Washington
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Washington
This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Washington. It supports research on the state’s firearms history, technology, law, policy, and culture from the territorial period through statehood to the present.
- Legal sources: statutes and session laws, administrative code, attorney general opinions, appellate decisions, and select municipal ordinances.
- Historical materials: newspapers, photographs, maps, catalogs, logging, maritime, and aerospace records, and oral histories tied to Washington people and places.
- Research outputs: technical reports, academic studies, training manuals, and curated datasets relevant to the state.
Cite the Firearms Research Center and the item’s handle/DOI when using materials. Rights and licensing vary by item.
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Item type:Item, Del Cary Smith, Ordinances of the City of Port Townsend 25 (1890)(1890)Sections 3-5 prohibited carrying concealed weapons, brandishing firearms or other deadly weapons, and challenging another to fight (dueling).Item type:Item, Wash. Const. art. 1, § 24(1889)The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the State, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.Item type:Item, Charter and Ordinances of the City of Olympia: Also General Laws of Washington Territory, Relative to the Government of Incorporated Cities and Towns 90 (1886)(1886)Prohibited storing gunpowder, dynamite, or nitroglycerine within Olympia’s fire limits or within 300 yards of another’s dwelling, subject to a 50-pound gunpowder exception. Violations were misdemeanors punishable by $25–$100 fines.Item type:Item, Charter and Ordinances of the City of Olympia: Also General Laws of Washington Territory, Relative to the Government of Incorporated Cities and Towns 80 (1886)(1886)Section 2 prohibited drawing, exhibiting, or attempting to use a deadly weapon against another person within Olympia; violations carried a $25–$50 fine. Section 3 prohibited carrying a deadly weapon concealed on one’s person within Olympia; violations carried a $5–$10 fine. Section 4 prohibited discharging any gun, pistol, or firearm within a specified area of Olympia; violations were punishable by a $5–$20 fine, 5–10 days’ imprisonment, or both.Item type:Item, An Ordinance Relating to Offenses and Disorderly Conduct, Olympia City Council, Ordinance No. 152, § 5 (Washington, 1882).(1882)No. 152, § 5: That any person or persons who shall fire or explode any fire crackers boom5 torpedoes, or any other explosives within the City of Olympia without first obtaining Permission from the City Council shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars of or by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten days, or by both such fine and imprisonment Provided that this section shall not apply to using fire works on5 the public squares, The [???]6 and Marshville Bridges and all boats or crafts upon the waters of the sound within the corporate limits of the City..."Item type:Item, 1881 Wash. Sess. Laws 121-22(1881)An Act to Incorporate the City of Port Townsend, ch. 2, § 21: The City of Port Townsend has power to prevent injury or annoyance from anything dangerous, offensive, or unhealthy, and . . . to regulate the transportation and keeping of gunpowder, or other combustibles, and to provide or license magazines for the same[.]Item type:Item, 1883 Wash. Sess. Laws 302, ch. 6, § 29, pt. 15(1883)Authorized City of Snohomish to regulate and prohibit carrying concealed deadly weapons and to prohibit using guns, pistols, firearms, firecrackers, bombs, and explosives.Item type:Item, 1883 Wash. Sess. Laws 139-40(1883)An Act to Incorporate the City of Whatcom, Ch. 2, § 8: The city of Whatcom shall have the power to prevent injury or annoyance from anything dangerous, offensive, or unhealthy . . . to regulate and prohibit the carrying of deadly weapons in a concealed manner; to regulate and prohibit the use of guns, pistols and firearms, fire-crackers, bombs and detonating works of all descriptions[.]Item type:Item, 1885-86 Wash. Terr. Sess. Laws 81-82(1886)Prohibited the concealed carry of any revolver, pistol, or other firearms, or any knife, dirk, dagger, sling shot, metal knuckles, any instrument by the use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person or property of another. Violators guilty of a misdemeanor, fined by not less than twenty but no more than one hundred dollars, or imprisonment not more than thirty days, or both fine and imprisonment.Item type:Item, An Ordinance Relating to Offenses and Disorderly Conduct, § 3, Olympia City Council (1882)(1882)Ordinance