IT'S BACK!!!!!!! Thurston County No Shooting Zone Ordinance

[huntrights]

The Thurston County No Shooting Zone Ordinance is back.  The Thurston County Commissioners are continuing to push their NO SHOOTING ZONE agenda.  Readers of this post need to take this very seriously!  The people of Thurston County need your help.  If you are a hunter, shooter, gun owner, or a person that wants to protect your freedoms, please help pull the plug on the proposed changes to the Thurston County No Shooting Zone Ordinance.

The animated video in the other post (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=93536.msg1198934;topicseen#new) is a behind-the-scenes satire of the No Shooting Zone Ordinance we’re STILL fighting in Thurston County, Washington.  Although amusing, there may be a lot of truth to it.

We are battling this ordinance right now.   These restrictive types of ordinances can spread like wildfire unless we stand up for our rights and push back.  Most people don’t have any idea that these ordinances are being written and enacted.  Pay close attention to your County Commissioners; they are the people that do this.

Attached is a PDF of the proposed ordinance [link is at the bottom of this post (20120209_TCNSZ.5th draft.pdf) below the line] that will be presented by the Thurston County Resource Stewardship Department to the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners for review and decision on what their next step will be.  The current schedule for this (open to the public) briefing is:

Thursday, April 5, 2012, at 3pm at the Thurston County Courthouse, Building 1, room 280 (upstairs).  Parking can be tough.  If carpooling, just have the driver drop folks off in front of Building 1, and then if they need to park in the Red Lion parking lot around the corner, you can sign in on the lists outside the door.

Check their Master Schedule if you plan on attending; they may change their schedule.  No public comment will be allowed at this briefing, but it would good for all who oppose this ordinance to show up and write on the sign-up sheet that they oppose this ordinance.  You can hear for yourselves what the Commissioners have to say.  Your presence can be very influential.

This is not just a Thurston County, Washington issue; it has already happened in Kitsap County and Island County.  Once these ordinances are enacted, they can be easily expanded and made more restrictive (i.e. simple zoning changes).  Even if you do not reside in Thurston County, please email, write, or call the Commissioners (http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/bocc/) to let them know you oppose this proposed ordinance.  Don’t think this can’t happen in your county; it definitely can!  Let’s STOP it here and now!

Thank you.

[huntrights]

This is extremely important folks!  
 
Your rights to hunt and shoot are very close to being severely restricted or prohibited in many areas of Thurston County unless YOU are willing to push back.  Those of you that live in other counties need to help us stop this ordinance or you will most likely find similar ordinances being imposed in your county.  A copy of the latest proposed ordinance made available (draft 5) is attached at the bottom of the original post.  This is a very restrictive ordinance; all of you should be paying very close attention to this.  Being informed is our most important defense; it allows us to take the necessary steps to protect our rights because we know what the threats are.  If we have the information and don't do anything with it ... [].

[Oly1]

In addtion to the Thursday meeting if you can be there is an opportunity to speak at the county commissioners meeting on Tuesday(March 6, 2012). The Tuesday meeting is for the commisioners office and the always allow public comment for 3 minutes each person. If you can attend that would be great!

In addition Washington Waterfowlers Association is taking a lead on this matter. I will post a response from Kurt Snyder with WWA for any other help we can use:  Thanks for any help.

"Email your oppostion to smithr@co.thurston.wa.us This is the address to send your opposition to. It cannot hurt for everyone to send in another email, BUT, if you have NOT sent an opposition email yet, then cc it to; cedarvillefarms@aol.com They are keeping a count of the opposition. More important, we need to keep showing up at the commissioners meetings and showing our dislike of this really bad ordinance, in numbers. Show respect in your message, no matter how you feel about the Commissioners. Write as you would normally talk. No cussing please. (Thats the one I have problems with). It won't hurt to mention that you will be supporting the opponents in this upcoming election because of the no shooting zone proposal. (Thurston Co residents). Try and keep it short. The whole point is to show opposition and keep it coming!"
Thank You,
Kurt Snyder

[KillBilly]

Thurston County Commissioners direct email addresses:

Robert Smith
smithr@co.thurston.wa.us 

Cathy Wolfe, Commissioner District 1
wolfec@co.thurston.wa.us
                 
Sandra Romero, Commissioner District 2
romeros@co.thurston.wa.us

Karen Valenzuela, Commissioner District 3
valenzk@co.thurston.wa.us

BCC: cedarvillefarms@aol.com




 

[KillBilly]

Here is the letter I sent them. You may use it as a guideline for ideas or any way you wish. Just remember to sign your name.

Date:   3/5/2012

To:       Thurston County Board of Commissioners:
            Cathy Wolfe, Commissioner District 1, Sandra Romero, Commissioner District 2,  Karen Valenzuela, Commissioner District 3

Subject:  Thurston County No Shooting Zone Ordinance

I am sending this letter to express my total opposition to adding new sections to chapter 10.04 of the Thurston County Code that will further regulate and restrict the discharge of firearms. It is apparent that you are willing to impose the wishes of a few on the unsuspecting and non-represented many in Thurston County. It is apparent and obvious that you loaded the Thurston County No Shooting Zone Ordinance Workgroup with people that did not equally represent those affected by this ordinance. The workgroup composition was blatantly biased to support the proposed restrictive changes to the ordinance from the start.

