Free I-1639 Training Course | Vancouver, Washington

Under current Washington Law resulting from the passage of Initiative 1639, Washington residents are required to take a poorly defined class covering 6 specific topics in order to purchase a semi-automatic rifle. This course is designed to address each of those 6 topics covered under the Revised Code of Washington.

We have designed this course to meet the minimum statutory requirements. We have added a few additional topics that we feel are extremely important. We believe firearms training is extremely important to the safe and responsible use of firearms, but should never be mandatory to exercise your Second Amendment right.

Upon completion of this course, you will print or save your Certificate of Completion (by printing the final certification page,) which when signed by the student, is valid for 5 years from the date of completion. The Department of Licensing has no method of tracking this information at this time, so keep your certificate in a safe place and only use a copy for any purchase. You are not required to show proof of training when purchasing a semi-automatic rifle, only attest under penalty of law that you have completed a course which covers the required topics.

Thank you, good luck and carry on. You’re joining 67,000 Washington citizens who have completed this course, free of charge, saving approximately $1,500,000 in training fees. Support your local gun shops, gun clubs and the Second Amendment.

Requirements of 1639 training as required by RCW 9.41.090.2.a

Dealer deliveries regulated—Hold on delivery—Fees authorized. (Effective July 1, 2019.)

In addition to the other requirements of this chapter, no dealer may deliver a semiautomatic assault rifle to the purchaser thereof;
- The purchaser provides proof that he or she has completed a recognized firearm safety training program within the last five years that, at a minimum, includes instruction on:
- Basic firearms safety rules;
- Firearms and children, including secure gun storage and talking to children about gun safety;
- Firearms and suicide prevention;
- Secure gun storage to prevent unauthorized access and use;
- Safe handling of firearms; and
- State and federal firearms laws, including prohibited firearms transfers.
The training must be sponsored by a federal, state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, a college or university, a nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training, or a firearms training school with instructors certified by a nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training. The proof of training shall be in the form of a certification that states under the penalty of perjury the training included the minimum requirements;

Firearms and your Constitutional Rights

Our Federal and State constitutions provide explicit protections of your right to keep and bear arms. This is an individual right, as provided by our founding fathers and the Supreme Court. The Second Amendment is not about hunting or self-defense, it is about protecting the community from a tyrannical government. It gives you, the citizen, the militia member, the right to keep a firearm for whatever lawful reason you desire.

Laws like 1639, are written to appeal to an emotional “need” to solve a problem by impairing law abiding citizens rights to purchase, keep and use firearms. These laws do not stop criminal behavior, curb evil intent, or make our communities safer, they just trample law abiding citizens rights to purchase, use and keep firearms.

If you’d like a really good breakdown of the Second Amendment and its origins, you might choose to watch this video. It's optional...

Basic Firearms Safety Rules

There are no firearm accidents, only negligent discharges. Firearms don’t fire themselves, don’t have the ability to think or reason. There are a very simple tool that when safely used can provide recreation, self defense and provide food for your table.

Safety should always come first when handling or using firearms.
- Treat all firearms as if they are loaded.
- Never point firearm at anything you’re not willing to shoot.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire.
- Be sure of your backstop and what is behind it.
If you choose to watch this little video, help yourself.

Firearms & Children
Children by nature, are curious. If you have firearms in your home, you should take appropriate measures to be sure they are appropriately secured.

Children should be educated about firearms, so the mystery is removed. Firearms are not dangerous until used improperly, illegally or unsafely. Education about the safe use of firearms is critical to children respecting the power of a firearm. Take your kids to the range, and teach them how to safely use firearms. Encourage training and practice, and ways to use a firearm safely.

Teach children this basic rule if they find a firearm;
- Stop
- Don’t touch
- Tell an adult
This video was produced by the NRA Eddie the Eagle Program. It is intended for kids, but watch it if you wish.

Secure Gun Storage — RCW 9.41.360

Unsafe storage of a firearm. (Effective July 1, 2019.)

“WARNING: YOU MAY FACE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION IF YOU STORE OR LEAVE AN UNSECURED FIREARM WHERE A PERSON WHO IS PROHIBITED FROM POSSESSING FIREARMS CAN AND DOES OBTAIN POSSESSION.“

Under Washington law, you are responsible for safely storing your firearms from access by a prohibited person.

“9.41.360.5 “For the purposes of this section, "prohibited person" means a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law.”

The irony of this law is that it has been ruled unconstitutional by the federal court and because of that, the new RCW is vague at best.

