What Are the Assault Weapon Laws in Washington?
Woody's answers are based on published federal and state law. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.
Washington bans the manufacture, sale, and transfer of assault weapons as defined by specific features and lists. Possession of previously owned assault weapons remains legal.
What This Means for You
If you're building in Washington, you need to understand what makes a firearm an assault weapon under state law before you start your project. The state's definition includes both feature-based criteria and specific named firearms. This directly impacts your parts selection and configuration choices.
The Detail
Washington's assault weapon law prohibits the manufacture, sale, distribution, and importation of assault weapons within the state. The law includes a feature-based definition for semi-automatic rifles that accept detachable magazines and have certain characteristics like pistol grips, folding stocks, flash hiders, or grenade launchers. Semi-automatic pistols and shotguns also have their own feature criteria under the statute.
The law also specifically names certain firearm models and their variants as prohibited assault weapons. This includes popular platforms that builders commonly work with, so you need to verify whether your intended build falls under the named weapon list before proceeding.
Possession of assault weapons legally owned before the law took effect remains lawful, but you cannot manufacture new ones within Washington state. The law includes exceptions for certain entities like law enforcement and licensed dealers conducting specific business activities.
Violating Washington's assault weapon law carries serious criminal penalties. You should verify the current legal status of your intended build configuration with official state resources or legal counsel, as firearm laws can change and interpretations may vary.
Build Impact
You'll need to carefully review your build plans against Washington's feature restrictions and named weapon lists before ordering parts. Consider alternative configurations that comply with state law while meeting your intended use requirements.