Where Guns Are Barred
RCW 9.41.280 — schools, and RCW 9.41.300 — courts, jails, adults-only bars and the other places it lists
Schools. It is unlawful to knowingly carry onto or possess any firearm, and the other weapons the section lists, on public or private elementary or secondary school premises, school-provided transportation, or facilities while used exclusively by schools or for school board meetings. A first violation is a misdemeanor, and a later one a gross misdemeanor; a conviction for a firearm also revokes a concealed pistol license for three years.
- The restricted access areas of a jail or law enforcement facility.
- Areas of a building used for court proceedings, with a locked box or official provided to hold weapons during a visit.
- The restricted access areas of a public mental health facility.
- The portion of an establishment off-limits to persons under 21 years of age.
- The restricted access areas of a commercial airport, past the screening checkpoint.
- The premises of a public library, and the other places the section goes on to list.
Those are among the places it is unlawful to enter while knowingly possessing a weapon.
Federal buildings, federal school zone rules and private property owners' own rules are set out elsewhere and are not on this page. Whether a particular place is covered is a question for a licensed Washington attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- RCW 9.41.280 — Possessing dangerous weapons on school facilities
- RCW 9.41.300 — Weapons prohibited in certain places
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.