941.360.6 reads as follows “Nothing in this section mandates how or where a firearm must be stored”. The Supreme Court Decision of District of Columbia vs Heller (2008) established that secure storage requirements were illegal, and this was further defined by another Supreme court case of MacDonald V City of Chicago. The state cannot tell you how to safely store a firearm, because that’s been judged to be illegal. However, they leave you open to prosecution if your firearm is taken from you.
Penalties under RCW 9.41.360
- (1) A person who stores or leaves a firearm in a location where the person knows or reasonably should know, that a prohibited person may gain access to the firearm:
  - (a) Is guilty of community endangerment due to unsafe storage of a firearm in the first degree if a prohibited person obtains access and possession of the firearm and causes personal injury or death with the firearm; or
  - (b) Is guilty of community endangerment due to unsafe storage of a firearm in the second degree if a prohibited person obtains access and possession of the firearm and: (i) Causes the firearm to discharge; (ii) Carries, exhibits, or displays the firearm in a public place in a manner that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons; or (ii) Carries, exhibits, or displays the firearm in a public place in a manner that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons; or (iii) Uses the firearm in the commission of a crime.
- (2)(a) Community endangerment due to unsafe storage of a firearm in the first degree is a class C felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.
- (b) Community endangerment due to unsafe storage of a firearm in the second degree is a gross misdemeanor punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.

Firearms and Suicide Prevention

Suicide is an unfortunate and avoidable human condition. People have committed suicide by all means available to them, no limit to the creative approaches used over the millennia to end one's own life. In Washington, 78% of firearms deaths are by suicide, not criminal violence or negligence. The US has a similar suicide rate to other countries around the world, the firearm is just the tool more often chosen. Firearms can be lethal, however, firearms do not cause suicide, any more than drugs, rope, or gravity, it's just the tool .

Suicide is often preventable with intervention and mental health care. If you or someone in your household is suicidal, please get them some help. Common sense would indicate that you can take numerous measures to prevent suicide by securing access to firearms, knives, drugs, or alcohol.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255

For more information, Visit the Suicide Prevention Resource Center

State and Federal Firearms Laws
There are approximately 20,000 firearms laws across the country, both state, federal, and municipal. Understanding them all is an endless chase of futility. Within the State of Washington, here are some important laws to be aware of.
- All firearm transfers require a background check conducted by a Federally Licenses Dealer. A transfer to an immediate family member is legal without the background check, as long as they are not a prohibited party.
- It is illegal to provide a firearm to a prohibited person.
- It is illegal to purchase a firearm for a prohibited person because they cannot pass a background check (straw Purchase).
- In Washington, to carry a loaded handgun concealed on your person or in your vehicle, you’re required to have a Concealed Pistol License. Washington does recognize several states concealed carry licenses as well.
- You must be 21 years of age to purchase semiautomatic rifles, handguns, receivers or “other” firearms.
- You may not carry a firearm into numerous buildings in the state, including; schools, secured sections of airports, federal buildings, courthouses, and arenas.
- It is illegal to be under the influence and in possession of firearms, it is also a really bad idea.
- Private property owners may post “no firearms allowed” signs and if you refuse to comply, they may have you trespassed from that property.
- You may travel on airplanes with firearms in your checked baggage. Be aware of airlines and TSA rules about locking your firearms and ammunition as well as the laws in your destination location. Ammunition and firearms are NOT allowed on your person during air travel, they must be in checked baggage. Watch our video on traveling with firearms for more info.
A great resource for more state laws can be found here.

Understanding Gun Control laws and how they come to be
The Second Amendment is under a non-stop assault from the anti-gun forces outside the state, as well as locally. They are well funded, organized and effectively use propaganda to promote their emotional plea for gun control. Their argument for gun control is never based in fact, but emotion. However, even the smallest gain is the reason for them to celebrate that victory. It’s a cottage industry for some, and “platform” for many politicians.

Your civic involvement is more critical now than ever before in the State of Washington. The State legislature has a super majority that is committed to passing additional firearms regulations on the law-abiding citizens of Washington. What can you do?
- Call, email or write your local legislators and express your disapproval of the firearms regulation being passed.
- Introduce family, friends, neighbor, or other people to the safe and responsible use of firearms.
- Support gun rights organizations with donations of time, money and sharing their message with the public.
- Support local firearm businesses that are fighting for your rights.
- Be a good firearm advocate buy practicing safe and responsible firearm use.
- Get involved with firearm clubs, activities, hunting, recreational shooting and competitions.
Finally, you must vote against anti-gun measures and any candidates that support these additional restrictions. Voting for a legislator that is committed to restricting your freedom, will lead to more of these laws.

To stay connected to local gun legislation issues, click here.

To find your local legislators, click here.

