In 10 months, a new Washington state law will require gun sellers to follow stricter rules, like installing steel bars on windows and doors and keeping all firearms in fireproof safes at night. This law, House Bill 2118, was passed by the Legislature and will take effect on July 1, 2025.
However, the expensive requirements are already causing some businesses to reconsider selling firearms. For instance, Stan’s Merry Mart in Wenatchee, located in Chelan County, has decided to stop selling guns due to the costs involved.
Dave Workman, editor in chief of *TheGunMag*, believes the law is designed to push small gun dealers out of business by making them spend a lot on security upgrades.
The new rules will force stores to install steel doors or bars, lock up all guns after hours, and have 24-hour audio and video surveillance, with recordings kept for 90 days. They must also keep detailed records, report any theft or loss quickly, and carry $1 million in liability insurance.
Rep. Amy Walen, who sponsored the bill, says the goal is to keep inventory safe, ensure accurate record-keeping, and improve overall security.
Some gun sellers are worried about the costs, especially smaller, family-owned stores that can’t afford these changes. The National Rifle Association (NRA) also argues that these new rules will make it hard for most gun sellers in Washington to stay in business.
Under the law, any dealer making over $1,000 in sales per year must run annual background checks on their employees and carry the $1 million liability insurance.
Workman also questions whether these increasing restrictions are effective, pointing out that murders in Washington have gone up, not down, since stricter gun laws were introduced in 2015.
Washington ranks ninth in the nation for gun law strength, with California having the strictest rules and Arkansas the least strict.
Gun rights supporters are closely watching ongoing legal battles related to gun control in Washington, which may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court. These include a lawsuit involving the sale of high-capacity magazines and a challenge to a ban on so-called assault weapons.