Washington and Oregon

[abigails&w]

WA state firearms laws

Here are all WA state laws on firearms:

Chapter 9.41 RCW: FIREARMS AND DANGEROUS WEAPONS

From these, in my opinion these would be of interest to you most:

RCW 9.41.050: Carrying firearms.

Quote: “(1)(a) Except in the person's place of abode or fixed place of business, a person shall not carry a pistol concealed on his or her person without a license to carry a concealed pistol.”

RCW 9.41.060: Exceptions to restrictions on carrying firearms.

Quote: “The provisions of RCW 9.41.050 shall not apply to:”… “(9) Any person while carrying a pistol unloaded and in a closed opaque case or secure wrapper; or”

RCW 9.41.010: Definitions. (<i>Effective until January 1, 2025.</i>)

Quote: “(30) "Loaded" means:”

Also you may want to be aware of this:

RCW 9.41.360: Unsafe storage of a firearm.

 

[steelslaver]

I used to live in WA and often work there for a couple months at a time. While I lived there I had a WA resident permit. They will not recognize my Montana permit. I can not have a gun or ammo in a refinery parking lot under any circumstances. I keep mine in a strong security box with a heavy cable attached to something substantial in my motel room (I rent kitchenettes so the fridge frame works well) I also use the box and cable in my car while traveling. No way would I leave a gun in my glove compartment on the west side of WA or OR.

I need to get a WA permit, but as I can't have them where I work and only travel to work and then do 24 hours a day 7 days a week when I am there the only place that works out for me to have one is my motel room.

 

[Mainsail]

In WA you may open carry (loaded) without any permit or license.

Getting in a vehicle makes it concealed; license or unloaded for that.

You may carry loaded and concealed without a license IF you are driving to, engaged in, or returning from an "outdoor activity" like hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, etc.

(8) Any person engaging in a lawful outdoor recreational activity such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or horseback riding, only if, considering all of the attendant circumstances, including but not limited to whether the person has a valid hunting or fishing license, it is reasonable to conclude that the person is participating in lawful outdoor activities or is traveling to or from a legitimate outdoor recreation area;

 

[Bald1]

Classic example of some states idiocy and our patchwork CC laws. OP has a badge. Yet these lib states extend him no courtesy and deem him unworthy. Hopefully a new administration will get national reciprocity pushed through. They failed last time.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Classic example of some states idiocy and our patchwork CC laws. OP has a badge. Yet these lib states extend him no courtesy and deem him unworthy. Hopefully a new administration will get national reciprocity pushed through. They failed last time.

The problem with that is it gives the federal government a database of gun owners that it doesn’t need.

 

[smoothshooter]

Thanks for the responses. I am driving. Just want to bring a revolver. Spending one night in Spokane. Staying at a resort in Ocean Park, WA for a few days. Will pass through Oregon but will not spend the night.
Just thought we probably have some Washington and Oregon residents that would be up on the laws.

Take your revolver with you.
Keep it unloaded in the trunk of your car. Consider it as a survival tool in case of a major terrorist attack and societal breakdown. I would take a shotgun also for the same reasons.
Do not go places that are known to be risky. In politically progressive areas of the country if you shoot somebody, even with good cause, you are going to jail and will lose your house and retirement investments if you have any.
Do not carry it at all.

 

[K-22]

All Lawful Purposes

Oregon will issue them to Washington residents.
Take an approved class and state a valid reason. Self defense and sporting purposes should be good.

Reason?
For all lawful purposes, is what I have always successfully used.

 

[Doug M.]

The long gun restriction is not in 9.41, but in the wildlife laws, at 77.15.460. Applies to any loaded long gun, even in the trunk. It is designed to be an anti-poaching law.
I would be hesitant as a non-resident to bring a standard capacity magazine, especially west of the Cascades. Some agencies would consider that "importing". Just make sure that any pistol you have is designed around small magazines; a lot of folks get 10 rd. mags for their full size Glocks and that is a complete no go according to Glock.

An empty 6 shot or more revolver with a speed loader is workable. Remember to NEVER consent to a search. Putting aside the legal issues, a thorough search is time consuming and messy.

 

[crstrode]

Both states are VERY anti-firearm. I would avoid potential, unforeseen problems and leave my gun at home.

au contraire mon frère.

Bring your gun.

Also pick up a firearm lock box for 20 bucks. I got one on Ebay and another at Harbor Freight a year or so ago.

Your handgun, without the mag inserted, or the cylinders loaded when locked in the box is legal in the passenger compartment of your car in both Oregon and Washington - regardless of your resident or concealed carry status.

 

[Doug M.]

au contraire mon frère.

