Whidbey island gun ban proposals

[COUG]

Fyi, Whidbey is trying to run through a gun ban on certain areas of the island.  Here is the info...

http://www.islandcounty.net/commissioners/Worksessions/2012/11-21-12-COMM.pdf

More info as I get it.

[COUG]

Meeting is scheduled for the Island County Courthouse, Commissioners hearing room, Wednesday the 21st at 2:15pm.  Wow, trying to sneak this by for sure.

[lokidog]

Looks like they are really trying to shut down waterfowl hunting to START with.  What a bunch of BS.  All of this firearm restricted stuff is crap as anywhere it is safe to shoot a sabot shotgun or ML it should be safe to shoot a HP rifle.

[ICEMAN]

Bump. You guys need to get on this like we did down here in THurston County! Get the word out, show up for the meeting!

[blackdog]

Contact your legislators Sen Barbara Bailey and Norma Smith immediately.

[runamuk]

who do we write to?  I have family in Island county hell my great uncle was island county commissioner and an avid duck hunter way back when...can write a letter if I know where to send it

[GEARHEAD]

Conway hippies.

[huntingfool7]

This should be on the waterfowl page...

NOTE the closure areas on Pg. 3-

Lone Lake
Goss Lake
Honeymoon Lake
Deer Lagoon

"On the surface of______ Lake and over the surface of the land within 100 yards of the shore of ______ Lake".

This is about hunting noise, not public safety.

[COUG]

Here are the emails to the major legislative players in this ban.


District1@co.island.wa.us Helen Price Johnson(D) is the county commissioner that represents South Whidbey

District2@co.island.wa.us Angie Homola(D) is the county commissioner that represents North Whidbey until January. She lost her election.

District3@co.island.wa.us Kelly Emerson(R) is the county commissioner that represents Camano Island.

[pianoman9701]

http://houserepublicans.wa.gov/members/barbara-bailey/

http://houserepublicans.wa.gov/members/norma-smith/

This is an exact repeat of the proposed Thurston Co. ban, which was defeated. WDFW should be made aware of this meeting, as well.

[pianoman9701]

A few notes for you guys about the Thurston Co. ban that was defeated. Enormous pressure was brought upon the commissioners regarding the ban which was falsely presented as a safety measure, but was indeed a noise issue to a very few residents of the county. For this reason, it was fairly easy to bring their ulterior motives to light and defeat the proposal. WA State Waterfowlers and other state hunter/sportsman-friendly groups should be immediately informed of this proposed ordinance.

It appears this proposal was submitted to the commission on the 15th. There should be something in the county requirement to give due notice regarding proposals and normally that notice is 30 days or more before a hearing can be scheduled. It appears, as another poster noted, that this is being shoved in at the beginning of a holiday weekend so that few will show up and oppose the proposed ordinance.

I've PM'd JSHunt to get involved. I will also PM Killbilly as President of WFW.

[huntrights]

I have sent notice to a core group of people that helped in dealing with the Thurston County No Shooting Zone Ordinance.

I would like to make it very clear right now that ALL Island County waterfowl hunters, gun owners, recreational shooters, and all hunters in general absolutely must be informed and strongly encouraged to get engaged to ensure ominous and unneeded regulations are not allowed to pass.  You must have a strong presence and be involved in the process from the beginning.

All of you that read this post must help to get the word out immediately.


I have not had any time to look into this further, but fast action will be needed to ensure proper representation will be present at the 11-21-12 meeting.  This appears to be a work session, but it will be important to hear and record what they say.  I believe a strong showing would send a strong message.

General agenda for 11-21-12:
http://www.islandcounty.net/commissioners/worksessions/2012/documents/11-21-12.pdf

Commissioner’s Agenda for 11-21-12:
http://www.islandcounty.net/commissioners/Worksessions/2012/11-21-12-COMM.pdf

Island County Commissioner’s web site:
http://www.islandcounty.net/commissioners/
   

I would also like to suggest moving this post to the Hunters Rights – Legislation – Activism – 2nd Amendment topic area in the forum.   

[brokenvet]

That's not a GUN BAN.  It is a Firearms DISCHARGE BAN.

[pianoman9701]

That's not a GUN BAN.  It is a Firearms DISCHARGE BAN.

It's a shooting of any kind ban, but seems to be especially targeting waterfowl hunting. We've seen this tactic before and have defeated it.

[brokenvet]

That's not a GUN BAN.  It is a Firearms DISCHARGE BAN.

It's a shooting of any kind ban, but seems to be especially targeting waterfowl hunting. We've seen this tactic before and have defeated it.

I disagree, it is not a shooting of any kind ban,  you can discharge a firearm to protect yourself and property.  Did you guys read the proposal?     relax, I am being anal.

I do agree that the ban sucks and should be defeated.

