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I made a list of the newly elected Representatives in Olympia. I included what little contact info that was availble on their webpages. If anyone has additional info or if I made any mistakes, please post.
Here is the list of new Reps.
Here is a sampe letter I wrote. Feel free to use it, but do not cut and paste. Since I have not been able to obtain written documentation of Cease Fire WA and the WACOPS position on the new silencer use bill, it would be better not to say they have taken a position on it yet, unless you say you heard they are neutral on the matter.
The new Reps need plently of mail to bring this to their attention. Thanks.
Ranb
Here is the list of new Reps.
1st District
Derek Stanford Dem (425) 481-6231 [email protected]
Luis Moscoso Dem (206) 200-8663 <broken link removed> [email protected]
2nd District
J T Wilcox Rep (360) 400-2011 [email protected]
3rd District
Andy Billig Dem (509) 217-3709 [email protected]
6th District
John E. Ahern Rep (509) 838-1380 <broken link removed>
17th District
Paul Harris Rep (360) 936-9107 Elect Paul Harris [email protected]
18th District.
Ann Rivers Rep (360) 771-8133 Elect Ann Rivers [email protected]
22nd District
Chris Reykdal Rep (360) 790-3151 <broken link removed> [email protected]
24th District
Steve Tharinger Dem (360) 912-2221 <broken link removed> [email protected]
25th District
Hans Zeiger Rep (253) 905-8160 Hans Zeiger <broken link removed>
29th District.
Connie Ladenburg Dem (253) 228-8567 Home - Connie Ladenburg Campaign Committee [email protected]
30th District
Katrina Asay Dem (253) 952-2521 <broken link removed> [email protected]
31st District
Cathy Dahlquist Rep (360) 625-8585 <broken link removed> [email protected]
32nd District
Cindy Ryu Dem (206) 605-1588 <broken link removed>
34th District
Joe Fitzgibbon Dem (206) 949-5127 Joe Fitzgibbon, Democrat for Washington State Rep, 34th District
40th District
Kristine Lytton Dem (360) 299-4542 <broken link removed> [email protected]
42nd District
Jason Overstreet Rep (360) 389-2413 Jason Overstreet for State Rep | Vote Overstreet 2010!
Vincent Buys Rep (360) 389-2101 Vincent Buys - Welcome Vincent Buys - Contact Vincent
46th District
David Frocket Dem (206) 406-1344 Home | David Frockt, Democrat for State Representative, Pos. 1 [email protected]
47th District
Mark Hargrove Rep (253) 630-3064 Mark Hargrove for State House [email protected]
Here is a sampe letter I wrote. Feel free to use it, but do not cut and paste. Since I have not been able to obtain written documentation of Cease Fire WA and the WACOPS position on the new silencer use bill, it would be better not to say they have taken a position on it yet, unless you say you heard they are neutral on the matter.
Representative XXXXXX,
Congratulations on your election to the House of Representatives. No doubt you will be bombarded with numerous letters and messages with requests for attention concerning certain bills or other matters, but I hope I can call your attention to an issue that I have been working on for the last three years.
As you may know, Kitsap County is suing the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club over zoning, safety and noise issues. One of the club officers requested that I build an enclosure to reduce the noise of some of the louder rifles used at the range by myself and some other club members. I made a box from foam filled steel doors into which I could insert a rifle barrel to block some of the noise to the sides and reduce the sound level as heard off of the range.
I knew that RCW 9.41.250(c) prohibits the use of any device that suppresses the noise of a firearm, but thought it only applied to those devices that attached to the firearm, such as suppressors regulated by the federal government. I wrote to various law enforcement officials to ask their opinion on the matter. The Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney told me that due to the broad nature of the law, using my box would be illegal. It seems that any attempt to reduce noise at a rifle range is illegal; unless shooting is restricted only to those firearms that are less noisy or shooting is prohibited all together. If the use of a rifle range equipped with berms and other safety devices is prohibited, this will not stop people from shooting outdoors, they will just shoot in the forest which is less safe for those who live nearby
House Bill 1604 would amend RCW 9.41.250 to allow the use of firearm noise suppressors that are registered with the federal government. Suppressors (legally called silencers or mufflers) are legal in the USA, but only thirty-six states allow unlicensed civilians to own them. Washington State is the only one of those states that prohibits their use on a firearm. The federal government requires that a $200 tax be paid and FBI background check performed on anyone who buys a silencer. Bill 1604 would have been the only legal method by which a person could reduce noise at a rifle range, but it has died in committee the last three sessions. Another suppressor use bill with a new number will be introduced by Representative Condotta next session in January.
When I met with House Judiciary Chairman Jamie Pedersen to discuss the bill, he told me that he would never give the bill a hearing unless he was told that it was a priority and thought it would pass a vote in the House. He encouraged me to obtain the opinions of various gun control and police associations in the State. I spoke with Cease Fire Washington, the WASPC and the WACOPS. Each of them has decided to take a neutral stance on the use of registered suppressors in Washington. No Representative needs to worry about being supportive of any suppressor use bill. It should not be used against them by anyone concerned about gun control issues. Attached is the WASPC's position on suppressor use. I am still trying to get Cease Fire WA and the WACOPS positions in writing.
Although firearm sound suppressors have gotten a bad rap in the media and are vilified by certain people, they are just mufflers for guns that are very useful in reducing noise to a level that usually makes them safe to use without ear plugs. They never make a firearm completely silent. Their use is rarely associated with violent crime. The illegal use of registered suppressors in the USA is even more rare. I wrote to every County Sheriff asking for data on crimes committed with suppressors. There is very little crime associated with their use. Attached is a summary of suppressor related crime.
Will you support suppressor use in our state by voting for a suppressor use bill that reaches the House floor? Are you willing to ask Chairman Pedersen to give the new suppressor use bill a hearing in the Judiciary committee? Thank you.
Ranb
The new Reps need plently of mail to bring this to their attention. Thanks.
Ranb