Hi;
I'm new to the HighRoad and I joined up so I could post in this thread. Sorry, it's going to be long.
I started a thread at Adventure Rider that links here and it has generated some interest and signatures. You can check it out here:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=334027
I wrote to Chris Marr and my other local reps and I received an interesting email today from Mr Marr's assistant, Barb Bumann. I have attached my original letter also, which is a slightly modified and lengthened version of the excellent original posted here - thanks for the help! If anyone wants to use any of the content of my letter, go ahead, but change the personal stuff please!
Would anyone like to comment on Barb's reply to me? At the very least this shows that our reps DO listen to the folks who contact them, so please send a letter ASAP. You can go here to locate your reps and send emails:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/default.aspx
I have neither the political initiative nor the free time to push this through... maybe someone here or someone you know does - talk to your buddies. I will, however, make up a flyer to post at my local range (Spokane Rifle Range) to alert members to the situation. If you folks can do the same, this might work.
John Davies
Spokane WA
____________________________________
Dear Mr. Davies,
Thank you for writing. Everything you say about this potential
legislation makes sense. However, I followed up to see what became of
SB 5167 (it was proposed before Sen. Marr was elected to office) and saw
that it only had one sponsor and never made it out of committee. This
usually indicates that it didn't have a tremendous amount of support,
either from the public or within the legislature. That doesn't
necessarily mean that people wouldn't have supported it -- had they
known about it.
Our experience in Olympia has been that legislation like this has a
better chance to succeed if there is a person or group willing to "work"
it. Do you belong to a group or organization of sport shooters that
might be willing to do the work to push a bill like this through?
Citizen activists are responsible for a tremendous amount of legislation
that gets passed in this state. A good example is the two "moms" from
Spokane who pushed through a bill last year to restore libraries in
Spokane schools, or the owners of Dry Fly Distilling in Spokane, who
worked with us to get the liquor laws changed to treat
micro-distilleries the same as micro-breweries or wineries.
Let me know if you think this issue has "legs," -- i.e. the support
locally and/or statewide for passage, and we can talk with Sen. Marr
about his recommendations for sponsorship.
Thanks again for your thoughtful email,
Barb
Barb Bumann
Legislative Assistant to
Sen. Chris Marr
6th Legislative District
360-786-7610 (Olympia)
509-456-2450 (Spokane)
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 9:04 PM
To: Marr, Sen. Chris
Cc: Barlow, Rep. Don; Ahern, Rep. John
Subject: Legalize firearm suppressor use
TO: Senator Chris Marr
CC: Representative Don Barlow
Representative John Ahern
SUBJECT: Legalize firearm suppressor use
Dear Senators and Representatives,
I am a long time shooting-sports enthusiast. In spite of habitual use of
hearing protection, I suffer from chronic hearing problems (tinitus and
hearing loss), For these and many other reasons, I strongly encourage
you to support legislation, such as bill SB 5167 - 2005-06 sponsored by
Senator Hargrove in 2006, to decriminalize the use of firearm sound
suppression devices that are already legally owned.
SB 5167 would have amended RCW 9.41.250 to read:
"(3) Uses any contrivance or device for suppressing the noise of any
firearm <<< unless the suppressor is legally registered and possessed in
accordance with federal law >>>, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor
punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW."
You may be unaware that these devices are often incorrectly labeled as
"silencers" when they in fact do nothing of the sort. They simply reduce
the sound intensity of a shot from a level that is highly ear damaging
to one that is still very loud, but below levels that cause immediate or
long term hearing loss.
As an ex-aircraft mechanic, I understand the physics of sound
suppression. I also know that in Europe, the use of firearm sound
suppressors is simply considered good manners, since it decreases the
environmental and social impact of responsible firearm use.
In Finland, for example, studies determined that legalization of firearm
sound suppressors did not encourage criminal activity of any kind -
rather it proved very beneficial to sportsmen, the police, and anyone
within earshot of a gun blast. The study specifically reported that use
of firearm sound suppressors does not encourage poaching because a sound
suppressor cannot remove the loud sonic crack of a hunting bullet
traveling faster than the speed of sound (which is characteristic of all
big-game hunting rifle bullets).
Current Washington state law calls for fines of up to $1000 and/ or up
to 90 days in jail for using a suppressed handgun or long gun, even when
the device was legally acquired (complying with all Federal laws, and
after the buyer passed an extensive FBI background check). State law
does not, however, make possession illegal. A gun owner must travel out
of state to actually use his expensive legally acquired, legally owned
suppressor. Can you see the contradiction here?
I encourage you to please examine this issue, and to encourage and act
on future legislation. This is not a gun-control issue, but a health and
environment issue. In addition, decriminalization of the use of legally
obtained and registered suppressors could go a long way toward improving
public opinion regarding long established gun ranges throughout the
state, especially in urban areas..
As a current and future constituent, .I thank you very much for
considering and supporting this legislation.
John Davies