[pianoman9701]

That's not a GUN BAN.  It is a Firearms DISCHARGE BAN.

It's a shooting of any kind ban, but seems to be especially targeting waterfowl hunting. We've seen this tactic before and have defeated it.

I disagree, it is not a shooting of any kind ban,  you can discharge a firearm to protect yourself and property.  Did you guys read the proposal?     relax, I am being anal.

I do agree that the ban sucks and should be defeated.

OK, you're allowed to call it what you want as long as we move forward toward defeating the proposal.

[huntrights]

That's not a GUN BAN.  It is a Firearms DISCHARGE BAN.

It's a shooting of any kind ban, but seems to be especially targeting waterfowl hunting. We've seen this tactic before and have defeated it.

I disagree, it is not a shooting of any kind ban,  you can discharge a firearm to protect yourself and property.  Did you guys read the proposal?     relax, I am being anal.

I do agree that the ban sucks and should be defeated.

Those of us that went through the battle to defeat the Thurston County proposed No Shooting Zone Ordinance learned quickly that the Commissioners did not have any intention of working with hunters or recreational shooters to come up with an ordinance that truly dealt with safety issues and protected our rights to hunt and shoot.  They knowingly biased the citizens workgroup at about 80% supporting their proposal and 20% opposing.  Each revision of their proposal became more ominous, restrictive, and started to infringe on Second Amendment rights and private property rights.  I have not been exposed the the Island County Commissioners, but we learned that we could not trust the Thurston County Commissioners or their staff when it came to dealing with the Thurston County No Shooting Zone Ordinance.

Get involved NOW.

[CP]

Hunting was banned back in 2009 in Deer Lagoon and there are already restrictions on Lone and Honeymoon Lakes.

http://www.southwhidbeyrecord.com/news/64159242.html#

 

[pianoman9701]

Hunting was banned back in 2009 in Deer Lagoon and there are already restrictions on Lone and Honeymoon Lakes.

http://www.southwhidbeyrecord.com/news/64159242.html#

 

They want to end shooting on all of those lakes within 100 yards of the shore. Are you OK with that? And, this proposal adds Goss lake to the list you mentioned. If you're fine with that than ignore the thread. Were I living there, I'd be camped outside the commissioners' office anytime a shooting ban comes up on the docket.

[ICEMAN]

If you get the opportunity to question law enforcement at any of these meetings, be sure to ask them to highlight reports of property damage which was reported. These homeowners all feel like they can report that their homes have been shot. Turned out that the sheriff had no property damage claims they could substantiate. No reports of injury or damage to property.


Ask the sheriff to repeat his information for the group. This was an incredible manuever because it put the sheriff down on the record that no injury or damage reports had been substantiated, this after many homeowners claimed they did. Turns out they lied.

[Bob33]

Hunting was banned back in 2009 in Deer Lagoon and there are already restrictions on Lone and Honeymoon Lakes.

http://www.southwhidbeyrecord.com/news/64159242.html#

 

They want to end shooting on all of those lakes within 100 yards of the shore. Are you OK with that? And, this proposal adds Goss lake to the list you mentioned. If you're fine with that than ignore the thread. Were I living there, I'd be camped outside the commissioners' office anytime a shooting ban comes up on the docket.

A municipality cannot legally ban hunting. They can only legislate about firearms discharge.

"Hunting is regulated by the state, and the county could only limit the discharge of firearms if it would jeopardize people, property or domestic animals."

[huntrights]

Hunting was banned back in 2009 in Deer Lagoon and there are already restrictions on Lone and Honeymoon Lakes.

http://www.southwhidbeyrecord.com/news/64159242.html#

 

They want to end shooting on all of those lakes within 100 yards of the shore. Are you OK with that? And, this proposal adds Goss lake to the list you mentioned. If you're fine with that than ignore the thread. Were I living there, I'd be camped outside the commissioners' office anytime a shooting ban comes up on the docket.

A municipality cannot legally ban hunting. They can only legislate about firearms discharge.

"Hunting is regulated by the state, and the county could only limit the discharge of firearms if it would jeopardize people, property or domestic animals."

Trust those of us that have been through this.  You must STOP this ordinance in its tracks.  If you let it go to the point of litigation, somebody needs to pay the legal fees to prove the illegal nature of the ordinance.  Going this route can be extremely expensive and take a long time; don't let it get to that point.  Force your Commissioners to be open, honest, and ethical.  If there are demonstrated safety issues, then those can be addressed on an individual basis by working with the property owners, the hunters, and the WDFW.

Input from those that know how these things work:

 - Fill the room with people that oppose the proposed ordinance, even though this is just a working session.  Be there to listen and to make video recordings of what they say.

- Get word to Jill Johnson, the County Commissioner elect, to let her see how much opposition there is to this attempt to slip this unjustified ordinance through during the lame-duck period.  She should attend this meeting.

