The Washington State Patrol (WSP) has confirmed to Ammoland News that the Evergreen State’s “permit-to-purchase” (P2P) mandate for gun buyers, scheduled to take effect next May 1, will cost $126, raising alarms that for people on fixed incomes, their ability to exercise a right protected by both the state and federal constitutions will escape their finances.
One experienced firearms instructor told AmmoLand about an elderly woman student, who can barely afford to travel back and forth for lessons, will be unable to afford this permit fee.
The law, passed in 2025 and signed by anti-gun-rights Democrat Gov. Bob Ferguson, requires permit applicants to complete a firearms training course—likely to cost even more money—before they can get the permit. In a follow-up message to Washington state federally licensed firearms dealers, the WSP explained, “The P2P fee is $126. $90 for the permit and $36 for the fingerprint background check.”
The WSP also explained, “WSP is not providing the safety training nor the training curriculum. This training will be provided by private instructors with training curricula certified by us as required by RCW 43.43.575…Information updates about the safety training program is being disseminated on a different email distribution list.”
There is nothing in the state or federal constitutions about requiring a government-issued permit to purchase a firearm. Indeed, critics of the statute contend the right to bear arms has been reduced to a government-regulated privilege and is therefore unconstitutional. Starting next May, it’s also going to get expensive.
The Second Amendment states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Article 1, Section 24 of the Washington State Constitution states, “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.”
Not a single Republican legislator voted for the permit-to-purchase legislation. It was pushed through solely by Democrats. The statute is almost certain to be immediately challenged in both state and federal courts immediately after it takes effect.
This revelation comes as increasing numbers of Washington gun owners appear to be moving out of the state. Never before in state history have Washington gun owners, exercising their right to keep and bear arms, been faced with this degree of bureaucracy.
According to the WSP, “A person applying for a permit to purchase firearms must provide a certificate of completion of a certified firearm safety training program within the last five years that, at a minimum, includes instruction on:
- Basic firearms safety rules;
- Firearms and children, including secure gun storage and talking to children about gun safety;
- Firearms and suicide prevention;
- Secure gun storage to prevent unauthorized access and use;
- Safe handling of firearms;
- State and federal firearms laws, including prohibited firearms transfers and locations where firearms are prohibited;
- State laws pertaining to the use of deadly force for self-defense;
- Techniques for avoiding a criminal attack and how to manage a violent confrontation, including conflict resolution; and
- 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.
The WSP recently announced the training requirements:
“The Washington State Patrol Firearms Background Division will provide a list of training providers with certified curriculums on GetapermitWA.org, including the levels of training they provide.
What are the different levels of firearms safety training?
- Level 1: This meets the requirements under RCW 9.41.1132 and includes 50 rounds of live fire. Level 1 will meet the requirements for both Concealed Pistol Licenses and Permits to Purchase.
- Level 2: Meets the requirements of RCW 9.41.1132 and includes more than 1 and less than 50 rounds of live fire. Level 2 will meet the requirements for the Permit to Purchase only.
- Level 3: Meets the requirements of RCW 9.41.1132 but does not include live fire training.
*Level 3 will meet the requirements for the Permit to Purchase renewals only when live fire training has been completed within the past ten years.”
In addition, people renewing their concealed pistol licenses must also take the training course under conditions of the new law. As noted on the WSP website:
“Will the Concealed Pistol License (CPL) safety training requirement only be for new licenses issued after May 1st, 2027?
“No. Starting May 1st, 2027, the completion of a Washington State Patrol certified firearms safety training program will be required for both new applications and renewals of existing Concealed Pistol Licenses.”
The WSP is also noting that “GetapermitWA.org” was launched Sept. 1, as the public gateway for Permit to Purchase information.
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About Dave Workman
Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.
