SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5197
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Labor, Commerce, Research & Development, February 27, 2007
Title: An act relating to the sale of firearms at gun shows and events.
Brief Description: Regulating the sale of firearms at gun shows and events.
Sponsors: Senators Tom, Kohl-Welles, Kline, Fairley, Murray, Weinstein, Regala and Jacobsen.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 2/08/07, 2/27/07 [DPS,
DNP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5197 be substituted therefor, and the
substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Keiser, Vice Chair; Franklin, Murray and
Prentice.
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senators Clements, Ranking Minority Member; Hewitt and Holmquist.
Staff: Jennifer Strus (786-7316)
Background: A firearms "dealer" is a person engaged in the business of selling firearms at
wholesale or retail who is required to have a federal firearms license. A person is not a dealer
if that person makes only occasional sales, exchanges, or purchases of firearms for the
enhancement of a personal collection or for a hobby, or sells all or part of his or her personal
collection.
A dealer may not deliver a pistol to the purchaser until: (1) the dealer is notified, in writing,
by the chief of police or the sheriff of the jurisdiction in which the purchaser resides, that the
purchaser is eligible to possess a pistol and that the application to purchase is approved by the
chief or sheriff; or (2) five business days have elapsed from the time the chief of police or the
sheriff received the application for purchase. The National Instant Background Check System
(NICS), generally, provides quick background check information. If the purchaser does not
have a valid permanent Washington State driver's license, or state identification card, or has
not been a resident of the state for the previous 90 days, the waiting period to deliver the
firearm is up to 6