Stop the Thurston County No Shooting Zone Ordinance - Sign the Petition

[sakoshooter]

Here's the proposed ordinance:

ORDINANCE NO. ________
AN ORDINANCE prohibiting the discharge of firearms in certain areas of Thurston County with zoning regulations that allow for residential densities of greater than one dwelling unit per five acres and along the marine shorelines and adding a new section to Chapter 10.04 of the Thurston County Code.
WHEREAS, certain portions of Thurston County contain zoning regulations that allow for residential densities greater than one dwelling unit per five acres; and
WHEREAS, lot sizes in such zoned areas are such that homes are located in close proximity to each other; and
WHEREAS, discharge of firearms in close proximity to residences poses a danger to public peace and safety; and
WHEREAS, waterfowl hunting utilizing shotguns with a maximum firing range of approximately 300 yards occurs from watercraft in the marine waters along the shorelines of Thurston County; and
WHEREAS, firing shotguns towards the shoreline from a distance closer than 300 yards creates a danger to people and property on the shoreline; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the public health, peace, and safety that the shooting of firearms be regulated in said areas;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THURSTON COUNTY that there is hereby added a new section to Chapter 10.04 Thurston County Code to read as follows:
Thurston County. It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge a firearm at any time in Thurston County, State of Washington, in the following described areas of the County:
All those areas outside city limits that lie within adopted Thurston County Urban Growth Areas; and
All those areas zoned Residential LAMIRD One Dwelling Unit Per Two Acres; and
All those areas zoned Residential LAMIRD One Dwelling Unit Per Acre; and
All those areas zoned Residential LAMIRD Two Dwelling Units Per Acre; and
All that portion of land and marine waters of Puget Sound lying 300 yards, waterward, from the ordinary high water line; and
That portion of Eld Inlet south of an east-west line starting from a Point 300 feet
North of the Meander Line as it crosses the East Line of Section 31, Township 19, North
Range 2 West, thence due Westerly across Eld Inlet to the Western Shoreline; and
That portion of Henderson Inlet South of the North line of Section 17, Township 19
North, Range 1 West;
Excepted from the above described areas are those lands and waterways already within the
boundaries of an adopted No Shooting or Controlled Shooting zone, contained in Chapter 10.04 of the
Thurston County Code, in effect on the date of adoption of this ordinance.
Provided, this section does not restrict the rights of a person, acting in self defense, to take
reasonable actions which, but for this section, would be allowed by law.
ADOPTED:
ATTEST:
Clerk of the Board
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
JON TUNHEIM
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
Elizabeth Petrich, WSBA#
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Thurston County, Washington
Chair
Vice-Chair
Commissioner
____________________________________________________________________________________
Any area subject to a No Shooting Ordinance must comply with the allowances for establishment of such
ordinance as provided in RCW 9.41.300. The State statute allows Counties to restrict the discharge of
firearms where there is a reasonable likelihood that humans, domestic animals, or property will be
jeopardized.
Prior to scheduling a public hearing for this proposed ordinance, the draft ordinance must be reviewed
for form by the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

[huntrights]

sakoshooter,  There is more to the proposed ordinance that was not shown in your post.

Please view the PDF attached at the bottom of this post (20120209_TCNSZ.5th draft).

You can also see some of the recent history and action at the following post:

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=93557.0

[huntrights]

Important Update:

The meeting time for the Commissioner's briefing on the proposed changes to the Thurston County No Shooting Zone Ordinance has been changed to 2:00 - 3:00 PM.


The following is a very important meeting that all should try to attend.  We need to fill the room.  If you go, write on the sign-in register that you OPPOSE the No Shooting Zone Ordinance.  The public will NOT be able to speak at this meeting; you will only be able to observe.  Our presence is extremely important.  The Commissioners will be given a briefing by Cliff Moore from the Thurston County Resource Stewardship Department on what they are now calling the “Controlled Shooting Zone”.  The Commissioners will decide at that time what their next step will be.

Thursday, April 5, 2012; 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Thurston County Courthouse, Building One, Room 280
2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, WA 98502-1045

Check their master schedule prior to make sure this briefing is still on the schedule; they have been known to change the schedule:

http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/bocc/docs/Master%20Schedule.pdf

Materials for the Controlled Shooting Zone briefing are posted on the county website at:

http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/resource/docs/shootingzones/Controlled-Shooting-Zone-Complete.pdf
 
 

[huntrights]

This is the briefing meeting mentioned in earlier posts.  The room will not hold all of people who plan on attending, so there will also be an opposition rally outside.  It is very important that there is a very big showing for this event.  Show up early if you want to get a seat to observe the actual proceedings.

