Thousands of gun sales are currently on hold in Washington state due to a court computer system outage that has prevented background checks from being completed. Second Amendment advocates are expressing frustration and threatening to sue if the state does not resolve the issue promptly. The outage has been ongoing for two weeks, which is unprecedented for gun store owners like Daniel Mitchell, who have never experienced a shutdown of this duration. The Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts took the network offline after detecting unauthorized activity, affecting the processing of background checks by the Washington State Patrol.
The Washington State Patrol typically processes between 400 and 1,000 background checks a day, but has been unable to do so since November 1st due to the outage. The agency acknowledges the frustration caused by the situation and assures that efforts are being made to resolve the issue and get the system up and running again. However, Second Amendment advocates like Alan M. Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation argue that the state has deprived citizens of their civil rights by denying them access to firearms for almost two weeks. Threats of legal action loom if the system is not restored promptly.
While the state hopes to have the system back online next week, there is concern that a backlog of background checks could slow down the processing once it resumes. Gun dealers and customers alike have been impacted by the outage, as customers who have already surpassed the mandatory 10-day waiting period for gun sales are now facing further delays. Additionally, the new law requiring tougher background checks in Washington has shifted the responsibility of processing checks from the FBI to the Washington State Patrol, further complicating the situation.
Gun store owner Daniel Mitchell raised concerns about potential complications for customers if the system is not restored soon, as federal paperwork required for firearm purchases times out at 30 days. State officials have not provided much information about the initial unauthorized activity that led to the outage, further adding to the frustration and confusion surrounding the situation. Mitchell and other Second Amendment advocates believe that the extended shutdown of the system represents a violation of citizens’ rights and highlights issues of governmental authority and accountability.
As the outage continues, there is uncertainty about when the system will be operational again and how quickly the backlog of background checks can be cleared. The impact of the outage extends beyond just gun sales, affecting court proceedings and legal actions that rely on the court network. Washington State Patrol spokesperson Chris Loftis emphasized the efforts being made to address the issue, while gun store owners like Mitchell underscore the significance of this situation in terms of individual rights and governmental responsibility. The ongoing standoff between Second Amendment advocates and state officials reflects broader concerns about the balance of power and accountability in society.
