Article 1, Section 24. of the Washington Constitution states that, “The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”  No Washington permit is required to purchase a firearm in Washington.

Within thirty days after the filing of an application of any person, the chief of police of a municipality or the sheriff of a county shall issue a license to such person to carry a pistol concealed on his or her person within this state for five years from date of issue, for the purposes of protection.  However, if the applicant does not have a valid Washington state identification card or has not been a resident of the state for the previous consecutive ninety days, the issuing authority may take up to sixty days after the filing of the application to issue a license.  The application for an original license shall include two complete sets of fingerprints to be forwarded to the Washington state patrol.

The license and application shall contain a warning substantially as follows:
“CAUTION: Although state and local laws do not differ, federal law and state law on the possession of firearms differ.  If federal law from possessing a firearm prohibits you, you may be prosecuted in federal court.  A state license is not a defense to a federal prosecution.”[i]

The main government offices that deals with issues relating to firearms are:

Washington State Patrol

General Administration Building

PO Box 42600

Olympia, Washington 98504-2600

Phone: (360) 753-6540

Fax: (360) 753-2492

[i] Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 9.41.070