Washington State lawmakers are pursuing new legislation that would mandate a permit-to-purchase requirement for firearms, alongside proof of completion of a firearms safety course. This move comes after an alarming increase in firearm deaths, with a significant majority being suicides, which accounted for about 70 percent of gun-related fatalities in 2022.
The proposed House Bill 1163, which has passed in the House and is currently under consideration in the Senate, aims to enhance existing firearm safety laws that already rank Washington highly in terms of legislation strength. Research indicates that states with similar training and waiting period requirements have seen notable reductions in firearm deaths, suggesting that such a law could make a significant impact on public safety in Washington.
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