Revised Code of Washington
Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.270 (2026)
✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.
(2) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (1) above shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. If any person is convicted of a violation of subsection (1) of this section, the person shall lose his or her concealed pistol license, if any. The court shall send notice of the revocation to the department of licensing, and the city, town, or county which issued the license.
(3) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to or affect the following:
(a) Any act committed by a person while in his or her place of abode or fixed place of business;
(b) Any person who by virtue of his or her office or public employment is vested by law with a duty to preserve public safety, maintain public order, or to make arrests for offenses, while in the performance of such duty;
(c) Any person acting for the purpose of protecting himself or herself against the use of presently threatened unlawful force by another, or for the purpose of protecting another against the use of such unlawful force by a third person;
(d) Any person making or assisting in making a lawful arrest for the commission of a felony; or
(e) Any person engaged in military activities sponsored by the federal or state governments.
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.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.
(2) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (1) above shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. If any person is convicted of a violation of subsection (1) of this section, the person shall lose the person's concealed pistol license and permit to purchase firearms, if any. The court shall send notice of the required revocation of any concealed pistol license to the department of licensing, and the city, town, or county which issued the license, and notice of the required revocation of any permit to purchase firearms to the Washington state patrol firearms background check program.
(3) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to or affect the following:
(a) Any act committed by a person while in the person's place of abode or fixed place of business;
(b) Any person who by virtue of the person's office or public employment is vested by law with a duty to preserve public safety, maintain public order, or to make arrests for offenses, while in the performance of such duty;
(c) Any person acting for the purpose of protecting himself or herself against the use of presently threatened unlawful force by another, or for the purpose of protecting another against the use of such unlawful force by a third person;
(d) Any person making or assisting in making a lawful arrest for the commission of a felony; or
(e) Any person engaged in military activities sponsored by the federal or state governments.
Notes:
Effective date—2025 c 370: See note following RCW 9.41.090.
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.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 83
cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case: United States v. Marc Willy, 40 F.4th 1074 (9th Cir. 2022).
United States v. Marc Willy, 40 F.4th 1074 (9th Cir. 2022). “” Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.270 (1). Willy was arrested after two people separately reported that a man in a truck had displayed a firearm while asking them questions about an alleged kidnapping in the area.”
State v. MacIolek, 676 P.2d 996 (Wash. 1984). “This appeal presents a single issue, whether a statute and an ordinance, RCW 9.41.270 and Seattle city ordinance 110179, codified as Seattle Municipal Code 12A.”
State v. Workman, 584 P.2d 382 (Wash. 1978). “Hughes found defendant Hughes' proposed instruction on the offense of unlawfully carrying a weapon under RCW 9.41.270 should have been given. Failure to give an instruction on this offense was one of the grounds on which a new trial was granted.”
State v. Pacheco, 726 P.2d 981 (Wash. 1986). “210) and on unlawful display of a weapon with intent to intimidate (RCW 9.41.270) which were refused. During closing argument the prosecutor argued that the defense had been manufactured because mistaken identity was the only defense available under the evidence.”
State v. Spencer, 876 P.2d 939 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). “He argues that (1) RCW 9.41.270 violates his right to bear arms under the Washington State Constitution, (2) the statute is unconstitutionally vague, and (3) the statute is unconstitutionally overbroad.”
Hoyt Crace v. Robert Herzog, 798 F.3d 840 (9th Cir. 2015). “” Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.270 (1) (emphasis added).”
State v. Hupe, 748 P.2d 263 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). “Hupe first contends he should have been prosecuted under RCW 9.41.270 for unlawful display of a firearm, a misdemeanor,* 2 and that the State's failure to do so warrants reversal.”
State v. Ward, 104 P.3d 670 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “RCW 9.41.270(1). ¶10 Ward testified that he believed Baldwin and Tuttle were trying to steal his car and that Baldwin came toward him with a crowbar.”
State v. Owens, 324 P.3d 757 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “020; RCW 9.41.270. 2 Owens was tried by a jury in Jefferson County District Court.”
State v. Smith, 93 P.3d 877 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “[2] RCW 9.41.270 provides: (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under…”
State v. Eakins, 902 P.2d 1236 (Wash. 1995). “Having excluded this evidence, the trial court subsequently refused to give an instruction on the lesser included offense of displaying a weapon in violation of RCW 9.41.270. The Court of Appeals reversed, concluding reliance on Lewis was misplaced.”
State v. Baggett, 13 P.3d 659 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000). “Baggett had violated the second portion of RCW 9.41.270(1), which makes it a crime to unlawfully display a firearm in a manner that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.270(1) — 49 cases
United States v. Marc Willy, 40 F.4th 1074 (9th Cir. 2022). “” Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.270 (1). Willy was arrested after two people separately reported that a man in a truck had displayed a firearm while asking them questions about an alleged kidnapping in the area.”
State v. Karp, 848 P.2d 1304 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993).
State v. Baggett, 13 P.3d 659 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000). “Baggett had violated the second portion of RCW 9.41.270(1), which makes it a crime to unlawfully display a firearm in a manner that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.”
State v. Baggett, 103 Wash. App. 564 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000).
State v. Prado, 181 P.3d 901 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.270(2) — 7 cases
State v. Ward, 104 P.3d 670 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “RCW 9.41.270(1). ¶10 Ward testified that he believed Baldwin and Tuttle were trying to steal his car and that Baldwin came toward him with a crowbar.”
In Re Crace, 236 P.3d 914 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010).
In re the Pers. Restraint of Crace, 157 Wash. App. 81 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010).
State v. Ward, 104 P.3d 670 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005).
Saucedo v. NW Mgmt. & Realty Servs., Inc., 290 F.R.D. 671 (E.D. Wash. 2013).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.270(3) — 5 cases
State v. Owens, 324 P.3d 757 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “020; RCW 9.41.270. 2 Owens was tried by a jury in Jefferson County District Court.”
State v. Kerr, 544 P.2d 38 (Wash. Ct. App. 1975).
State Of Washington v. Kevin W. Williams (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State Of Washington, V Brian Lee Streater (Wash. Ct. App. 2016).
State Of Washington v. Ariane Re Jefferson (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.270(3)(a) — 10 cases
State v. Hupe, 748 P.2d 263 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). “Hupe first contends he should have been prosecuted under RCW 9.41.270 for unlawful display of a firearm, a misdemeanor,* 2 and that the State's failure to do so warrants reversal.”
State v. Smith, 93 P.3d 877 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003). “[2] RCW 9.41.270 provides: (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under…”
State v. Owens, 324 P.3d 757 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “020; RCW 9.41.270. 2 Owens was tried by a jury in Jefferson County District Court.”
State v. Smith, 93 P.3d 877 (Wash. Ct. App. 2003).
State v. Haley, 665 P.2d 1375 (Wash. Ct. App. 1983).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.270(3)(c) — 4 cases
State v. Ward, 104 P.3d 670 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “RCW 9.41.270(1). ¶10 Ward testified that he believed Baldwin and Tuttle were trying to steal his car and that Baldwin came toward him with a crowbar.”
State v. Spencer, 876 P.2d 939 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). “He argues that (1) RCW 9.41.270 violates his right to bear arms under the Washington State Constitution, (2) the statute is unconstitutionally vague, and (3) the statute is unconstitutionally overbroad.”
State v. Ward, 104 P.3d 670 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005).
State Of Washington v. Ariane Re Jefferson (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
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