All of you Island County waterfowl hunters, and hunters in general, you must get involved in this opposition effort. Start by attending the 11-21-12 work session.  Let your overwhelming presence be seen and your voices be heard when you have the opportunity.

Have the Commissioners sincerely considered, and communicated with, all parties that have a vested interest in this issue (i.e. waterfowl hunters, recreational shooters, hunters in general, the WDFW)?  Probably NOT.  The scenario sounds exactly like the Thurston County fiasco.  The Commissioners responded to a handful of shoreline property owners that didn't like the noise from the waterfowl hunting activity, so they tried to turn it into a safety issue in order to justify their agenda.  There were no demonstrated safety issues.  There was definitely anti-hunting and anti-gun sentiment ingrained in the proceedings.

Get the word out and get involved!  These are your rights and freedoms you are fighting for!

The Commissioners have this in their schedule starting at 2:15PM on 11-21-12.

http://www.islandcounty.net/commissioners/worksessions/2012/documents/11-21-12.pdf

"The Board of County Commissioners meets in Work Session routinely on the first three Wednesdays of each month (unless otherwise scheduled). Work Sessions are held in the Annex Building, Commissioners’ Hearing Room, #B102, 1 NE 6th Street, Coupeville, Wa."

[pianoman9701]

They can't ban hunting or gun ownership. But much like classifying lead as a poisonous substance, they can regulate it out of existence. There are people in our state who will stop at nothing to end hunting if they can. Wolves are evidence of that in my book. In the case of Whidbey Island, these jerks will claim safety issues where none exist to stop you from killing ducks. They also think that owning property gives them the right to restrict what you legally do if it bothers them with noise.

This is serious business, folks. And, it spreads elsewhere as soon as people see the success of doing so.

[huntrights]

This needs to stay on the radar.

Did anyone go to the Commissioner's work session meeting on Wednesday (11/21)?

[COUG]

The meeting on the 21st was very interesting according to my family members that were there.  Here were the general bullet points:

-The commissioners are relatively split on puching this through quickly
-The meeting was standing room only
-The Sheriff confirmed that the gun range in question was not safe the first time he went out but each time after that the range was in compliance with the Sheriffs reccomendations.

NOTICE:  The next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow 11/28 at 3pm in the Island County Courthouse.

Thanks!

[Special T]

So does this revolve around a shooting range?
 If so which one?

[dscubame]

Thanks for the update.  I will continue to be curious how this plays out.

[COUG]

Here is the story on King 5....

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Gun-owners-neighbors-clash-in-Island-County-180932141.html

[Special T]

Langly is down south and there are LOTS of anit types that live down there and commute to the main land via ferry. Others may be able to back me up but N whidby and S whidby are VERY different places. Alot more environmental types the farther south you go... At least that has been my experience.

[huntrights]

Thanks for the update.  I have passed the link to this forum string and the King 5 article on to others.  I would suggest that all of us continue to keep the information and updates as current as possible and be ready to take action when the time comes.  The article indicated a public hearing might be held in December.  We should watch for that and pack the hearing room.  Please pass this on to your freedom loving family, friends, and colleagues that want to protect their rights to hunt, shoot, and own firearms.

In the mean time, we should start writing letters and emails to the Commissioners expressing our opposition to the proposed ordinance.

http://www.islandcounty.net/commissioners/commissioners.htm

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kelly Emerson (R)

Commissioner from District Number Three which encompasses Whidbey Island area north of Oak Harbor and all of Camano Island.

Term of office:
January 2011 - December 2014

E-mail: district3@co.island.wa.us

Cell Phone: (360) 544-2958

Office phone: 360-679-7356

------------------------------------------------------------

Angie Homola (D)

Commissioner from District Number Two which encompasses all of the greater Oak Harbor area.

Term of office:
 January 2009 - December 2012

E-mail: district2@co.island.wa.us

Cell phone: 360-914-2744

Office phone: 360-679-7353

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Helen Price Johnson, Chair (D)

Commissioner from District Number One which encompasses all of Whidbey Island south of the greater Oak Harbor area.

Term of office:
 January 2009 - December 2012

E-mail: district1@co.island.wa.us

Cell phone: 360-632-1168

Office phone: 360-679-7357


I believe Angie Homala lost the election, so she is on her way out; she may not care if the ordinance get shoved through against the will of the constituency during this lame duck period.  Jill Johnson is the Commissioner elect.

[furiouzgeorge]

Funny, I live on the Island and the 'noise' issue they complain about is nothing compared to the low flying jets they all knew well enough about before they bought their little pieces of paradise. There's a shooting range within 600 yards of my house and I hear it whenever I step out my back door. That's the true sound of freedom ;-)

[huntrights]

We all need to keep this on our radar.

Has there been any notice of a public meeting on the subject?