Council Legislation

Resolution No. R2016-63

Title: A Resolution of the Pierce County Council Relating to the Discharge of Firearms; Requesting the Firearms Advisory Commission (FAC) to Conduct a Review of the Appropriateness of Prohibiting or Restricting the Discharge of Firearms in the Unincorporated Key Peninsula Area Located Within Section 14, Township 22 North, Range 1 West of the Willamette Meridian, Not Already in a Restricted Area, and in the West Half of the West Half of Section 13, Township 22 North, Range 1 West of the Willamette Meridian, Not Already in a Restricted Area; and Requesting the FAC to Forward Its Recommendations to the Council by a Date Certain.

Status: Passed

Sponsors: Councilmembers Derek Young

Final votes

June 7, 2016
Aye Aye Aye Aye Excused Aye Aye


Documents
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Public Comments

Name Date Comment
Steve Ross 5/17/16 5:34 PM There are enough land use restrictions in place. Stop the restriction of freedom!
Donald & Victoria Riche 5/17/16 8:09 PM We have lived here for over 15 years and this is the first time we have heard a complaint about neighbors shooting their guns. As far as we know there has never been an incident or accidental shooting in our area. It is our constitutional right to keep and bear arms, and being we live in an extremely rural area we need to be prepared for anything. Some neighbors may shoot to protect their livestock from wild animals which is their right to do. So before you start putting in changes to the law due to one person all of a sudden not feeling safe you need to remember all the other people living out here and their rights too. We are not aware of the area getting anymore densely populated so we don't know why anyone feels less safe than they have for the past decades, people have been shooting guns out here responsibly for years. You could make better use of tax payers money on real issues instead of one persons complaints. We pay our taxes just like everybody else in the city, yet we get no services, like a paved road, bus service, snow removal, and many more services that they get inside city limits. Please vote NO, thank you.
Donald & Victoria Riche 5/18/16 8:14 AM We just looked at the proposed restriction map and see that the most populated part of the neighborhood will be excluded from this ban. If you came out to look for yourselves, you'd see how much closer the homes are just south of the ban line on 176th Avenue. It's not fair for one neighbor to be banned while the house next door can still shoot. How is it legal for you to target a select few people that you have in this list? If someone has a complaint about someone shooting their guns off they need to take it up with that person instead of including the people in the immediate area around them. This has nothing to do with us and we refuse to have our rights taken away from us when we have done nothing wrong or illegal. We don't even shoot, but it's just not a fair deal to the ones that do. I might expect this from a Democratic politician with the way the state is run, but not from you. Very sadly, Don & Vickie.
Don Frazier 5/19/16 12:15 PM Whether or not there will be shooting on my property is a decision I will make. I am sick to death of county , state, and federal government constantly chipping away at the rights of property owners. Whatever you want to do with your property Derek Young is yours to decide. Stay off of mine and out of my private use of my property. I also strenuously object to your having a hearing that effects working property owners in the middle of the business day which makes hearing their opinion much more difficult.....or was that the purpose? Mind your own business Derek Young!!!
BRANDON JERNIGAN 5/23/16 3:20 AM Members of the County Council, District 7, Pierce County Council, I am writing to oppose Proposed Resolution R2016-63 relating to the discharge of firearms, which impacts my property. My property address is 15208 178TH AVE KP N, Gig Harbor, WA, 98329, which is included in the proposed area. My first concern with the proposal is the size of the area where the discharge of firearms would be prohibited or restricted. The State and County regulations involving the discharge of firearms in unincorporated Pierce County, state, in section 9.32.070, that "No single proposal for an area where the discharge of firearms shall be prohibited or restricted may exceed 160 acres. Looking at the map submitted with the proposal, the area seems to include close to 600 acres, well over the limit of 160 acres for a single proposal. My second concern with the proposal is that allegedly the discharge of firearms is creating a safety threat to the residents in the area at issue. Complaints allege that this is due to the increased density in the area. The increased density of the area does not make discharging firearms a safety threat, assuming that those, including myself and the others that reside on my property, as well as other individuals in the area, are doing so in a safe and responsible manner and abiding by all Federal, State and County regulations. The applicable State and County regulations involving the discharge of firearms in unincorporated Pierce County in section 9.32.080 state that, “In all areas of Pierce County where the discharge of firearms is not prohibited or restricted pursuant to 9.32.070, it shall be unlawful to discharge a firearm within five hundred feet toward any building occupied by people or domestic animals or used for storage of flammable or combustible materials.” As long as individuals are abiding by the law and discharging firearms into a safe and effective backstop, then the increased density in the area does not create a safety threat to the residents. I bought my property in unincorporated Pierce County in an area where I knew I would be able to discharge firearms, and do so without causing a safety threat to my community. I am fortunate to have a natural backstop on my property to discharge firearms into, which is a thirty foot tall embankment that is very effective at stopping all kinds of ammunition. Much of the proposed area consists of similar terrain that should allow other residents to continue discharging their firearms in the same safe and responsible manner that I do. Myself, and the other residents in my area, have the right to be concerned about our safety, and anyone discharging firearms has the responsibility and obligation to do so in a safe and legal manner. Instead of restricting the discharge of firearms, it may be wise to remind the community of its responsibility to discharge their firearms safely and responsibly and perhaps provide some literature on the subject with helpful guidelines for doing so. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Brandon Jernigan
