Brickbat: Evergreen Gun Rules
(Oleksandr Lutsenko/Dreamstime)
Starting May 1, 2027, Washington residents will have to obtain a state permit for $126 before purchasing a firearm. The fee includes $90 for the permit and $36 for a fingerprinted background check. Licensees must also, at additional cost, complete a state-certified gun safety course, which includes live-fire exercises and covers safe storage, suicide prevention, and the use of deadly force. Buyers must then undergo another background check when they actually purchase a gun. Permits must be renewed every five years for $90, and existing concealed pistol or hunting license holders are not exempt. The Washington State Patrol expects 200,000 applicants in its first full year, potentially generating over $25 million in fees.