Denied firearm transaction records — Removal of record, when required — Notice — Rules. (Contingent effective date.)
RCW 43.43.823
in effect(1) The Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall report each instance where an application for the purchase or transfer of a firearm is denied as the result of a background check that indicates the applicant is ineligible to possess a firearm to the local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the attempted purchase or transfer took place. The reported information must include the identifying information of the applicant, the date of the application and denial of the application, the basis for the denial of the application, and other information deemed appropriate by the Washington state patrol firearms background check program. (2) The Washington state patrol firearms background check program must incorporate the information concerning any person whose application for the purchase or transfer of a firearm is denied as the result of a background check into its electronic database accessible to law enforcement agencies and officers, including federally recognized Indian tribes, that have a connection to the Washington state patrol firearms background check program electronic database. (3) Upon appeal of a background check denial, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall immediately remove the record of the person from its electronic database accessible to law enforcement agencies and officers and keep a separate record of the person's information until such time as the appeal has been resolved. If the appeal is denied, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall put the person's background check denial information back in its electronic database accessible to law enforcement agencies and officers. (4) Upon receipt of satisfactory proof that a person is no longer ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program must remove any record of the person's denied firearms purchase or transfer application from its electronic database accessible to law enforcement agencies and officers. (5) In any case where the purchase or transfer of a firearm is initially denied as the result of a background check that indicates the applicant is ineligible to possess a firearm, but the purchase or transfer is subsequently approved, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program must remove any record of the person's denied firearms purchase or transfer application from its electronic database accessible to law enforcement agencies and officers within five business days and report the subsequent approval to the local law enforcement agency that received notification of the original denial. (6) The Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall generate and distribute a notice form to all firearm dealers, to be provided by the dealers to applicants denied the purchase or transfer of a firearm as a result of a background check that indicates the applicant is ineligible to possess a firearm. The notice form must contain the following statements: State law requires that the Washington state patrol transmit the following information to the local law enforcement agency as a result of your firearm purchase or transfer denial within five days of the denial: (a) Identifying information of the applicant; (b) The date of the application and denial of the application; (c) The basis for the denial; and (d) Other information as determined by the Washington state patrol firearms background check program. If you believe this denial is in error, and you do not exercise your right to appeal, you may be subject to criminal investigation by the Washington state patrol and/or a local law enforcement agency. The notice form shall also contain information directing the applicant to a website describing the process of appealing a background check system denial and refer the applicant to the Washington state patrol firearms background check program for information on a denial based on a state background check. The notice form shall also contain a phone number for a contact at the Washington state patrol to direct the person to resources regarding an individual's right to appeal a background check denial. (7) The Washington state patrol shall provide to the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs any information necessary for the administration of the grant program in RCW 36.28A.420 , providing notice to a protected person pursuant to RCW 36.28A.410 , or preparation of the report required under RCW 36.28A.405 . (8) The Washington state patrol may adopt rules as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
(1) The Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall report each instance where an application for the purchase or transfer of a firearm is denied as the result of a background check that indicates the applicant is ineligible to possess a firearm to the local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the attempted purchase or transfer took place. The reported information must include the identifying information of the applicant, the date of the application and denial of the application, the basis for the denial of the application, and other information deemed appropriate by the Washington state patrol firearms background check program.
(2) The Washington state patrol firearms background check program must incorporate the information concerning any person whose application for the purchase or transfer of a firearm is denied as the result of a background check into its electronic database accessible to law enforcement agencies and officers, including federally recognized Indian tribes, that have a connection to the Washington state patrol firearms background check program electronic database.
(3) Upon appeal of a background check denial, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall immediately remove the record of the person from its electronic database accessible to law enforcement agencies and officers and keep a separate record of the person's information until such time as the appeal has been resolved. If the appeal is denied, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall put the person's background check denial information back in its electronic database accessible to law enforcement agencies and officers.
(4) Upon receipt of satisfactory proof that a person is no longer ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program must remove any record of the person's denied firearms purchase or transfer application from its electronic database accessible to law enforcement agencies and officers.
(5) In any case where the purchase or transfer of a firearm is initially denied as the result of a background check that indicates the applicant is ineligible to possess a firearm, but the purchase or transfer is subsequently approved, the Washington state patrol firearms background check program must remove any record of the person's denied firearms purchase or transfer application from its electronic database accessible to law enforcement agencies and officers within five business days and report the subsequent approval to the local law enforcement agency that received notification of the original denial.
(6) The Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall generate and distribute a notice form to all firearm dealers, to be provided by the dealers to applicants denied the purchase or transfer of a firearm as a result of a background check that indicates the applicant is ineligible to possess a firearm. The notice form must contain the following statements:
State law requires that the Washington state patrol transmit the following information to the local law enforcement agency as a result of your firearm purchase or transfer denial within five days of the denial:
(a) Identifying information of the applicant;
(b) The date of the application and denial of the
application;
(c) The basis for the denial; and
(d) Other information as determined by the Washington state patrol firearms background check program.
If you believe this denial is in error, and you do not exercise your right to appeal, you may be subject to criminal investigation by the Washington state patrol and/or a local law enforcement agency.
The notice form shall also contain information directing the applicant to a website describing the process of appealing a background check system denial and refer the applicant to the Washington state patrol firearms background check program for information on a denial based on a state background check. The notice form shall also contain a phone number for a contact at the Washington state patrol to direct the person to resources regarding an individual's right to appeal a background check denial.
(7) The Washington state patrol shall provide to the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs any information necessary for the administration of the grant program in RCW 36.28A.420 , providing notice to a protected person pursuant to RCW 36.28A.410 , or preparation of the report required under RCW 36.28A.405 .
(8) The Washington state patrol may adopt rules as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.43&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026