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

Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.230 (2026)

Aiming or discharging firearms, dangerous weapons

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) For conduct not amounting to a violation of chapter 9A.36 RCW, any person who:
(a) Aims any firearm, whether loaded or not, at or towards any human being;
(b) Willfully discharges any firearm, air gun, or other weapon, or throws any deadly missile in a public place, or in any place where any person might be endangered thereby. A public place shall not include any location at which firearms are authorized to be lawfully discharged; or
(c) Except as provided in RCW 9.41.185, sets a so-called trap, spring pistol, rifle, or other dangerous weapon,
although no injury results, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(2) If an injury results from a violation of subsection (1) of this section, the person violating subsection (1) of this section shall be subject to the applicable provisions of chapters 9A.32 and 9A.36 RCW.
[ 1994 sp.s. c 7 s 422; 1909 c 249 s 307; 1888 p 100 ss 2, 3; RRS s 2559.]

Notes:

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.
Discharging firearm at railroad rolling stock: RCW 81.60.070.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1954–2024 · leading case: State v. Smith, 610 P.2d 869 (Wash. 1980).
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State v. Smith, 610 P.2d 869 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 2× “040); or discharged a gun in the neighborhood (RCW 9.41.230); or had driven on the public highway while intoxicated, clearly endangering the lives of others (RCW 46.”
Saucedo v. NW Mgmt. & Realty Servs., Inc., 290 F.R.D. 671 (E.D. Wash. 2013). · cites it 4× “270(1) 2 ; and (2) willful discharge of a firearm in a place that might endanger others in violation of RCW 9.41.230(l)(b). 3 ECF No. 128 at 16. As an initial matter, the Court questions whether these misdemeanor ch.”
State v. Lundquist, 374 P.2d 246 (Wash. 1962). · cites it 2× “) The state law on this subject is RCW 9.41.230: “Every person who shall aim any gun, pistol, revolver or other firearm, whether loaded or not, at or towards any human being, or who shall wilfully discharge any firearm, .”
State v. Partosa, 703 P.2d 1070 (Wash. Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 8× “Partosa assigns error to the trial court's refusal to give his proposed instructions on the lesser included or related offense of unlawful discharge of a firearm, RCW 9.41.230, on count 1, and on unlawful display of a weapon, RCW 9.”
State v. Hunter, 669 P.2d 489 (Wash. Ct. App. 1983). “270(1) and RCW 9.41.230. Accordingly, the instructions were not comments on the evidence, and proper.”
State v. Joswick, 858 P.2d 280 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993). “* Robert Joswick was charged in Pierce County District Court with a violation of RCW 9.41.230, aiming or discharging a firearm, as a result of an altercation with his wife's ex-husband, which had occurred on June 25,1989.”
State v. Bishop, 491 P.2d 1359 (Wash. Ct. App. 1971). “To convict an accused of second-degree assault does not necessarily require proof of a violation of RCW 9.41.230, aiming or discharging firearms.”
City of Seattle v. Ballsmider, 856 P.2d 1113 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993). “050 (365 days and $5,000) exceed the maximum penalty allowed under RCW 9.41.230 (90 days and $1,000). In RCW 9.”
John Webb & Krista Webb v. Usaa Cas. Ins. Co. (Wash. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 7× “where the point of discharge is within five hundred yards of such building.”
State v. McMains, 497 P.2d 962 (Wash. Ct. App. 1972). “The complaint charged that the defendant “did violate RCW 9.41.230, to wit, discharge a firearm from a road, starting a fire.”
State v. Washington, 822 P.2d 1245 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992). “*124 Similarly, the phrase "unlawfully discharges" finds meaning in RCW 9.41.230, which reads: Every person who shall aim any gun, pistol, revolver or other firearm, whether loaded or not, at or towards any human being, or who shall wilfully discharge any firearm, air gun or…”
State v. Southerland, 728 P.2d 1079 (Wash. Ct. App. 1986). “The alleged lesser included offense of aiming a firearm (RCW 9.41.230) requires the elements of (1) aiming a firearm and (2) at or toward any human being.”
Show all 20 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.230(1) — 3 cases
State Of Washington v. Kevin W. Williams (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
John Webb & Krista Webb v. Usaa Cas. Ins. Co. (Wash. Ct. App. 2020). “where the point of discharge is within five hundred yards of such building.”
State of Washington v. Petru Hoadrea, Jr. (Wash. Ct. App. 2023).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.230(1)(b) — 3 cases
State Of Washington, V. Andrew Mcconnell (Wash. Ct. App. 2024).
State Of Washington Resp/cross App v. Shaun Eugene King, App/cross Resp (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
John Webb & Krista Webb v. Usaa Cas. Ins. Co. (Wash. Ct. App. 2020). “where the point of discharge is within five hundred yards of such building.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.230(l)(b) — 1 case
Saucedo v. NW Mgmt. & Realty Servs., Inc., 290 F.R.D. 671 (E.D. Wash. 2013). “270(1) 2 ; and (2) willful discharge of a firearm in a place that might endanger others in violation of RCW 9.41.230(l)(b). 3 ECF No. 128 at 16. As an initial matter, the Court questions whether these misdemeanor ch.”
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