Washington sets record for concealed pistol licenses
Why it matters: The rise comes as state legislators have moved to tighten rules surrounding gun purchases.
A new state law, which goes into effect in 2027, will require Washington residents to receive live-fire training, be fingerprinted and get a permit before buying guns, a change expected to affect thousands of potential buyers each year.
Driving the news: Washington reached 709,334 active concealed pistol licenses (CPLs) at the end of June, an all-time high, Christine Anthony of the Department of Licensing tells Axios.
That's an increase of more than 10,000 since December, per state data.
By the numbers: About 20% of CPL holders in Washington are women.
King County, the state's most populous county, also has the highest number of CPLs, nearly 114,000.
Pierce County posted the biggest one-month gain, from May to June of this year, with 882 licenses.
What they're saying:"Long story short, people are arming up, and they're going to keep doing so ahead of the new restrictions," Dave Workman, editor in chief of TheGunMag, a publication of the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation, tells Axios.
With a state population of close to 8 million, "that means possibly 1 out of every 10 people you pass on any given day is licensed to carry concealed, and may even be armed," he says.
The other side: Renée Hopkins, CEO of the Washington-based Alliance for Gun Responsibility, which backed the permit-to-purchase law, said the organization advocates for safe and responsible firearm ownership.
"While we acknowledge more guns pose a greater threat to our communities, CPL holders tend to be responsible gun owners," Hopkins tells Axios.
Between the lines: Washington — among the top 10 states for the highest percentage of residents holding a concealed carry license — is a " shall issue" state, meaning the state must issue gun licenses to people who meet the requirements and pass a background check.
What we're watching: Whether demand for concealed pistol licenses keeps rising as the 2027 permit-to-purchase law approaches — and what legal challenges emerge against the law.
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