No. 152, § 3: Any [per]son who shall, in the usual walks of life, within the limits of the City of Olympia carry any deadly weapon concealed about his person, shall be liable to a fine of not more than ten or less than five dollarsItem type:Item, 1881 Wash. Sess. Laws 76, An Act to Confer a City Govt. on New Tacoma, ch. 6, § 34, pt. 15(1881)Authorized New Tacoma to regulate transporting, storing, or selling gunpowder, giant powder, dynamite, nitroglycerine, or other combustibles without a license, as well as the carrying concealed deadly weapons, and the use of guns, pistols, firearms, firecrackers.Item type:Item, An Ordinance Relating to Offenses and Disorderly Conduct, § 2, Olympia City Council (1882)(1882)Ordinance No. 152, § 2: That any persons who shall draw exhibit or attempt to use any deadly weapon within the corporate limits of the City of Olympia, upon, to or against another person, shall be liable to a fine of not more than fifty nor less than twenty-five dollars.Item type:Item, The Revised Statutes and Codes of the State of Washington 1042, § 6354 (Edward D. McLaughlin ed., 1896)(1883)§ 6354: Provided than any person who carried any weapon concealed on their person would be guilty of a misdemeanorItem type:Item, 1888 Wash. Terr. Sess. Laws 100(1888)Act of Jan. 31, 1888, § 1: Every person who shall in a reckless, careless or negligent manner discharge, in the vicinity of an inhabitated dwelling house, or in the streets of an incorporated city, or unincorporated town, any firearm, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding thirty days, or both such fine and imprisonment.Item type:Item, 1881 Wash. Sess. Laws 93, An Act to Incorporate the City of Dayton, chap. 2, § 20.(1881)The city of Dayton shall have power to prevent injury or annoyance from anything dangerous, offensive, or unhealthy, and . . . to regulate the transportation, storing and keeping of gunpowder and other combustibles and to provide or license magazines for the same[.]Item type:Item, The Revised Statutes and Codes of the State of Washington 1042, § 6353 (Edward D. McLaughlin ed., 1896)(1883)§ 6353: Sale of Toy Pistols to Children, It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to sell or offer for sale, any toy pistols within this state, and every person who shall sell, give, furnish, or cause to be furnished to any person under the age of sixteen years, any pistol, toy pistol or other pocket weapon, in which explosives may be used, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be fined in any sum not less than five, nor more than twenty-five dollars.Item type:Item, 1888 Wash. Terr. Sess. Laws 100(1888)Act of Jan. 31, 1888, § 2: Every person who shall, in a manner likely to cause terror to the people passing, exhibit or flourish, in the streets of an incorporated city or unincorporated town, any dangerous weapon, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine in any sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars.Item type:Item, An Ordinance Relating to Offenses and Disorderly Conduct, § 4, Olympia City Council (1882)(1882)Ordinance No. 152, § 4: Any person, who shall within the following... [seems to contain a detailed description of local landmarks outlining a specific area]4...fire off or discharge any gun pistol or fire arm of any kind, shall be liable to a fine of not less than five or more than twenty dollars or by imprisonment for not less than five nor more than ten days or by both-such fine or imprisonment.Item type:Item, 1883 Wash. Sess. Laws 161(1883)An Act to Incorporate the City of Ellensburgh, Ch. 2, § 20: The city of Ellensburg shall have power to prevent injury or annoyance from anything dangerous, offensive, or unhealthy . . . to regulate the transportation storing and keeping of gunpowder and other combustibles and to provide or license magazines for the same[.]Item type:Item, William Lair Hill, Ballinger's Annotated Codes and Statutes of Washington, Showing All Statutes in Force, Including the Session Laws of 1897, at 1956 (Vol. 2, 1897)(1881)Prohibited exhibiting a dangerous weapon in a manner likely to cause terror. Punishable by fine up to $25.Item type:Item, 1881 Wash. Code 181(1881)Criminal Procedure, Offenses Against Public Policy, Ch. 73, § 929: Prohibited the carrying of "any concealed weapon." Punishable by fine up to $100 or imprisonment up to 30 days.Item type:Item, 2 Ballinger’s Annotated Codes and Statutes of Washington 1956 (1897)(1881)§ 7082: Prohibited exhibiting a dangerous weapon in a manner likely to cause terror. Punishable by fine up to $25.Item type:Item, 1883 Wash. Sess. Laws 102 An Act for the Protection of Fish and Game, § 12.