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Concealed Pistol Permit Washington State

DirtyJerry44
Hello All,

I was told that it is illegal to leave a pistol loaded or not in your car. A buddy is telling me that it is not. Could someone please clear this up for me?

Thanks!

Jerry
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • dave40glock
    I BELIEVE IT DEPENDS ON WHICH STATE YOUR IN.
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  • Nwcid
    You ask about WA state in your topic so I will give you the very best info I can.

    Go to this link and read, re-read, read again, then read it, http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41 these are the WA laws. There is no better source for info.

    There are different rules depending on if you have a CCW permit or not.
    If I read right you want to know if it is legal to have a loaded gun in your car with a CCW, is that correct? If so here is your answer:

    (2)(a) A person shall not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle unless the person has a license to carry a concealed pistol and: (i) The pistol is on the licensee's person, (ii) the licensee is within the vehicle at all times that the pistol is there, or (iii) the licensee is away from the vehicle and the pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle.

    That is taken from, http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.050

    Did I mention read and re-read the link I provided above?
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  • ruger41
    What they told me when I got my WA permit was that the gun has to be on your person if loaded and if left in the car it has to be unloaded and locked in a case. You cannot legally have the gun loaded and in say the glove box while you are driving permit or not. In WA you can also carry unconcealed with no permit except for in a vehicle[:p]
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  • Nwcid
    quote:Originally posted by ruger41
    What they told me when I got my WA permit was that the gun has to be on your person if loaded and if left in the car it has to be unloaded and locked in a case. You cannot legally have the gun loaded and in say the glove box while you are driving permit or not. In WA you can also carry unconcealed with no permit except for in a vehicle[:p]


    Yes you can legally do it, section (ii) the licensee is within the vehicle at all times that the pistol is there, from the above link. It says nothing about having it on you.

    Also I have never seen a section requiring a locked case for anything in WA. Only locked within a vehicle when you are not there is in several sections.
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  • ruger41
    Thank you nwcid!! The woman at the counter where I applied told me I had to have it on me at all times--well that little section says I don't which makes it easier to go on trips without having to have it on me. I made sure to save that link to my favorites.
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  • Bert H.
    Hello fellows,

    As a resident of the State of Washington, it is not a "Concealed Pistol Permit"... instead, it is a "License to Carry Concealed Pistol State of Washington", and yes, there is an important legal difference between the two terms.

    Washington State law prohibits having a loaded firearm in a vehicle at any time unless;

    1. The driver or a passenger is duly licensed.
    2. The driver/owner is licensed, and the vehicle is not soley occupied by non-licensed holder.

    At no time is a loaded long gun legal.
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  • ronnyboy
    That is correct.

    However, most people don't drive anymore, they travel. Driving is a commercial action (moving goods and services).

    If you look up the definition of driver in Washington you won't find it. The general legal description of driver is one who operates a motor vehicle. A vehicle is something that is moving goods and services in commerce.

    So unless you are moving goods or services or both, you aren't driving and you aren't operating a motor vehicle. You are traveling and operating a piece of machinery. You CAN travel and carry a loaded weapon and the state has no jurisdiction since you are not operating in commerce.

    That's why all of your wonderful little tickets go to the department of revenue (they only have jurisdiction over commerce, gotta love it)
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  • nmyers
    Legal or not, it is generally not a good idea to leave a pistol, loaded or unloaded, in a vehicle.

    If you have the pistol for personal protection, it should be on your person. The perp, not you, chooses the time & place for a Close Encounter. If you don't have instant access to your pistol, it will probably be of no use to you.

    Every year thousands of guns are stolen from vehicles. The only reasonable way to keep one in a vehicle is in a locked steel storage box.

    Neal
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  • XXCross
    What you really need to do is ask Seattle's last dumb ass Police Chief about leaving an unattended pistol in a car. (he's now one of Obuma's "zars") He never did get his service pistol back..Glock I think.
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