In Washington state, a new mandate has taken effect requiring gun dealers to submit detailed annual reports of all federal trace requests to the state's Attorney General's Office. The legislation, intended to bolster investigations into firearms crimes, took effect last Tuesday, July 1, and targets dealers averaging over $1,000 in monthly sales. According to a release on the Attorney General's Office website, businesses must provide their first submission by March 15, covering the prior year's trace requests.
The reporting protocols, as outlined, comprise the total number of trace requests received, detailed gun information such as make and model, the date of sale for each trace, and documentation pertaining to ATF inspections or violations. The law originated from ESHB 2118, a piece of 2024 legislation aimed at curbing gun violence. "Protecting the public from gun violence is one of my top priorities," Attorney General Nick Brown said. "Dealers understand that selling a firearm is serious business. We should all support commonsense requirements like this new trace request reporting," as noted by the same news release.
Firearm tracing provides critical intel for law enforcement, piecing together a firearm's journey from manufacture to its eventual involvement in crime. This new law is anticipated to shed light on patterns that could prove vital in not just addressing but preempting such violence throughout the state. Dealers looking for clarity on the requirements or seeking aid to ensure they meet the legal expectations can direct their inquiries to an email established for this governance: [email protected].