(1883)Every person who shall use any sink box on any lake or river, or other waters in Washington Territory, for the purpose of shooting ducks or geese or other water fowls therefrom, or who shall use any batteries or swivel or pivot gun on boats, canvas, rafts or other device at any time, for the purpose of killing any water fowl within the limits of Washington Territory, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.Item type:Item, Ordinance No. A-17, § 2, Wilbur Town Council (1894)(1894)If any person shall within the corporate limits of the Town of Wilbur, fire or discharge any gun, rifle, fowling piece, pistol or any other firearm, they shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not exceeding twenty five dollars ($25.00) together with the cost of prosecution.Item type:Item, Ordinance No. A-17, § 1, Wilbur Town Council (1894)(1894)If any person shall carry upon his person any concealed weapons, consisting of either a revolver or pistol or other fire arms, or any knife (other than an ordinary pocket knife), or any dirk or dagger, slung shot or metal knuckles, or any instrument by the use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person or property of another, within the corporate limits of the Town of Wilbur, they shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not less than five (5) dollars nor more than One hundred dollars ($100.00) or imprisoned in the town calaboose not more than thirty (30) days, or by both such fines and imprisonment in the discretion of the court, provided that this section shall not apply to police officers and other persons whose duty it is to execute process or warrants, or make arrests.Item type:Item, Tacoma Revised Charter and Ordinances, Ordinance No. 1183, §§ 1-2 (1898)(1897)No person within the limits of the city of Tacoma shall use, or attempt ot [sic] use, the instrument or contrivance commonly known as a slingshot, used for the purpose of throwing or propelling stones.Item type:Item, Ordinances of the City of Tacoma, Washington 334 (Albert R. Heilig ed., 1892)(1892)Classified carrying, brandishing, or otherwise using or attempting to use certain deadly weapons, intentionally displaying or using a deadly weapon against another person, and discharging firearms or bombs within city limits as misdemeanors. Police could arrest violators without warrants, and convictions carried fines up to $100.Item type:Item, Ordinances of the City of Tacoma, Washington 333-34 (Albert R. Heilig ed., 1892)(1892)Prohibited the carrying of a concealed revolver, pistol or other fire arms or any knife (other than an ordinary pocket knife) or any dirk or dagger, slingshot or metal knuckles, or any instrument by the use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person.Item type:Item, Ordinance No. 79, § 1, Adams County News, Jun. 14, 1899, at 2(1899)Declared that all persons who carry concealed weapons, Brandish such weapons, carry weapons with intent to do bodily injury, and those who discharge firearms within the city limits are disorderly personsItem type:Item, The Municipal Code of the City of Spokane, Washington 309-10 (Rose M. Denny ed., 1896)(1896)No. A544, § 1: Prohibited the carrying of a concealed revolver, pistol or other fire-arms, or any knife (other than an ordinary pocket knife) or any dirk or dagger, sling-shot or metal knuckles, or any instrument by the use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person or property. punishable by fine of $25-100, cost of prosecution, and imprisonment until fines/costs are paid.Item type:Item, Ordinances No. 14, § 4, & No. 16, §§ 1-2, Prosser Town Council (1899)(1899)If any two or more persons, who shall, by mutual consent or agreement, fight together in any public place in said town, shall be deemed guilty of an affray, and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding one hundred dollars. Also prohibited the discharge of firearms in the corporate limits of the town of ProsserItem type:Item, Ordinance No. 11-An Ordinance Concerning Offenses and Disorderly Conduct, § 34, Ilwaco Town Council (1891)(1891)If any person or persons shall use or caused to be used or encouraged the use of any bean-shooter. air-gun, cross-bow or other contrivance or invention used in shooting or throwing beans, stones pebbles, bullets, shot or other substance or thing in or upon any street, park, lane, alley or other public place in the Town shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof before the Police Court shall be fined not less than Two nor more than Forty $Dollars...Item type:Item, Ordinance No. 11-An Ordinance Concerning Offenses and Disorderly Conduct, § 27, Ilwaco Town Council (1891)(1891)Any person or persons who shall fire off