Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9 · Chapter 9.41
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.050 (2026)

Carrying firearms

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1)(a) Except in the person's place of abode or fixed place of business, a person shall not carry a pistol concealed on his or her person without a license to carry a concealed pistol.
(b) Every licensee shall have his or her concealed pistol license in his or her immediate possession at all times that he or she is required by this section to have a concealed pistol license and shall display the same upon demand to any police officer or to any other person when and if required by law to do so. Any violation of this subsection (1)(b) shall be a class 1 civil infraction under chapter 7.80 RCW and shall be punished accordingly pursuant to chapter 7.80 RCW and the infraction rules for courts of limited jurisdiction.
(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.
(b) A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor.
(3)(a) A person at least eighteen years of age who is in possession of an unloaded pistol shall not leave the unloaded pistol in a vehicle unless the unloaded pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle.
(b) A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor.
(4) Nothing in this section permits the possession of firearms illegal to possess under state or federal law.
[ 2003 c 53 s 28; 1997 c 200 s 1; 1996 c 295 s 4; 1994 sp.s. c 7 s 405; 1982 1st ex.s. c 47 s 3; 1961 c 124 s 4; 1935 c 172 s 5; RRS s 2516-5.]

Notes:

Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.
Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following RCW 43.70.540.
Effective date—1994 sp.s. c 7 ss 401-410, 413-416, 418-437, and 439-460: See note following RCW 9.41.010.
Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 47: See note following RCW 9.41.190.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 32 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1953–2022 · leading case: In RE OLSEN v. Delmore, 295 P.2d 324 (Wash. 1956).
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In RE OLSEN v. Delmore, 295 P.2d 324 (Wash. 1956). · cites it 7× “050 reads as follows: "No person shall carry a pistol in any vehicle or concealed on or about his person, except in his place of abode or fixed place of business, without a license therefor as hereinafter provided.”
United States v. Daniel Brown, 925 F.3d 1150 (9th Cir. 2019). · cites it 3× “Because Washington law requires an individual to “have his or her concealed pistol license in his or her immediate possession at all times” and punishes the failure to produce the license on request as a civil infraction, Wash.”
Drake v. Filko, 724 F.3d 426 (3rd Cir. 2013). · cites it 2× “2-308 ; Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.050 (1)(a); W. Va.”
State v. Willis, 409 P.2d 669 (Wash. 1966). · cites it 8× “RCW 9.41.050. *687 In the trial of a person for committing or attempting to commit a crime of violence, the fact that he was armed with a pistol and had no license to carry the same shall be prima facie evidence of his intention to commit said crime of violence.”
State v. Warfield, 80 P.3d 625 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “For example, RCW 9.41.050, which creates a concealed weapons offense, requires proof that the offender concealed the weapon “on his or her person.”
City of Seattle v. Briggs, 38 P.3d 349 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 9× “Briggs was charged and convicted in Seattle Municipal Court with a violation of the state concealed weapons statute, RCW 9.41.050(1). Briggs appealed his conviction and sentence to the King County Superior Court, challenging the municipal court's jurisdiction to hear violations…”
State v. Lutters, 853 A.2d 434 (Conn. 2004). “§ 16-23-20 (8) (1985) (same); Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 9.41.050 (1) (a) (West 1998) (same).”
State v. Hernandez-Mercado, 879 P.2d 283 (Wash. 1994). · cites it 3× “RCW 9.41.050 also provides that non-citizens of the United States who have not declared their intention to become citizens "shall meet the additional requirements of RCW 9.”
City of Seattle v. Evans, 366 P.3d 906 (Wash. 2015). “, RCW 9.41.050 (permitting Washington residents to carry a concealed pistol on their person so long as they have a license), .”
City of Seattle v. Briggs, 109 Wash. App. 484 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 9× “Briggs was charged and convicted in Seattle Municipal Court with a violation of the state concealed weapons statute, RCW 9.41.050(1). Briggs appealed his conviction and sentence to the King County Superior Court, challenging the municipal court’s jurisdiction to hear violations…”
