HomeMy WebLinkAbout64 Jones11/13/2019 Comment on Commercial Gun Range Ordinances - Planning Commission Desk
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Comment on Commercial Gun Range Ordinances
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Please find attached my comment on the Commercial Gun Range Ordinances under consideration. Thank you for your kind attention.
Sincerely,
Patricia Jones
USA
Patricia A Jones <patricia.a.jonesphd@gmail.com>
Fri 11/8/2019 4:11 PM
To:Planning Commission Desk <PCommissionDesk@co.jefferson.wa.us>;
1 attachment
P. Jones Comments Gun Range Ordinance for Planning Commission.pdf;
November 8, 2019
Michael Nilssen, Chair
Cynthia Koan, Vice Chair
Kevin Coker, Member
Arlene Alen, Member
Matt Sircely, Member
Lorna Smith, Member
Chris Llewellyn, Member
Richard Hull, Member
Planning Commission of Jefferson County
621 Sheridan St
Port Townsend, WA 98368
VIA Electronic Communication to PlanComm@co.jefferson.wa.us
Dear Commissioners:
I am writing to comment on the staff drafted proposed amendments to Title 8 and Title 18 of the
Jefferson County Code regarding commercial shooting facilities.
Local law enforcement agencies have limited capacity to enforce laws regulating permit and
carry of firearms in local public businesses, cultural events, music venues and government
buildings. Local emergency services have limited capacity and ability to treat the grievous bodily
harm of accidental or criminal shootings using weapons of modern warfare. Local school
administrators, teachers, parents and children are already burdened by the necessity to provide
security on school grounds. Local hospitality business, restaurants, bars, cultural events have
limited capacity to ensure public safety of their customers and patrons.
Washington allows local government to enact ordinances that restrict the discharge of firearms
in any portion of their respective jurisdictions where there is a reasonable likelihood that
humans, domestic animals, or property will be jeopardized (RCW 9.41.300).
For these reasons, I respectfully request that the Planning Commission reject the staff
recommendations and incorporate bright line regulations as follows:
Outside legal advice
Jefferson County staff have provided inaccurate, biased and inappropriate the legal advice and
information to the Planning Commission and the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners.
Please recommend that the County engage independent outside legal advice, and seek the
counsel of the state of Washington Attorney General, to develop a just code for our county that
meets the needs and interests of all residents.
Limit the commercial gun ranges to small scale, recreational use only
The rural quality of life in Jefferson County, which include the forest, farms, fish, tourist,
recreation and cultural activities that underpin the economic vitality of our county may be
irrevocably harmed or impaired by large scale commercial training facilities that allow for the use
of assault weapons, exploding ordinance, air to ground arms discharge, and unlimited hours of
operations. Recent press reports confirm that ordinances that place no limits on the size,
intensity or location of commercial gun training facilities may encourage or result in armed
compounds in Jefferson County. Jefferson County must clearly limit the development of
commercial gun ranges to small scale, recreational gun ranges.
Clearly define small scale, recreational gun ranges
Small scale recreational gun ranges should be clearly defined to limit the size, intensity, types of
weapons allowed, and hours of operations.
Commercial gun range training for military, paramilitary or law enforcement units should be
prohibited. Individual members may practice at commercial shooting facilities with lawfully-
owned weapons.
Encampments of organized groups or militias, overnight accommodations for visitors should be
prohibited at commercial shooting facilities, including a prohibition on camping or the use of
RVs.
All outdoor shooting at commercial shooting facilities must occur only during daylight hours
(prior to sunset) and in no case occur later than 10 p.m.
Operation of aircraft on or adjacent to a commercial shooting facility or discharging firearms
from aircraft or drone on or adjacent to a commercial shooting facility should be prohibited in
order to maintain public safety and rural character values.
The active number of firing points at any time at a commercial shooting facility should be limited
to twenty in keeping with the required scale and character of Small Scale Recreation and
Tourist Facilities.
All commercial shooting facilities in Jefferson County are subject to the existing Jefferson
County regulations regarding public nuisances.
Commercial shooting facilities in Jefferson County must provide a 500-yard buffer zone and
“safe area” around any body of water subject to Jefferson County Shoreline Management
jurisdiction, including all bodies of water greater than 20 acres in size and associated wetlands.
Physical containment barriers must be required that are sufficient to contain the projectile from
the highest power firearm used on a shooting range when the shooting range is used in
accordance with its operating permit. Physical containment may include, but is not limited to
baffles, sidewalls, backstops and berms of adequate design, quantity, and location to ensure
that projectiles cannot escape the commercial shooting facility. Firing ranges at commercial
shooting facilities must be setback 1,000 feet from any property line, access road, any county,
state, or federal highway and should never allow firing directionally toward any road.
Limit the type of weapons allowed in Jefferson County on commercial recreational gun ranges
The 2nd Amendment (US Constitution) and the 24th Amendment (Washington State constitution)
allow for the individual right to bear arms for self-defense. The right is not an unlimited individual
right to bear any type of weapon, in any place, at any time. Courts have considered specific
types of weapons’ bans in the United States and have upheld bans against, for example, the
use of sawed off shot guns. Courts have allowed the use of “hand guns” for self-defense. The
use of modern weapons of war with the killing capacity and trauma designed to militarily take
down the enemies of the United States on the field of battle should be used only by the
professional armed forces of the United States on sanctioned military training and operations
facilities. Modern weapons of war have no place in highly populated rural Jefferson County, in
the hands of unregulated commercial facilities without restriction. Jefferson County, by not
enumerating the types of weapons allowed in commercial facilities in our communities, could be
construed to mean that any type of weapon is allowed anywhere, anytime in Jefferson County.
Jefferson County should not allow the use of high capacity rounds, high capacity magazines in
Jefferson County. Restrict the use of high capacity magazines and rounds and their associated
weapons from use on small scale recreational ranges. Restrict the use of exploding ordinance
on small scale recreational ranges.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment and your service to our county.
Respectfully,
Patricia Jones
PO Box 674
Quilcene, WA 98376