The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) has reported a significant increase in concealed carry permit applications, reflecting growing concerns about personal safety among residents.
As of the end of June 2025, there were 709,334 active concealed pistol licenses (CPLs) held by Washington residents, marking an increase of 1,410 from the previous month. This surge is the largest month-over-month increase recorded to date.
DOL Communications Consultant Rob Wieman explained that while fluctuations in permit numbers are common, the recent increase stands out.
“It’s not unusual for numbers to rise from one month to the next. It’s also not unusual for them to go down,” he stated, highlighting the volatile nature of CPL statistics over time.
Comparatively, at the end of 2024, the DOL reported 700,623 active CPLs, indicating that over 8,700 individuals have obtained concealed carry permits in just the first half of 2025.
Dave Workman, editor-in-chief of TheGunMag.com, commented on the implications of these numbers, stating, “That is an indication to me that there’s a lot of concern out there about personal safety. We see stories almost daily about violent crime. We don’t have a gun problem in this state; we have got a gang problem.”
Workman pointed to the passage of House Bill 1163, which mandates a permit for purchasing firearms in Washington, as a catalyst for the recent rise in CPLs. Although the law, set to take effect on May 1, 2027, is designed to enhance public safety, Workman believes it is unconstitutional.
Under HB 1163, state residents must apply for a five-year permit to purchase a firearm, pay a fee, and provide evidence of completing a safety training program, including live-fire shooting, within five years.
Additionally, gun buyers must undergo another background check and wait 10 days before they can take possession of their firearms.
Workman criticized the law, remarking, “Criminals don’t obey the law. They’re not going to obey this law. They’re going to look at this and they’re going to laugh because they’re going to get their hands on guns illegally.”
He also suggested that the new requirements could deter law-abiding citizens while failing to dissuade criminal activity.
Since 2020, the DOL has tracked the number of CPLs in Washington. In December of that year, 628,287 residents held a concealed carry permit. This figure increased to 696,438 by December 2022 but dipped slightly to 693,188 by December 2023. However, the number surpassed 700,000 by the end of 2024.
Workman noted, “We’ve got one of the highest levels of resident concealed pistol licenses in the West. I think more people are realizing that it’s their own responsibility to protect themselves from crime.”
In 2017, Washington CeaseFire reported that approximately 10% of adults in the state held a concealed carry permit. As applications for CPLs continue to surge, many local law enforcement agencies are experiencing longer wait times to accommodate fingerprinting appointments necessary for the permit process.
To secure a CPL, applicants must be at least 21 years old and either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident. They are required to have a valid driver’s license or state-issued ID, as other forms of identification, such as passports or military IDs, are not accepted.
The cost for an original CPL varies but typically hovers around $45 and remains valid for five years from the date of issue.
National statistics show that as of 2023, there are nearly 22.9 million concealed carry permit holders across the United States. This figure does not account for those who live in the 29 states that have adopted some form of permitless carry, also known as constitutional carry, suggesting that the true number of armed citizens is likely higher than official records indicate.
Among the states, Alabama leads with 27.8% of its residents holding concealed carry permits, while Washington ranks 10th nationwide, with approximately 11.63% of eligible residents having obtained a CPL as of 2023.
The rise in concealed carry permits in Washington State underlines the complex nature of gun ownership, personal safety, and legislative efforts aimed at controlling firearm access amidst rising public concerns.
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