Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee
HB 2054
Brief Description: Concerning bulk purchases and transfers of firearms.
Sponsors: Representatives Farivar, Ormsby, Fitzgibbon, Ryu, Senn, Ramel, Berry, Duerr, Reed, Simmons, Peterson, Callan, Macri, Street, Mena, Bergquist, Alvarado, Lekanoff, Fosse, Doglio, Santos, Reeves, Hackney and Pollet.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Prohibits firearms dealers from delivering more than one firearm to a purchaser or transferee within any 30-day period, subject to various exceptions.
Hearing Date: 1/16/24
Staff: John Burzynski (786-7133).
Background:

Washington regulates the purchase and transfer of firearms and conduct of firearms dealers.  State law does not establish any maximum number of firearms a dealer may deliver within a specific time period. 

 

A "dealer" is a person engaged in the business of selling firearms at wholesale or retail who has, or is required to have, a federal firearms license.  Federal law provides that no person may engage in the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in firearms, or importing or manufacturing ammunition, until they file an application with and receive a license from the Attorney General of the United States.  In Washington, a person who does not have, and is not required to have, a federal firearms license, is not a dealer if that person makes only occasional sales, exchanges, or purchases of firearms for the enhancement of a personal collection or for a hobby, or sells all or part of his or her personal collection of firearms.

 

Any violation of any provision of the chapter of state law regulating firearms constitutes a misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided. 
Summary of Bill:

Firearm dealers are prohibited from delivering more than one firearm to a purchaser or transferee within any 30-day period.  

 

This prohibition does not apply to any of the following: 

  • general and limited authority Washington law enforcement agencies; 
  • correctional facilities;
  • private security companies;
  • federal peace officers, and general and limited authority Washington peace officers, who as a normal part of their duties have arrest powers and carry a firearm, and who apply for a firearm for law enforcement purposes;
  • the Criminal Justice Training Commission; 
  • federal firearms dealers, federal firearms importers, and dealers, as those terms are defined in state law;
  • any person exempt from background checks under state law;
  • qualifying exchanges of a firearm;
  • returning a firearm to its owner;
  • inheritance after the death of the former lawful owner;
  • private transactions when the seller is required to relinquish all firearms;
  • private transactions when the seller is transferring a deceased person's firearm pursuant to state law; and
  • licensed collectors with a current certificate of eligibility issued by the United States Department of Justice.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.