State v. Squally, 132 Wash. 2d 333 (Wash. 1997). “Kalama John Kalama, also an enrolled member of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, was charged in Thurston County District Court with the offenses of carrying a concealed pistol without a permit (RCW 9.41.050) and obstructing a law enforcement officer (RCW 9A.”
State v. Squally, 937 P.2d 1069 (Wash. 1997). “Kalama John Kalama, also an enrolled member of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, was charged in Thurston County District Court with the offenses of carrying a concealed pistol without a permit (RCW 9.41.050) and obstructing a law enforcement officer (RCW 9A.”
Show all 32 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.050(1) — 3 cases
City of Seattle v. Briggs, 38 P.3d 349 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “Briggs was charged and convicted in Seattle Municipal Court with a violation of the state concealed weapons statute, RCW 9.41.050(1). Briggs appealed his conviction and sentence to the King County Superior Court, challenging the municipal court's jurisdiction to hear violations…”
City of Seattle v. Briggs, 109 Wash. App. 484 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “Briggs was charged and convicted in Seattle Municipal Court with a violation of the state concealed weapons statute, RCW 9.41.050(1). Briggs appealed his conviction and sentence to the King County Superior Court, challenging the municipal court’s jurisdiction to hear violations…”
State Of Washington v. Richard Christensen (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.050(1)(a) — 6 cases
United States v. Daniel Brown, 925 F.3d 1150 (9th Cir. 2019). “Because Washington law requires an individual to “have his or her concealed pistol license in his or her immediate possession at all times” and punishes the failure to produce the license on request as a civil infraction, Wash.”
City of Seattle v. Briggs, 38 P.3d 349 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “Briggs was charged and convicted in Seattle Municipal Court with a violation of the state concealed weapons statute, RCW 9.41.050(1). Briggs appealed his conviction and sentence to the King County Superior Court, challenging the municipal court's jurisdiction to hear violations…”
State v. Warfield, 80 P.3d 625 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).
State Of Washington v. Richard Christensen (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State of Washington v. Ismael M. Tarango, 434 P.3d 77 (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.050(2) — 1 case
State v. Hernandez-Mercado, 879 P.2d 283 (Wash. 1994). “RCW 9.41.050 also provides that non-citizens of the United States who have not declared their intention to become citizens "shall meet the additional requirements of RCW 9.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.050(2)(a) — 4 cases
State of Washington v. Corey Keith Knudsvig (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
State of Washington v. Glen Howard Pinkham (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
State of Washington v. Ismael M. Tarango, 434 P.3d 77 (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
State of Washington v. Michael Nicholas Smith (Wash. Ct. App. 2022).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.050(3) — 3 cases
State v. Barajas, 789 P.2d 321 (Wash. Ct. App. 1990).
State v. Thierry, 803 P.2d 844 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991).
State v. Anderson, 773 P.2d 882 (Wash. Ct. App. 1989).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.050(l) — 1 case
City of Seattle v. Briggs, 109 Wash. App. 484 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “Briggs was charged and convicted in Seattle Municipal Court with a violation of the state concealed weapons statute, RCW 9.41.050(1). Briggs appealed his conviction and sentence to the King County Superior Court, challenging the municipal court’s jurisdiction to hear violations…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.050(l)(a) — 3 cases
Drake v. Filko, 724 F.3d 426 (3rd Cir. 2013). “2-308 ; Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.050 (1)(a); W. Va.”
State v. Warfield, 80 P.3d 625 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “For example, RCW 9.41.050, which creates a concealed weapons offense, requires proof that the offender concealed the weapon “on his or her person.”
City of Seattle v. Briggs, 109 Wash. App. 484 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “Briggs was charged and convicted in Seattle Municipal Court with a violation of the state concealed weapons statute, RCW 9.41.050(1). Briggs appealed his conviction and sentence to the King County Superior Court, challenging the municipal court’s jurisdiction to hear violations…”
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