Third Annual
Gun Law in Washington: The Definitive Guide CLE
December 12, 2025. 9AM-4:30PM via Zoom.
Approved for 5.75 law & legal credits and 1 ethics credit.
Live activity ID 2063695.
Recording activity ID 2064917.
Feedback
“The history and tradition of gun control was very interesting. All of the subjects had value.”
“Course was very helpful and concise.”
“Very good presentation.”
Agenda
The CLE will run for 6.75 instruction hours and is intended to provide a comprehensive review of federal and state firearm laws. Topics that will be discussed include:
- The history and tradition of gun control in America (1789-2008).
- Review of the modern era (2008-present), including U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
- Legality of possessing and carrying certain firearms and accessories.
- Loss of firearm rights under federal and state law, including felony convictions, domestic violence, protection orders, involuntary commitments, and others.
- Restoration of firearm rights under federal and state law.
- Brand new legislation in Washington.
- Defending unlawful possession of a firearm cases.
- Background checks - who does them, what information is relevant, how to get and read rap sheets, fixing errors, and dealing with denials.
- Transfer of firearms, including buying and selling, transferring between family members, and transfers on death.
- Orders to surrender firearms, including Fourth and Fifth Amendment issues.
- Ethical issues, such as duty to client vs. duty to third parties, confidentiality, candor to the tribunal, trust accounting, and squaring personal morals with legal ethics and substantive laws.
Faculty
Vitaliy Kertchen
the Washington State Firearms Lawyer
Vitaliy Kertchen is the foremost legal expert on firearm law in Washington state. His practice is dedicated to dealing with firearm issues, including restoring firearm rights, terminating protection orders, overturning background check denials, holding state and federal agencies to account, retrieving improperly confiscated firearms, defending gun charges, and more.
He’s handled over a dozen appeals pertaining to firearm issues, including:
- Barr v. Snohomish County Sheriff, 193 Wn.2d 330 (2019).
- State v. Manuel, 14 Wn. App. 2d 455 (2020).
- Benson v. State, 4 Wn. App. 2d 21 (2018).
- Kincer v. State, 26 Wn. App. 2d 143 (2023).
- State v. B.B., 18 Wn. App. 2d 556 (2021).
- Mai v. United States, 952 F.3d 1106 (9th Cir. 2020).
- Arends v. State, 573 P.3d 906 (Wash. 2025).
- Niles v. United States et al., No. 25-63, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (forthcoming 2026).
- McLellan et al. v. Brown, No. 103799-6, Washington Supreme Court (forthcoming 2026).
Vitaliy has presented CLEs on the topic of firearms numerous times, including for the National Business Institute, the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, county bar associations, and public defender offices. This time, he’s organized an all-day CLE because the topic of firearms is too extensive and complicated for a one-hour presentation over lunch.