or discharge any ordinance gun, pistol. rifle or other fire-arms within the Town of Ilwaco shall upon conviction thereof before the Police Court pay a fine of not less than One nor More than One Hundred Dollars. Provided that the Mayor with the consent of the majority of the Committee on Health and Police may permit upon National holidays and other days and other days of public celebration the same which permit shall designate the time and locality of firing.Item type:Item, Ordinance No. 11-An Ordinance Concerning Offenses and Disorderly Conduct, § 7, Ilwaco Town Council (1891)(1891)Any person or persons who shall draw any species of firearms or any dirk, dagger or knife or any other dangerous or deadly weapon upon the person of another within the corporate limits of the Town of Ilwaco, shall upon conviction thereof before the Police Court be fined not less than Twenty ($20) dollars nor more than One Hundred ($100)2 dollars or by imprisonment in the Town jail not less than Ten (10) days nor more than Twenty (20) days or both at the discretion of the Court...Item type:Item, Ordinance no. 11-An Ordinance Concerning Offenses and Disorderly Conduct, § 51, Ilwaco Town Council (1891)(1891)If any person shall carry consealed or about his person or carry upon his person while in a state of intoxication, or while under the influence of alcoholic liquors any pistol, revolver, dirk, dagger, slungshot, knuckles of metals or other deadly weapons shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof before the Police Court shall be fined not less than Five nor more than One Hundred dollars. Provided that nothing being contained shall prevent a police officer or any officer or person whose duty it is to execute process or warrants or to suppress breaches of the peace or to make arrests from carrying such weapons in the necessary discharge of his duty.Item type:Item, 2 Ballinger's Annotated Codes and Statutes of Washington, Showing All Statutes in Force, Including the Session Laws of 1897, at 1956-57 (1897)(1897)§ 7084: Prohibited the carrying of a concealed revolver, pistol, or other fire-arms, or any knife, (other than an ordinary pocket knife), or any dirk or dagger, sling-shot, or metal knuckles, or any instrument by the use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person or property of any other person. Punishable by fine of $25-100 and/or imprisonment for 30 days.Item type:Item, 2 Ballinger's Annotated Codes and Statutes of Washington: Showing All Statutes in Force, Including the Session Laws of 1897, at 1957 (1897)(1897)§ 7085: That it shall be unlawful for any person, corporation or association of persons, or agents of any person, or member, agent or officer of any corporation or association of persons, to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men in this state for any purpose whatever; and all parties so offending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanorItem type:Item, Del Cary Smith, Ordinances of the City of Port Townsend 27 (1890)(1890)Div. 3, § 15: Whoever shall fire or discharge any cannon, gun, pistol revolver or any firearm of any description, or shall fire, or explode or set off any squib, firecracker, torpedo or other thing containing powder or other explosive material, without permission from the Mayor or common council so to do, within the city limits, shall, on conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than five nor more than twenty dollarsItem type:Item, An Ordinance Relating to Offenses and Disorderly Conduct and Repealing Ordinances no. 152, 178, & 471, Olympia City Council, Ordinance no. 523, §§ 4-5 (Washington, 1891).(1891)That any person who shall within the following limits, to-wit: Beginning at the intersection of Fifteenth and Eastside streets; thence north on line of said Eastside street to a point known as the Priest Place; thence west to a point five hundred yards west of the west shore of Budd's Inlet; thence south to the line of said Fifteenth street, and thence east to place of beginning, fire off or discharge any gun, pistol or fire arm of any kind, shall upon conviction thereof before a police justice of said city be fined in any sum not less than five nor more than twenty five dollars, and in default of the payment thereof, shall be committed to the city jail until such fine and costs are paid, not to exceed ten days.Item type:Item, 1896 Wash. Rev. Stat. 686, ch. 260, § 3910, pt. 5(1896)To carry on the business of manufacturing gun powder, nitroglycerine or other highly explosive substance, or mixing or grinding the materials therefor, in any building within fifty rods of any valuable building, erected at the time such business may be commenced.