Ken Schram: I'm with the duck hunters on this 'problem'
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- There's never been a problem, but that isn't stopping Thurston County Commissioners from looking at an ordinance to keep problems at bay.
With the waters around Olympia providing some of the best duck hunting in the area, the commission wants to make it illegal to fire a gun on county shores.
The commissioners say population density is the culprit for the proposed change, which would require hunters to be 300 yards out on the water before they could take aim and pull the trigger.
Hunters are quick to point out the folly of this political move.
Instead of being on the shore shooting out over the water, the hunters would be out on the water shooting towards the shore - which I assume is where the area of population density exists.
Poo-pooing that point, one commissioner said it's doubtful that a shotgun blast from 300 yards out could reach the shore (and that dense population) with enough velocity to be a danger.
Needless to say, duck hunters are not terribly enamored with the county commission's preventing a problem that doesn't exist by significantly restricting their ability to hunt.
I'm with the hunters on this one.
Seems to me the commission just isn't what its quacked up to be.
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also hook up with Ken on Facebook.
With the waters around Olympia providing some of the best duck hunting in the area, the commission wants to make it illegal to fire a gun on county shores.
The commissioners say population density is the culprit for the proposed change, which would require hunters to be 300 yards out on the water before they could take aim and pull the trigger.
Hunters are quick to point out the folly of this political move.
Instead of being on the shore shooting out over the water, the hunters would be out on the water shooting towards the shore - which I assume is where the area of population density exists.
Poo-pooing that point, one commissioner said it's doubtful that a shotgun blast from 300 yards out could reach the shore (and that dense population) with enough velocity to be a danger.
Needless to say, duck hunters are not terribly enamored with the county commission's preventing a problem that doesn't exist by significantly restricting their ability to hunt.
I'm with the hunters on this one.
Seems to me the commission just isn't what its quacked up to be.
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also hook up with Ken on Facebook.
