Can you gift a gun to a friend in Washington state?
Asked by: Mr. Donnie Bernhard | Last update: April 17, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (28 votes)
Yes, you can gift a gun to a friend in Washington State, but the transfer must go through a licensed firearm dealer (FFL) for a background check, treating it like a sale, unless the friend is an immediate family member (spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild). For non-family gifts, you deliver the firearm to an FFL dealer who then processes the paperwork and background check with your friend before they can legally receive it.
Can I gift a firearm to a friend in another state?
Certain states, like California, require all gun transfers to go through a Federally Licensed Firearm gun store. Federal gun laws offer broad coverage or regulation, while state laws can be much more restrictive.
Do you have to register a gun in your name in Washington state?
Washington has no law requiring firearm owners to register their firearms.
Can I loan a gun to a friend in Washington state?
RCW 9.41. 370 does not prohibit transfers, which are defined as the intended delivery of a firearm to another person without consideration of payment or promise of payment including, but not limited to, gifts and loans.
Can I store firearms for a friend?
It's legal to store your gun in someone else's house if they can legally possess it. It's also legal to loan or give it to a friend who can legally possess it.
Can I Gift Someone a Gun This Christmas in Washington State?
Is it okay to gift a gun?
Federal Law on Buying Guns for Someone Else
Under federal law, purchasing a firearm as a gift is generally allowed. The buyer, however, must be the registered owner, even if the firearm is intended for someone else. This individual is considered the “actual buyer” in the transaction.
Can I let my friend carry my gun?
If you let them borrow yours, it still belongs to you, but they are still in violation of the law if they carry it or use it. If you do make a mistake in a situation like this, you could face legal charges for violating these laws, perhaps either at the state or federal level.
Can you give a gun as a gift in Washington state?
Washington law allows for the transfer of firearms between immediate family members without the need for background checks or paperwork, provided it's a bona fide gift.
Can you privately sell a gun in Washington?
Washington state law does allow for private firearms sales. However, these sales must be done through a Federal Firearms License holder in the form of a Private Party Transfer, and all applicable background checks must be completed before the buyer may take possession of the firearm.
What is the new gun law in Washington?
Ban on the Sale of Assault Weapons
Effective April 25, 2023, Washington prohibits the sale, manufacture, and import of assault weapons in Washington state while allowing reasonable exemptions for manufacture and sale to law enforcement and the military.
Can I carry a gun that's not in my name?
Since there is no registration requirement, carrying a gun not registered to you is technically permissible as long as you possess the firearm legally. However, carrying a firearm in certain locations, such as schools or government buildings, is prohibited.
Can you own an unregistered gun in Washington?
(2) After March 10, 2023, no person may knowingly or recklessly possess, transport, or receive an untraceable firearm, unless the party possessing, transporting, or receiving the untraceable firearm is a law enforcement agency or a federal firearms importer, federal firearms manufacturer, or federal firearms dealer.
What is the Donna's law in Washington state?
Donna's Law is a voluntary self-registry prohibition to gun sales for those who choose to create self defense against gun suicide. If one chooses to reverse their registration, they would be given a waiting period of a couple weeks.
Can I carry a pistol that was gifted to me?
If you are gifted a pistol by someone, you can legally possess and use it, even if you are 18 years old.
How much is a typical gun transfer fee?
A typical gun transfer fee (FFL transfer) usually ranges from $20 to $75, but can be higher, varying by dealer, location, firearm type, and additional services like background checks (NICS) or NFA items. Expect to pay around $35-$100, with some places offering lower rates for members or more for complex situations.
Can I give my son one of my guns?
Yes. However, persons less than 18 years of age may only receive and possess handguns with the written permission of a parent or guardian for limited purposes, e.g., employment, ranching, farming, target practice or hunting.
Does Washington require guns to be registered?
No, Washington state does not have a general firearm registry, so you don't need to register most firearms you own; however, the state requires background checks and specific Firearm Transfer Applications (Form 4940) for purchasing pistols and semiautomatic assault rifles via licensed dealers (FFLs), and some large-caliber rifles (like .50 BMG) might have registration rules. Private sales must go through an FFL, and dealers report sales, but personal firearms aren't registered to the owner.
Can I sell a gun to a person in another state?
(18 U.S.C. § 922(g) and (n)). Also, a private party generally can't directly sell or transfer a firearm to an out-of-state person. Instead, they typically must use an FFL in the buyer's state to complete the transfer.
What is the gun show loophole?
The "gun show loophole" refers to a gap in U.S. law where unlicensed private sellers can sell firearms at gun shows (and online/elsewhere) without conducting federal background checks, unlike licensed dealers, potentially allowing prohibited persons (like felons, domestic abusers) to buy guns easily. While federal law requires background checks for licensed dealers at gun shows, private sellers are exempt, creating a significant path for illegal gun trafficking, though some states now require background checks for all sales. A recent Biden administration rule aims to clarify that selling guns for profit, even at gun shows, requires a license and background checks, effectively narrowing the loophole.
Do you have to register inherited firearms in Washington state?
There is no gun registration in WA. Your friends and family don't know what they're talking about.
How much can you gift someone in Washington state?
Because Washington does not have a gift tax, you are able to make gifts – of any size each year – to anyone – without being hit with a tax bill at the state level. The federal government does not collect an inheritance tax while six states do, Washington not being one of them.
What legally qualifies as a gift?
In California, a gift is legally defined as the transfer of property from one individual to another without receiving anything in return or receiving less than the full value of the property.
Can I store a firearm for a friend?
Legal Considerations for Storing Firearms with Someone You Know: Although California law requires that firearms can only be transferred to an adult who has undergone a background check and has a safety certification, there are exceptions.
Can you register a gun in two names?
That, by the NFA's interpretation, only means that they cannot issue one registration certificate with two names on it. It does not mean they cannot issue two registration certificates to two different people, with both of them covering the same firearm.
Can my wife and I share a gun?
This scenario is perfectly legal. A common misconception is that you can only carry a gun you bought yourself, but this isn't the case. If you lawfully purchase and own a firearm, your spouse or another family member can carry it if they meet state and federal laws.