SB 6193
In CommitteeSenate
Juveniles/firearm possession
Concerning offenses involving unlawful possession of a firearm by a juvenile.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill tightens rules around juveniles possessing firearms by expanding when such possession becomes a felony and adding mandatory driver’s license consequences for firearm use in vehicles. It also updates sentencing guidelines for juvenile firearm offenses and clarifies when prior adjudications trigger enhanced penalties.
- Clarifies that juveniles can be charged with unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree if they possess a firearm after a prior adjudication for certain serious offenses (e.g., drive-by shooting, assault, or arson).
- Expands the definition of unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree to include juveniles who possess firearms while subject to certain court orders (e.g., protection orders, no-contact orders) or after prior adjudications for domestic violence, stalking, or other specified crimes.
- Mandates that courts notify the Department of Licensing within 24 hours if a juvenile under 18 possesses a firearm in a vehicle, resulting in automatic driver's license revocation unless it’s a first offense and no offense was committed while armed.
- Updates the juvenile sentencing standards to include specific offense categories for firearm-related crimes (e.g., *Possession of Firearms by Minor (<18)* = Category C; *Possession of Firearms by Minor (with prior)* = Category C+), affecting potential confinement lengths.
- Prohibits certain juveniles (e.g., those adjudicated of serious violent offenses or firearm violations) from qualifying for alternative sentencing options like Option B (suspended disposition) or Option C (chemical dependency/mental health disposition).
Who is affected
- Juveniles — Juveniles under age 18 who possess firearms without authorization—especially those with prior adjudications or who possess firearms in vehicles—face stricter penalties and potential driver's license suspension.
- Juveniles with prior adjudications — Juveniles adjudicated for firearm-related offenses may face longer periods of confinement depending on prior history and offense category, and some may be barred from alternative sentencing options like Option B or C.
- Courts and the Department of Licensing — Courts must notify the Department of Licensing within 24 hours if a juvenile under 18 possesses a firearm in a vehicle, triggering automatic driver's license revocation in certain cases.
- Families and households protected under court orders — Families and households may be affected if a juvenile is subject to a protection or no-contact order that prohibits firearm possession, requiring surrender of weapons.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for concerns
Potential Benefits (3)
Strengthens public safety by explicitly treating firearm possession by juveniles with prior serious violent adjudications (e.g., drive-by shooting, assault) as a class B felony, increasing deterrence and enabling more robust prosecution for repeat offenders who pose elevated risk.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1, RCW 9.41.040(1)(b)Expands firearm prohibitions to juveniles subject to extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) or no-contact orders, aligning juvenile firearm restrictions with adult standards and supporting early intervention to prevent mass shootings and domestic violence incidents involving firearms.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1, RCW 9.41.040(2)(a)(ii)(F)Mandates license revocation for juveniles who possess firearms in vehicles, creating a tangible consequence that may deter dangerous behavior and reduce the risk of vehicle-based firearm incidents (e.g., drive-by shootings, armed car thefts).
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1, RCW 9.41.040(5)
Potential Concerns (5)
Expands the definition of unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree to include juveniles adjudicated for serious offenses (e.g., drive-by shooting, assault, arson), effectively criminalizing firearm possession based on prior adjudications—even if the prior offense was nonviolent or occurred years earlier—without a clear rehabilitation standard. This risks over-criminalization of youth who have completed their rehabilitation and reintegrated, undermining second chances.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1, RCW 9.41.040(1)(b)Expands unlawful possession in the second degree to include juveniles subject to protection orders, no-contact orders, or extreme risk protection orders—even if the juvenile has not committed a new offense—potentially punishing individuals based on civil court orders that may be issued ex parte or without full due process, especially for minors who may lack legal representation.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1, RCW 9.41.040(2)(a)(ii)(F) & (a)(iii)Mandates automatic driver’s license revocation for juveniles who possess firearms in vehicles—even for first-time, non-harmful possession—without judicial discretion or consideration of necessity (e.g., rural transportation, work-related driving), disproportionately impacting low-income and rural youth who rely on driving for school, jobs, or family responsibilities.
TransportationPeopleRef: Sec. 1, RCW 9.41.040(5)Increases confinement time for firearm possession by minors—especially those with prior adjudications—reducing school attendance and increasing educational disruption, which research shows correlates with higher recidivism and diminished long-term economic mobility.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2, Juvenile Sentencing Standards (‘Possession of Firearms by Minor (<18)’ = Category C; ‘with prior’ = C+)Bars juveniles adjudicated of firearm violations from alternative sentencing options like Option B (suspended disposition with conditions) or Option C (treatment-based dispositions), limiting access to evidence-based rehabilitation and increasing reliance on incarceration—despite research showing treatment-focused approaches reduce recidivism more effectively than punitive confinement for youth.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2, Option B ineligibility (‘Is adjudicated of a firearm violation under RCW 13.40.193’)
Who Is Most Affected
Juveniles with prior adjudications for serious offenses face significantly increased penalties—including longer confinement and loss of driving privileges—reducing their ability to access education, employment, and transportation, and increasing long-term marginalization.
Families and households protected under protection or no-contact orders benefit from expanded firearm prohibitions against juveniles subject to those orders, enhancing perceived and actual safety in domestic and intimate partner contexts.
Courts and DOL gain new administrative duties (e.g., 24-hour license revocation notifications), increasing workload and costs without additional funding, potentially diverting resources from other juvenile justice functions.
Rural and low-income families face disproportionate transportation disruption when juveniles lose driving privileges—even for non-harmful possession—limiting access to school, jobs, and essential services.