**
Compared to 20 years ago, Washington is extremely anti-gun in terms of the statutes enacted in that period. Most of eastern WA is pretty reasonable, but the west siders are destroying this state in terms of personal firearm rights and anti-law enforcement enactments.

 

[crstrode]

**
Compared to 20 years ago, Washington is extremely anti-gun in terms of the statutes enacted in that period. Most of eastern WA is pretty reasonable, but the west siders are destroying this state in terms of personal firearm rights and anti-law enforcement enactments.

No argument there.

He should still bring a gun - or stay home.

I ALWAYS bring my gun when visiting Oregon. If it must be locked in the box - so be it.
Concealed carry in a vehicle is legal for me in Washington.

 

[Bald1]

The problem with that is it gives the federal government a database of gun owners that it doesn’t need.

Database? It’s like a drivers license. I got one in NY so I’m good to go in WA and OR. And the feds have all the data they need. Form 4473 is federal. The majority of gun sales requires one. Plus, the feds can get whatever info they want. Whenever they want.

 

[steelslaver]

The forms 4473 are not send into the feds unless the business closes. The shop just getsan OK to complete the sale, it does even inform the feds if the sale was completed or not. For me here, the FFL holder does not even have to call in, we each fill out our parts of the 4473, he uses my CWP as the OK and sticks the form in his book. But, the feds can get enough to figure out you are a gun owner. Most states fun the same check as needed for a 4473 to issue carry permits. It does crack me up that people who are members of a forum like this worry about stuff like that.

My concern on a nation wide reciprocity is that the states that are already a pain will become even more of a pain. Look what most of them have done since shall issue became the law of the land. You would need to have a lawyer in your car just to drive trough most of them even if national reciprocation became law.

They will always have huge no carry "sensitive" areas, bullet restrictions magazine restrictions, etc etc.

The federal government hasn't actually passed a law that fixed anything for the last 50 years no mater which party had control. The Supreme court has said hold on there plenty of the laws the states and fed has past. But, they are the only branch to have done anything good in the gun rights department

 

[Kanewpadle]

Database? It’s like a drivers license. I got one in NY so I’m good to go in WA and OR. And the feds have all the data they need. Form 4473 is federal. The majority of gun sales requires one. Plus, the feds can get whatever info they want. Whenever they want.

Yes, but why make it easier? Do you really want one government entity control over all 50 states? Such an our current administration?

No thanks.

 

[Kanewpadle]

au contraire mon frère.

Bring your gun.

Also pick up a firearm lock box for 20 bucks. I got one on Ebay and another at Harbor Freight a year or so ago.

Your handgun, without the mag inserted, or the cylinders loaded when locked in the box is legal in the passenger compartment of your car in both Oregon and Washington - regardless of your resident or concealed carry status.

Disagree with the lockbox.

He needs something discrete while transporting the gun between vehicle and motel room.

A backpack works great.

 

[Bald1]

Yes, but why make it easier? Do you really want one government entity control over all 50 states? Such an our current administration?

No thanks.

What I want is to drive from NY to where ever my son happens to live and not worry about being a felon because I simply crossed a state line. To many horror stories of people falling into this trap.

 

[Kanewpadle]

What I want is to drive from NY to where ever my son happens to live and not worry about being a felon because I simply crossed a state line. To many horror stories of people falling into this trap.

Agreed. So do I.

The Supreme Court needs to get move involved.

 

[Bald1]

The forms 4473 are not send into the feds unless the business closes. The shop just getsan OK to complete the sale, it does even inform the feds if the sale was completed or not. For me here, the FFL holder does not even have to call in, we each fill out our parts of the 4473, he uses my CWP as the OK and sticks the form in his book. But, the feds can get enough to figure out you are a gun owner. Most states fun the same check as needed for a 4473 to issue carry permits. It does crack me up that people who are members of a forum like this worry about stuff like that.

My concern on a nation wide reciprocity is that the states that are already a pain will become even more of a pain. Look what most of them have done since shall issue became the law of the land. You would need to have a lawyer in your car just to drive trough most of them even if national reciprocation became law.

They will always have huge no carry "sensitive" areas, bullet restrictions magazine restrictions, etc etc.

The federal government hasn't actually passed a law that fixed anything for the last 50 years no mater which party had control. The Supreme court has said hold on there plenty of the laws the states and fed has past. But, they are the only branch to have done anything good in the gun rights department

There are some states that call directly into the federal NICS check. NY was one of them up until Sept 2023. If you think there’s no record of it , guess again. This is Hunter Bidens problem. He lied on a federal form

 

[DARE]

A wise man once said....
I'd rather be judged by 12 than be carried by 6.

 

[Kanewpadle]

You could avoid western Oregon and Washington altogether if you wanted to.

In Weed California, take hwy 97 through central Oregon and into Washington.

Much slower drive but beautiful. Driven it many times.