Building a Stronger Foundation - Introducing New Shooters to Firearms

Firearms owners and users are being marginalized in the media and press, made to feel like second class citizens because you wish to own and use firearms. School systems, political parties, and anti-gun groups vilify firearm use, associating criminal use of firearms with your right to lawfully possess and use firearms.

Introducing new people to the safe and effective use of a firearm is a key part of protecting our rights with future generations. Firearms owners should be educating new shooters about how ineffective guns laws are at stopping crime.

Next time you go to the range, take a new shooter with you. Introduce a family member or friend. It can just be target practice. It can be to watch a sport shooting event. Find out where their interest lays and explore that interest with them. Not everyone will be a hunter or Speed Steel champ, but everyone can enjoy the safe use of firearms.

Be smart about this. Start with low recoil firearms like a 22 rifle. Learn to master that before going big. Scaring someone away with a large caliber doesn't grow the sport, it just turns people off to the safe and responsible use of firearms.

Learn to have a respectable, well-informed discussion about firearms laws and engage in those discussions. You won't change some peoples minds, some won’t even consider your point of view, but some will.

You are the best part of the Second Amendment. It’s your right and you should value that freedom.

Talking with Anti Gun Citizens

First, you must be educated about firearms laws and uses. Most anti-gun people are unfamiliar with the process to purchase, possess or use firearms.

Educate yourself about criminal use of firearms, and be able to provide good examples of criminal gun use rates in big cities, with high unemployment, serious drug and gang problems.

Here’s a thought: 2/3 of firearms deaths are from suicide, that leaves about 12,000 deaths from firearms. The FBI has estimated that 80% of those deaths are gang and drug-related, leaving 2400 firearms deaths. Of those 2400, that includes lawful self-defense, justified Police shootings, and criminal use. Any death is terrible, but remember that firearms are used to prevent hundreds of thousands of crimes every year, without a shot fired, saving citizens across the country from death or injury. Do we have a gun problem, or do we a suicide and drug problem?

The Justice Department Bureau of Prisons survey of inmates showed that 96% of inmates obtained their firearms illicitly.

Understand and be able to discuss the difference between a right and privilege.

Understand that many people have deeply held beliefs about firearms, or perhaps a terrible experience with them. Respect their experience, just ask they value your choice to own a firearm without your rights being infringed.

Who’s fighting for your rights in Washington?

Lots of lips service on this issue, but who’s actually working hard for you.
Gun Rights Organizations to support in Washington

Second Amendment Foundation has 30-40 lawsuits pending at any given time, they fight nationally but are leading the 1639 challenge locally and fought with the NRA to defeat 1639.

This GoFundMe has raised nearly $100,000 to fight 1639 at the ballot box and is now solely focused on supporting the legal effort to take down 1639 piece by piece.

Local Gun Shops and Ranges that are actively in the fight, testifying in legislature, producing pro firearm videos, raising funds and rallying for Pro 2A causes
End of training, continue to the next page to complete the course.
Do you feel safer now?

To complete this course and receive your certification, please provide the following information for your certificate. Once you submit this, you will land on a page that has your name on your certification of completion, that is dated and valid for 5 years. Please print or save the file, it will NOT be emailed to you.
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First Name Last Name
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Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code
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I acknowledge reading and understanding the materials presented.*
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I attest under penalty of perjury, that I have completed the training.*
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This service has been provided free of charge by Sporting Systems, Vancouver Washington. We put this together to show how ludicrous I-1639 is and how poorly the law was written. We spent our own funds to give you this service, because we believe no citizen should have to pay for a class, to exercise a civil right.

We do not accept donations or payment of any form for this service. If you’d like to Support the Second Amendment Foundation and the legal fight, you may donate here.

Requirements of 1639 training as required by RCW 9.41.090.2.a

Dealer deliveries regulated—Hold on delivery—Fees authorized. (Effective July 1, 2019.)

Firearms and your Constitutional Rights

Basic Firearms Safety Rules

Firearms & Children

Secure Gun Storage — RCW 9.41.360

Unsafe storage of a firearm. (Effective July 1, 2019.)

Firearms and Suicide Prevention

State and Federal Firearms Laws

Understanding Gun Control laws and how they come to be

To stay connected to local gun legislation issues, click here.

To find your local legislators, click here.

Building a Stronger Foundation - Introducing New Shooters to Firearms

Talking with Anti Gun Citizens

Who’s fighting for your rights in Washington?

Lots of lips service on this issue, but who’s actually working hard for you.

End of training, continue to the next page to complete the course.Do you feel safer now?

End of training, continue to the next page to complete the course.
Do you feel safer now?