The following is a very important meeting that all should try to attend.  We need to fill the room.  If you go, write on the sign-in register that you OPPOSE the No Shooting Zone Ordinance.  The public will NOT be able to speak at this meeting; you will only be able to observe.  Our presence is extremely important.  The Commissioners will be given a briefing by Cliff Moore from the Thurston County Resource Stewardship Department on what they are now calling the “Controlled Shooting Zone”.  The Commissioners will decide at that time what their next step will be.

Thursday, April 5, 2012; 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Thurston County Courthouse, Building One, Room 280
2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, WA 98502-1045

Check their master schedule prior to make sure this briefing is still on the schedule; they have been known to change the schedule:

http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/bocc/docs/Master%20Schedule.pdf

Materials for the Controlled Shooting Zone briefing are posted on the county website at:

http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/resource/docs/shootingzones/Controlled-Shooting-Zone-Complete.pdf

APRIL 5TH THURSTON COUNTY NO TO NO SHOOTING ORDINANCE RALLY
2:00 PM AT THE THURSTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE COMPLEX, BLDG. 1

RALLY DETAILS

To add emphasis to our solidarity please wear one or more of the following items: green shirt, green blouse, green jacket, or green hat.  Hopefully the crowd will overflow building capacity, so dress accordingly.

The rally will be held at the time and place noted above regardless of any changes in the meeting schedule instigated by the Thurston County Commissioners to disrupt our message and purpose.  Rally organizers will be on site by 1:00 PM.

Please be orderly and respectful of other citizens and property, but do feel free to provide effective background noise.

Please bring and use video cameras and still cameras to help document the event if you have them.

Parking will be an issue, so please carpool if possible and park at the Red Lion Inn which is a short walk from the rally site.  I believe the Red Lion Inn charges a $2.00 parking fee.

Please sign our register and pick up signs at the registration post which will be located at main front entrance of bldg. 1.

Please return the signs to the registration post at the end of the rally.  Exception:  Willing Thurston County residents may keep the signs to post in their front yards.

In the event you are approach by the media politely tell them you are protesting the unlawful no shooting ordinance and then direct them to Jon McAninch.  I will be stationed at the registration post and will answer their questions in a predetermined manner or direct them to some one else who can.

Expect to donate about two hours of your valuable time at the Rally to be effectual.  The Commissioners have by design picked this very inconvenient time for this meeting to minimize the possible attendance of those in opposition to their agenda.

We have made a difference!  The ONLY reason this ordinance was not enacted in October 2010 per the scheduled timeline goal of the Thurston County Commissioners is because of our opposition.  The three Thurston County Commissioners and Staff are realizing just how radioactive this issue is and are now in damage control mode (especially the two Commissioners standing for reelection).

We have now also gained "National" and "Statewide" attention in this matter, and every county and every politician in Washington State is aware and is watching how this ordinance pans out.  Due to the permit / fee / exemption clause incorporated into the Proposed Thurston County No Shooting Ordinance it has now transgressed into a possible source of revenue for these other counties.  So now the ordinance and the process not only attacks your Personal Property Rights, Second Amendment Rights, State Constitution Article 24 Rights, Right of Due Process, Right to Public Waters and Lands, shooting privileges, hunting privileges, etc. it shall now also attack the wallets of every gun owner, shooter, and hunter in this state if it passes. 
 
We, (the key organizers of the opposition to this ordinance) are CONFIDENT “IF” enough people attend this rally this ordinance will be killed.  This shall make this issue untouchable, taboo, and radioactive for every other county and politician in our state and make OBTAINABLE our ultimate goals of hunting and fishing being recognized as a constitutional "RIGHT" in lieu of a privilege, forcing the retraction of already existing like ordinances in other counties and saving tens of thousands of dollars in litigation costs.
 

THIS IS NOT JUST A THURSTON COUNTY ISSUE
THIS IS NOT JUST A WATERFOWL HUNTING ISSUE

There are now many State and National organizations and political allies that have joined in coalition to support the efforts to: defeat this ordinance, retract existing like ordinances, and establish a constitutional right to hunt and fish, hence provide a firewall against these types of issues in the future.  Do not squander this opportunity!  Do whatever is necessary to make this RALLY work as intended.  Bring your friends and families and make your investment in your future and freedom.
 
Please forward this to whoever you deem appropriate and if you have any questions please feel free to contact cedarvillefarms@aol.com
 
Thank you