This ordinance, as proposed, will be a direct affront to the landowners, recreational shooters and hunters of this state. You will not only be depriving property owners of their right to utilize their land as they see fit but you will also be imposing hardships on many communities and businesses that rely on local and out of county revenue from hunting and shooting activities to make ends meet. You need to take into account the amount of money spent by hunters and shooters in all aspects of our economy: hotels, motels, restaurants, sporting goods stores, grocery stores, gas stations, guide services, permit and license fees, tourism, etc.
I question your data in reference to shotguns having a range of 300 yards with a reasonable likelihood of endangerment to people, domestic animals, and property. Today’s laws do not allow the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting and  the allowed shot types will not travel that distance. In addition, hunters do not shoot towards people, domestic animals, or houses on the shoreline.

 All hunters are taught, expected and required to know where they are pointing their firearms whether it be public waterways along a shoreline or on an alpine slope. Hunters as well as peace officers are properly trained in the use of firearms and Firearm Safety.

Your proposal would have waterfowl hunters a minimum of 300 yards offshore. Since waterfowl tend to land in shallower waters (mostly near shore) you would be forcing the hunters to shoot back towards shore in order to harvest a waterfowl. I totally miss the logic in that thought process, if there was a thought process, or is it intended to be a Catch 22 to stop waterfowl hunting completely? 

Last but not least… New Section. Section 3 - Exemption – Application – Fee

This section is entirely unacceptable.  What you are proposing will make it nearly impossible for any large parcel owner to hunt or shoot on their land even when it is totally safe to do so.  This is nothing but a red-tape, bureaucratic nightmare for any citizen this situation might apply to; it appears you have done this by design to ensure no one can hunt or shoot on the affected land areas.

I am appalled by overzealous restrictions you are proposing and believe you have far exceeded the authority granted to you by RCW 9.41.300.  I would suggest that you listen to your constituents and scrap this idea if you are truly a representative & friend of the citizens and voters of Thurston County.

Al Stover
President
Washington For Wildlife

[Special T]

This kind of crap just won't die!   

[huntrights]

Please keep in mind that all emails to government addresses are public record.  Do not write anything that you would not want others to see you write.

[huntrights]

This is a video that anyone who owns a firearm, hunts, or shoots recreationally must watch.  It gives even more clarity to the threat we are facing with the proposed Thurston County No Shooting Zone Ordinance.  It takes a minute or so to download depending on your interent speed, but definitely worth watching; you can read the text below the video screen while it downloads (text is on the website).

http://www.myfreedomfoundation.com/index.php/site/view/thurston_countys_no_shooting_ordinance_a_bad_idea
 
The most important thing is to first make people aware this is happening.  Please forward to everyone you know in the hunting and shooting community.

Please take this seriously and take action!

[BOWHUNTER45]

thanks Al ....nicely done 

[huntrights]

This is terrifying, sounds like it would include most of my hunting areas.  This would also affect people shooting bows in their yards correct?  So all the people with 3D targets in their yards would be in violation?  I see posts like this one, that threaten to revoke our rights, but I don't know how to respond! Do emails to the commissioners really make a difference?  Its not possible for me to attend the meetings, so what is the next best thing any one can do?  I think there are many people like me who see these posts, say "wow thats awful, but what can I do about it?" and close their browser.  So what is the best way to help?
-Steve

You and everyone else can easily help defeat this travesty.   At the very least, write those emails and get ALL of your hunting and shooting family and friends to do the same.  The word must get out to everyone who cares about keeping our property rights and freedom to hunt and shoot.  You can write the Commissioners through their web site ( http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/bocc/ ), or you can send them  an email directly:

Commissioner Romero -  RomeroS@co.thurston.wa.us
Commissioner Wolfe -  Wolfec@co.thurston.wa.us
Commissioner Valenzuela -  valenzk@co.thurston.wa.us

You must also copy Robert Smith as he is the official "Keeper" of these communications:

Robert Smith - smithr@co.thurston.wa.us

You can also copy the County Manager:

Don Krupp - County Manager - kruppd@co.thurston.wa.us

Please don't look at what is going on and think "Wow, that's awful" and then close the browser and not do anything.  Look at what is going on and think "WOW, THAT"S REALLY AWFUL, UNJUSTIFIED, AND IS ATTACKING MY RIGHTS TO HUNT AND SHOOT!!!!  I HAD BETTER DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!!!!!" 

Write those emails!

Go to the public meetings if you can!

Tell them how much you oppose this unjustified ordinance.  Speak from the heart.  It only takes a couple of minutes to fight for your rights.  Don't let them or anyone else tread on you or your rights!  It's time to draw a line in the sand and push back!  Enough is enough!  These people will not stop unless we push back, and push back hard!

Please keep in mind that all emails to government addresses are public record.  Do not write anything that you would not want others to see you write.

[KillBilly]

If you would rather sign a petition than write a letter, use this link to the petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/thurston-county-commissioner-district-1-stop-all-action-on-the-thurston-county-no-shooting-zone-ordinance

[bearpaw]

You guys leading this battle may want to point this ruling out to Thurston County:  http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-seattle/smackdown-gun-rights-prevail-as-wa-supremes-deny-seattle-s-appeal

[Mr56Jeep]

Here are a couple more to help spool ya'll up   

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[tdigger10]

Wow everybody needs to get involved in this one start forwarding and e-mailing

[Smith_22]

e-mails written and petition signed!  Thanks for bringing this issue to the fore front and helping guide the blind to get involved!