HB 1541-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS PASSED LEGISLATURE)

     Provides that a person who operates or uses a sport shooting range in this state shall not be subject to civil liability or criminal prosecution in any matter relating to noise or noise pollution resulting from the operation or use of the range if the range is in compliance with any noise control laws or ordinances that applied to the range and its operation at the time of the effective date of this act.

     Provides that a person who operates or uses a sport shooting range is not subject to an action for nuisance, and a court of the state shall not enjoin the use or operation of a range on the basis of noise or noise pollution, if the range is in compliance with any noise control laws or ordinances that applied to the range and its operation on the effective date of this act.

     Requires the owner or operator of any sport shooting range to have in place an insurance policy providing insurance for personal and property damage which occurs as a result of acts at the range, with liability limits of at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars per occurrence.

     Declares that this act does not prohibit a local government from regulating the location and construction of a sport shooting range after the effective date of this act.

VETO MESSAGE ON HB 1541-S

                   March 27, 1998

To the Honorable Speaker and Members,

  The House of Representatives of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval, Substitute House Bill No. 1541 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to protecting sport shooting ranges;"

     The continued operation of shooting ranges in the state of Washington is important to all residents.  Shooting ranges help teach and promote proper gun safety and often serve as practice facilities for law enforcement officers.  Local authorities should recognize existing shooting ranges within their jurisdictions and promote responsible zoning and land use decisions that avoid establishing conflicting land uses.

     This bill, however, would go far beyond addressing conflicting land uses.  It would create a standard for compliance by shooting ranges that assumes that current noise and liability standards will always be adequate.  In essence, it would create a permanent preemption of local land use decisions and ordinances.  I believe that is unrealistic and unwarranted.  As community conditions change, municipalities and their residents should have a right to adjust their land use decisions.

     For these reasons, I have vetoed Substitute House Bill No. 1541 in its entirety.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Gary Locke

                   Governor