Council Legislation

Proposed Ordinance No. O2024-550

Title: An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Amending Chapter 9.32 of the Pierce County Code, "Dangerous Weapons Prohibited," and Adopting a New Section 9.32.081, "Discharge of Bow and Arrow Near Buildings."

Status: Postponed Indefinitely

Sponsors: Councilmembers Dave Morell


Documents
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Public Comments

Name Date Comment
Justin Angove 8/12/24 12:32 PM I strongly oppose this proposal. Archery is a healthy activity that many families do together safely, and responsibly in their back yards. Making this illegal places unnecessary financial burden on these families. Dave Morell clearly doesn't trust pierce counties citizenry. Nor does he understand how easy it is to make this safe.
Mark Eide 8/12/24 12:39 PM This proposal makes little to sense. Do we have a problem in the county with folks being injured do to archery tackle. Of course we don't. We have much bigger issues that desperately and deserve your full attention.This action will alienate and criminalize a large portion of archers in PC. A great number of us have back yard targets that are safe with no issue or negative impact.I can only assume this arose from a neighborly conflict. And instead of dealing with that someone knows someone on the council. So here we are, another unneeded government over reach. I would much rather the council spend my tax dollars on real issues that we all have to deal with. And not create more work for an over burdened on under staffed PC Sheriff.
Shawn Dean 8/12/24 12:54 PM This can be a safe and quiet activity for the youth and the growth of young people teaches them responsibility and quality time with family
Tim Ross 8/12/24 3:48 PM I strongly oppose this proposal as it is overly restrictive to freedom people currently have on their private property. This proposal does nothing to improve safety and should be rejected.
Quinn Dolan 8/12/24 4:41 PM I strongly oppose this proposal. This sport can be done safely in families backyards. I am not aware of any reported incidents where the location near a building mattered. The council have more pressing issues like dealing with our homeless problem than this.
Raymond Bisser 8/12/24 4:46 PM Strongly disagree with this proposal. There are way more cons than there could ever be pros to this type of blanket regulation.
John Minerich 8/12/24 4:58 PM I strongly oppose this proposal. Archery is a safe past-time enjoyed by thousands throughout the county on private property. This proposal does nothing but hinder the rights of individuals and families enjoying what they love.
GARY P SIEGEL 8/12/24 5:41 PM I oppose this proposal. Done correctly, archery is a safe, family-friendly activity.If this is in response to an incident no one seems to be aware of it seems we need to find another way to solve that problem. This blanket proposal is not the answer.
Robert Haney 8/12/24 5:54 PM I strongly oppose this proposal. Archery is on of the safest forms of exercise. What is the justification that warrants such a government restriction? Your over reach is unacceptable.
Clinton Myers 8/12/24 5:56 PM I strongly oppose this legislation. Archery is something that I can practice in my backyard safely and provides quality family time.
Buddy Kaech 8/12/24 9:33 PM We don't need more unnecessary laws, Any archer needs to be aware of their surroundings and where their arrow might go. We don't need council members sitting in a room making blanket statements about what is safe and infringing on our rights to behave in a safe manner, in each situation as it comes.
Alex Zylstra 8/12/24 10:18 PM I oppose this. I can safely practice archery in my yard with my family. This is one more law made up to drum up support for a reelection as to a common sense law. Please stop making more laws that don’t help anyone but the politician heading up this bill.
JOHN R WILLIAMS 8/13/24 5:33 AM I can only assume this proposal is a knee-jerk reaction to an isolated incident. I myself am not an archer, but I have seen multiple home ranges set up within 500' of buildings, where safety was obviously the number 1 priority. I see plenty of unsafe and irresponsible behavior in Pierce County on an almost daily basis, but none that involves bows and arrows. I think the overwhelming majority of our archery community practice safely and responsibly, and I don't think their rights should be taken away for some rare outlying incident. I oppose this proposal.
Pat Eckroth 8/13/24 7:02 AM I am not an archer, but I believe the vast majority of archers are safe and responsible.
Doug hefley 8/13/24 4:22 PM I strongly oppose this proposal. I have always known fellow archers to be very safe when practicing. Archery is often family oriented and this proposal would provide additional barriers to this sport.
Heather D. Dimas 8/13/24 7:20 PM I oppose the proposal to ordinal 02024-550. This is superfluous law. I don't believe that discharging a bow is a problem that needs solving in Pierce County. PC Council should focus efforts on serious crimes, drug use, youth lawlessness. Enforce laws we have now in place; don't restrict opportunities for hunters providing for their families.
Alex Dumas 8/13/24 8:55 PM This is a needless restriction on the vast majority of archers that enjoy their hobby responsibly. It's a form of outdoor recreation that we should be encouraging instead of making it more difficult to find a place to do it.
Jim Hall 8/14/24 6:51 AM I strongly oppose O2024-550. Unsafe people shooting a bow and arrow should be addressed on a case by case basis by local law enforcement, rather than banning all the safe archers from practicing on their property. This is an overreach. Get to know your constituents CM Morel.
Matt Clabaugh 8/16/24 11:56 AM I oppose this and it is a prime example of an unnecessary law. There are currently no problems with archery shooting and it would unfairly restrict people’s abilities to participate in a safe outdoor activity on their own lands. Strongly oppose this.
Brian Koch 8/16/24 4:41 PM I strongly oppose this and it seems like a very absurd and unnecessary law. There is no way there is enough data to propose this, let alone approve it. Pierce county has bigger safety concerns than bows and arrows.
Stephanie Mathews 8/20/24 6:54 PM CM Morell, If this legislation were enacted it would severely limit or would entirely eliminate the ability for archery practice and skill building not just for avid archery hunters who practice in their back yards but also tribal and non-tribal youth programs located at youth camps, boy scout camps, sportsman’s clubs, hunting clubs, etc. 500 yards, being equal to 0.28 miles, makes this required distance so restrictive that it is ludicrous. It makes compliance with the law nearly impossible unless you own a parcel of land over 20 acres in length! So clearly, you are wanting to only benefit large landowners which is clearly inequitable. Many of the above-mentioned youth camps and sportsman’s clubs do NOT have the luxury of setting up archery facilities over a ¼ of a mile from a building/barn. This would lead to the loss of archery programs and potentially the loss of businesses. Archery inflicted injuries and deaths are so incredibly rare. So why should the council create legislation at the taxpayers expense without community and stakeholder input, that could lead to the elimination of vital recreational activities and businesses? Shame on you for spending precious resources to address such a “non” issue. Instead your constituents are literally CRYING for more sheriff’s deputies, prosecution of actual criminals, cracking down on illegal drugs and addressing homelessness. Honestly, what special interest got into your pockets?
Zachary G Snyder 8/22/24 9:22 AM Strongly oppose making a law that reduces my rights on private property.
Leah Snyder 8/22/24 10:02 AM Imposing this restriction on the majority of responsible archers is unnecessary. Instead of making it harder to find places for this outdoor recreation, we should be encouraging and supporting it.
Leeann Snyder 8/22/24 11:14 AM I very strongly oppose this legislation. Seems like you’re trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist. Responsible archery enthusiasts aren’t the issue here. The council seems to want to waste time on a measure that will not make a significant improvement in public safety while we have an actual public safety issue in the form of crime, violence and property theft/damage happening all over the place in this county due to the lack of sheriff coverage and judges who want to keep criminals in jail. Please focus on actual public safety issues plaguing the county and drop this nonsensical proposal to limit archers who aren’t an issue.