Victoria Riche 6/2/16 9:36 AM You say this proposal is being brought up because the area is getting more densely populated, that's not true at all. There have been NO new houses added to our area, west of Wright Bliss in the past 5+ years. I don't think there has ever been any incident to warrant this change either. What will the people that farm out here do to keep there animals safe?? This proposal will also waste our officers time and money, this will be an UN-inforcible law, you can't see your neighbors due to the forested area, therefore if you have no witnesses actually seeing someone shoot, all you have is hearsay evidence which is not enforceable in a court of law. Please don't waste our precious few officers time, I'm sure they have better things to do. All this rule will do is cost the city money in a time where every dollar counts..
Amy Parker 6/2/16 3:15 PM In regards to proposed resolution R2016-63 - This proposal concerns me for multiple reasons. I hope that you take the time to read and hear our communities voice. I haven't heard a single "support" for this proposal. 1. We chose (like so many out here) to build 13 years ago in an UNINCORPORATED area for many reasons, one of which is that we could target shoot SAFELY. We own a combined 9.5 acres and have a deep berm. Bottom line is following the guidelines of knowing the scope and range of your weapon. I see several places making mention of population density changing here on the peninsula. However, I do NOT see mention on the lot sizes changing in our neighborhood. In simple terms, we still have 9.5 acres and a safe and reasonable place to shoot. Our neighbors also have the same sized lot as they did yesterday...last year...etc. 2. We have livestock and the Alpine tree farm and it's hundreds of acres right by us. We need to be able to defend our animals and children from coyote, cougar and bear - without worrying about a law telling us we cannot discharge weapons on our property. 3. We are being over legislated. And if I am reading our local county regulations correctly, a proposal cannot include more than 160 acres. This proposal is at least three times that size. 4. We are law abiding citizens who still have the right to bear arms. I appreciate your consideration, Amy Parker
suzy meyer 6/6/16 11:29 AM My comments are 3-fold . . .1) both my husband and myself have taken to no longer riding our bikes or walking certain areas of the neighborhood because the gunfire is constant and as my husband said one time after a ride "I wasn't sure which way to duck and cover!" Appx 3 years ago in our own yard I was doing something and a projectile of some sort whizzed about 6 feet in front of my face; I never saw it, only felt the air move and a whistle sound; a friend said . . .What the fuck was that? My response . . . wasn't a bird! We went inside. 2)As a licensed vet tech for over 20 years I saw my share of ,and assisted in surgery with doctors multiple times, correcting the damage done, both intentional, and accidental of the bullet and the bow. My heart broke for the creatures because they had no say in the matter. Just being a dog, cat, deer, goose, eagle, coyote, etc., and BAM shot and left for dead. Why? Because they had become inconvenient in our sterile life. Pretty selfish. And 3) Our world is coming to a selfish and odd turn of events. A game-show-host is soon to be our leader. I see every day people taking from each other because now they want it and you can't have it anymore. I work in an environment where every single day of my working hours I hear . . ."where can I go to find this to kill that?" Let's focus on priorities; soon we are to be the spider desperately trying to run from the smashing phone-book;and no amount of your gunfire, your 2nd amendment rights to shoot the "fuck outta stuff", none of that will matter in the end. You feel you have the right to take, demand, shoot, kill, invade. I have the right to find it offensive and not want it in my life. Just one time put away the gunfire, listen to the kids in the pool, birds flirting with each other, your wife sizzling something yummy on the stove, neighbor dogs talking to each other from acres away, geese honking, music, your friends and their laughter, and fucking enjoy it!
Mark Barnes 6/6/16 8:42 PM Dear Pierce County City Council     Shooting Safely on Key Peninsula  I hired a private contractor, using a 450 bulldozer to build my private shooting area. I paid $2,500.00 to have this safe area made. The berm I shoot into is over 15 feet tall, 80 feet wide and 100 feet thick. I will bring photos of my shooting area to the next council meeting. I have 5 acres. DNR land on two sides. Behind my berm is DNR property (McCormick tree farm). There are no houses on any side of my property. My shooting area is about 15 feet below grade and therefore the sound is not very loud when shooting. I have never had any complaints from anyone. I do not shoot glass, cans or rocks etc. I only shoot about 4 or 5 times a year. When I shoot only myself and a few very close friends are ever aloud to shoot. We use all gun safety rules you would have at any gun range. I only shoot during daylight hours. When I shoot it is usually only for 1/2 to 2 hours max. You are welcome to come to my property and have a site check. Contact me and I will meet with you anytime at your convenience. I have taken care to be safe in every way I can. Please keep my right to shoot on my property open. I have 5 acres it cannot be subdivided. All the land parcels adjacent to my property are 5 acre lots or DNR areas much larger than 5 acres. It is very quit and peaceful here and we very seldom hear gun shooting. When we hear guns it is okay and we do not feel threatened. Thank you for your consideration Mark Barnes
Dawn Appelberg 6/7/16 1:14 PM I have just received notification via FACEBOOK message of a meeting which you are planning on doing today at 1500. I think the popel have made it vdery clear - stop infringing on our gun rights. I am part of a group that cleans up rural arenas and ensures firearm safety is paramount at all rural shoots. It is one of the greatest ways to teach your child firearm safety as well as responsibility. STOP TRYING TO TAKE OUR RIGHTS AWAY!