SPOKANE, Wash. – Washington state lawmakers are considering a new bill aimed at reducing gun thefts. House Bill 1152, pre-filed for the upcoming legislative session in Olympia, seeks to hold gun owners accountable if their firearms are stolen.
Data from the Department of Commerce shows that Spokane police received 882 reports of stolen guns from 2019 to 2022, ranking third in the state among local departments. More than half of these guns were stolen from homes, with cars being the second most common location.
The proposed bill would require gun owners to store their firearms in a hard case or lock the trigger in a soft case. If a gun is stolen, the owner could face a $1,000 fine. Additionally, if the thief is someone who legally cannot own a gun – such as a convicted felon or domestic abuser – the original gun owner could charged with a felony if they commit a violent crime with the stolen gun.
Jeremy Ball, owner of Sharp Shooting Indoor Range in Spokane, expressed concerns about the bill.
“If they’ve had property stolen from them, they’re the victim of a crime. They shouldn’t be charged for that purpose,” Ball said. “It’s a lazy approach to solving a complicated problem.”
The Washington State Legislature will officially start the 2025 session next Monday.
