If you’re a gun owner in Washington State, congratulations—you’re officially under siege. Back in January, we warned you about a bill aiming to expand so-called “gun-free zones” to parks, government buildings, and basically anywhere a kid might show up. Now, anti-gun lawmakers in Olympia have decided that wasn’t enough. They want to make it harder—and more expensive—for law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
Enter House Bill 1163, a piece of legislative nonsense that would require Washingtonians to apply, qualify for, and purchase a permit just to buy a firearm. That’s right—the same constitutional right that the Founders intended to be free and uninfringed? Yeah, they want to slap a price tag on it.
A Paywall for Your Rights
HB 1163, recently approved by committee along party lines (because of course it was), is set to hit the House floor for a vote. The bill proposes a five-year permit, similar to the state’s current firearm safety courses—but with a twist. This new “gun owner tax” would require live-fire training and an annual review by the Washington State Police to ensure that every permit holder remains “eligible” to own a gun.
And here’s the real kicker—it’s going to cost nearly $60 million to implement. And who do you think gets stuck with the bill? That’s right, Washington gun owners. Lawmakers plan to cover their spending spree by charging citizens for fingerprinting and the permit itself. So, if you want to exercise your Second Amendment rights, you better be ready to pony up some cash.
Criminals Aren’t Lining Up for Permits
If this law was about crime prevention, maybe there’d be a conversation to be had. But we all know how this works—criminals, by definition, don’t follow the law. The Sportsman’s Alliance, one of the organizations fighting back against this lunacy, summed it up perfectly in a press release:
“Permit-to-purchase is just another scheme supported by animal extremists and gun-control activists to destroy our rights, values, and lifestyle. Restricting the freedom of peaceable sportsmen will do nothing to solve our public safety problems. Criminals who are the cause of violent crime in the Evergreen State do not purchase their firearms through legal channels.”
Of course, this is just common sense, which means it will be completely ignored by Washington’s Democratic leadership. The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) is also pushing back, noting that the state is already drowning in a $12 billion budget deficit—without tacking on another expensive, ineffective gun control law.
“Law-abiding firearm owners will continue to be the only ones impacted by another gun-control law in Washington,” NRA-ILA stated in a legislative alert. “Washington State Police data shows that the firearms used in crimes originate from three main sources—theft, illicit sources, and straw purchases—all of which are already illegal means. HB 1163 is another solution in search of a problem, placing additional burdens on the law-abiding while doing nothing to address Washington’s escalating crime problem.”
But Wait, There’s More!
Because it wouldn’t be a true anti-gun legislative session without a few extra slaps in the face, Washington lawmakers are also moving forward with two additional anti-gun bills:
- House Bill 1132: A one-gun-a-month law that limits purchases to—wait for it—one firearm every 30 days. Apparently, they believe this will stop crime. Spoiler: it won’t. What it will do is make it harder for responsible citizens to buy firearms, especially in bulk purchases for training, collection, or competitive shooting. Oh, and it’ll put arbitrary restrictions on how much ammunition you can buy. Because clearly, if we just inconvenience legal gun owners enough, criminals will magically stop being criminals.
- House Bill 1152: A mandatory locked storage law that dictates how gun owners must store their firearms and ammunition—whether in their homes or vehicles. Because, naturally, the government knows better than you how to keep your own family safe. Never mind the fact that forcing separate storage could cost lives in a home invasion situation.
The Bottom Line
Washington State’s anti-gun politicians are once again proving that their gun control agenda has nothing to do with crime and everything to do with disarming citizens and controlling lawful gun ownership. If they were serious about tackling crime, they’d be going after criminals—not punishing the folks who actually follow the law.
HB 1163 and its companion bills are nothing more than a blatant money grab wrapped in a thin excuse of “public safety.” And if Washingtonians don’t push back, it’s only going to get worse. The choice is simple: stand up now, or get ready to pay an ever-growing tax just to keep your constitutional rights.
