WA state driver's license required to purchase firearms?

[rustedangel]

I just got back from the Seattle Police Athletic Association, trying to buy a Glock 19 under the GSSF program. They told me they could not sell me the weapon because I could not prove my residency, as I have not gotten a Washington state driver's license yet. I do have a Washington CPL. If someone could verify that this is correct I would appreciate it. Please go easy on me as this is my first (attempted) firearm purchase and I don't really know what I am doing.

I was thinking driver's licenses must not be the only way to verify residency. For example, if I moved from Portland to Seattle, I might not have a driver's license at all. Both cities have pretty robust mass transit. I guess in that case you would need a DMV ID card.

 

[Hawaiian]

You need proof of residency in all states to purchace a firearm. A drivers license or a state issued ID card. The reason is you have to show proof of residency to obtain those. I had to show a utility bill in my name to my address. I just got notices to renew my Oregon drivers license and my Oregon Concealed Handgun License. Both notices required me to present proof of citizenship, birth certificate or passport, and my SS card. This is even though they are renewals. Go figure. Maybe they think I changed my place of birth?

 

[nalioth]

If your CPL has your Washington state home address on it, I guess the sellers were showin' their ignorance. . .

 

[NavyLCDR]

Not necessarily, nalioth. It would depend upon which id was more recent. If his CPL has a WA address on it that is issued earlier thsn his out of state driver's license than that would indicate he moved out of state after getting the CPL. Also WA requires getting a WA license within I think 60 days. So an out of state Driver's license over 60 days old would indicate out of state residency. In addition, the WA CPL does not have a photo on it so cannot be used as a stand alone ID document. WA also issues CPLs to non-residents.

 

[nalioth]

WA also issues CPLs to non-residents.

. . . which brings us back to:

rustedangel, why isn't your location in your info area? I suspect if you put your state of residence, you'll still retain your privacy.

It helps greatly when answering location-oriented legal questions.

 

[Quiet]

oversimplification on why you need a DL to prove residency...

You need a state issued driver's license or identification card to prove residency in that state.

Residency requirements are usually codified/determined by the state's DMV, so if you have a DL/ID issued by the DMV it's a clear indication that you are a resident of that state.

 

[cpuckett812]

I know this is an older post, but I still wanted to throw in my two cents, and tell you my experience. In Washington state, you do NOT have to be a state resident to purchase a rifle or shotgun, just for handguns. The situation I ran into was that different stores make up their own rules. My living example is that I went to Big 5 to purchase a shotgun they had on sale. I was a VA resident at the time. The guy at Big 5 told me that I wasnt allowed to buy a shotgun being an out of state resident. Disappointed, I went home and got to looking around on the internet. I discovered he was wrong, and called the state police and verified I could indeed purchase a rifle or shotgun. I returned to Big 5, where I was then told it was STORE POLICY not to sell to out of state residents. Long story short, Walmart did not discriminate over which state I was a resident of, and I went home the happy owner of a new 870.

 

[medalguy]

Which just goes to show that when you have a legitimate question of law, it doesn't hurt at all to call the local law enforcement agency that handles that part of the law.

 

[nalioth]

Which just goes to show that when you have a legitimate question of law, it doesn't hurt at all to call the local law enforcement agency that handles that part of the law.

50 years ago, maybe.

Today, the courts have agreed that it is okay for LEOs to lie to the public (either intentionally or mistakenly) about the laws. Do you want to take the chance you're being set up for a sting?

Best advice: talk to the county/city prosecutor's office or your lawyer.