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Firearms Background Division

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Vision – To provide accurate and timely firearm background checks for the people of Washington State.

Mission – The Firearms Background Division enhances public safety by providing accurate, consistent and timely firearms related background checks for the citizens of Washington State.

Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 43.43.580 established a centralized point-of-contact firearms background check program within the Washington State Patrol to process firearm background checks under RCW 9.41.1135 (1).

Resources for Washington State FFLs

SAFE FFL Onboarding:  https://safe.wsp.wa.gov/signup

SAFE FFL Portal Dashboard: https://safe.wsp.wa.gov

SAFE Splash Screen: https://safe.wsp.wa.gov/splash-screen 

 

SAFE Buyer Code: https://safe.wsp.wa.gov/buyer-code

 

FFL Owner Training

FFL User Training

ATF Forms 3310.4 and 3310.12 Instructions

To submit a background check telephonically, AFTER you have on boarded with the SAFE system, call 360-704-7840, Option 1. We cannot provide a background check unless you are onboarded in SAFE. WSP Firearm Background Check Examiners are available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, to take your call.

News and Updates

FAQs

  • Reasons you may have been denied a firearm transfer:


    Federal Firearm Prohibitions –

    • A person who has been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year or any state offense classified by the state as a misdemeanor and is punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than two years
    • Persons who are fugitives from justice
    • An unlawful user and/or an addict of any controlled substance; for example, a person convicted for the use or possession of a controlled substance within the past year; or a person with multiple arrests for the use or possession of a controlled substance within the past five years with the most recent arrest occurring within the past year; or a person found through a drug test to use a controlled substance unlawfully, provided the test was administered within the past year
    • A person adjudicated mental defective or involuntarily committed to a mental institution or incompetent to handle own affairs, including dispositions to criminal charges of found not guilty by reason of insanity or found incompetent to stand trial
    • A person who, being an alien, is illegally or unlawfully in the United States
    • A person who, being an alien except as provided in subsection (y) (2), has been admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant visa
    • A person dishonorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces
    • A person who has renounced United States citizenship
    • The subject of a protective order issued after a hearing in which the respondent had notice that restrains them from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of such partner. This does not include ex parte orders
    • A person convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime which includes the use or attempted use of physical force or threatened use of a deadly weapon and the defendant was the spouse, former spouse, parent, guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited in the past with the victim as a spouse, parent, guardian or similar situation to a spouse, parent or guardian of the victim
    • A person who is under indictment or information for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year

    State Firearm Prohibitions –

    • RCW 9.41.040 – specific crimes listed, but not all inclusive

  • I was denied a firearm. What are my next steps?

    The firearm dealer is required by RCW 9.41.114 to give you documentation at the time of denial that provides the information necessary to begin your appeal.  If you provided an email address during the background check submission process, you were also emailed the notice of denial with the same documentation by the SAFE system.

    If you did not receive the denial notification documents from the firearm dealer, you will need to contact the firearm dealer to obtain the NICS Transaction Number (NTN) and a Secure Automated Firearms E-Check (SAFE) transaction number. These numbers are required to begin your appeal.   If you have these numbers and wish to begin an appeal, click here.

  • How can I get a copy of my full criminal history record?

    Make an appointment with your local police department to get fingerprinted. Send your fingerprint cards and applicable fees to:

    Washington State Patrol: Identification and Background Check Section
    PO Box 42633
    Olympia, WA 98504

    Further information on how to obtain your criminal history are available on the Washington State Patrol’s Criminal History webpage: https://www.wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history/

    This type of criminal history request should provide you with your Washington State conviction and non-conviction information. Do not request an online WATCH check as this provides only conviction information.

  • I got my rights restored how do I know that it was posted to my record?


    Request a copy of your full criminal history record using the instructions provided above. Or, e-mail the Washington State Patrol’s Criminal History Section requesting an update on the status of your restoration of firearm rights at: crimhis@wsp.wa.gov

  • What should I do if:

    • I keep getting denied a firearm but don’t have anything on my record?
    • My purchase application is always delayed?
    • I have a common name?
    • My identity was stolen and or experience long delays and may even have a common name, what should I do?

    Each of these issues may be resolved by obtaining and going through the Voluntary Appeal File (VAF) process through the FBI. To learn about the VAF and complete the application, go to the FBI’s Website: www.fbi.gov

    • Type “appeals” in the search box
    • Select the search result that reads “Appeals and Voluntary Appeal File”
    • Follow the instructions for the Voluntary Appeal File

    If you are approved, the FBI will provide you with a Unique Personal Identification Number (UPIN). Including the UPIN number when completing a firearm transfer application may result in fewer delays and denials.

  • How do I get my rights restored if I was deemed mentally defective or committed to a mental institution?

    Persons adjudicated as mentally defective or who are involuntarily committed to a mental institution are prohibited from possessing or purchasing firearms under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(4). There is no means to restore firearms rights for those persons adjudicated as mentally defective or involuntarily committed to a mental institution in Washington State. While a Washington court may restore firearm rights in Washington, the person would still be federally prohibited as our state does not meet the requirements set within the NICS Improvement Amendment Act (NIAA), P.L. 110-180.

    Note: A person detained under the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) may not fall under the (g)(4) prohibitor, but may be prohibited firearms based on RCW 9.41.049.

  • I have documentation that I would like to provide to the Firearms Background Division to assist in my background check determination. Where do I send it to?

    If you have court documents such as a restoration of rights, that may assist an examiner to making a determination on your background check, please send an email to firearms@wsp.wa.gov with the following information:

    Your Name:
    NICS Transaction Number (NTN)
    Document Type:
    Explanation of why you are sending the document(s):

Contacts

  • WSP Directory

    WSP Firearms Background Division
    Phone: (360) 704-7840
    E-Mail: firearms@wsp.wa.gov

    A Central Computerized Enforcement Service System (ACCESS)
    Phone: (360) 534-2010
    Website

    Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH)
    Phone: (360) 534-2000
    Website

  • Outside Agency Directory

    National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Liaison
    Phone: (844) 265-6716
    E-Mail: NICSLiason@fbi.gov

    NICS Legal Analysis Team (LAT)
    E-Mail: NICS_LegalResearch@fbi.gov

    Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal (LEEP)
    Phone: (888) 334-4536
    CJIS Portal Web site

    Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC)
    Phone: (360) 486-2380
    Website

Resources for Law Enforcement Agencies

LEA HCA Training

Web Portal HCA CSV Template

NICS Class Calendar – FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ONLY

© 2023 Washington State Patrol.