g) of this section or an understanding of the legal and social impacts of discharging a firearm.

(5) The firearms safety training requirement of this section does not apply to:

(a) Upon showing proper identification, a person who is a:

(i) General authority Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020;

(ii) Limited authority Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020 who as a normal part of their duties has arrest powers and carries a firearm;

(iii) Specially commissioned Washington peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020 who as a normal part of their duties has arrest powers and carries a firearm;

(iv) Federal peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020 who as a normal part of their duties has arrest powers and carries a firearm; or

(v) Tribal police officer;

(b) Upon showing proper identification, a person who is an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, an active member of the national guard, or an active member of the armed forces reserves. For the purposes of this section, proper identification includes the armed forces identification card or other written documentation certifying that the individual is an active military member;

(c) Upon showing proper identification, a person who is an armed private investigator licensed pursuant to chapter 18.165 RCW. For the purposes of this section, proper identification includes the armed private investigator license card issued pursuant to RCW 18.165.080 or other written documentation certifying that the individual is a licensed armed private investigator; or

(d) Upon showing proper identification, a person who is an armed security guard licensed pursuant to chapter 18.170 RCW. For the purposes of this section, proper identification includes the armed security guard license card issued pursuant to RCW 18.170.070 or other written documentation certifying that the individual is a licensed armed security guard.

(6) The exceptions to the firearms safety training requirement established in subsection (5)(c) and (d) of this section shall only apply so long as the criminal justice training commission's private security firearms certificate training meets the requirements of this section.

Effective date—2025 c 370: See note following RCW 9.41.090.

Effective date—2023 c 161: See note following RCW 9.41.090.