Wood Stoves on Washington Legislature’s Hit List

March 5, 2012

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“I’m sorry grandma but I’m going to have to confiscate and destroy your wood stove. Rules, you know.”

That conversation is a possibility in the future in Washington State.

House bill 2326 in Washington State proposes to outlaw wood stoves that officials think spew too much smoke. It’s not enough that we’re restricted in cutting the trees and energy prices are going through the roof, now the one mode of cheap heat left is being threatened by the EPA and state busy bodies.

The house has passed this bill and now it goes to the Senate. Good Lord. But wait! There’s more!

I got news of this when I talked to the Freedom Foundation’s Property Rights Director Glenn Morgan (interview here at about the 23:00 mark) on Friday during our regular weekly visit. 

In fact state legislators are actually considering COMING AND GETTING WOOD STOVES AND DESTROYING THEM. This shocking revelation is found over at the Freedom Foundation’s blog:

In this bill, the legislature is expanding the definition of “prohibit the use of”. Most of us understand the definition of “prohibits the use of” and in the context of wood stoves, this means you cannot use it during burn-bans. The legislature, however, has greatly expanded the definition to include removing and destroying wood stoves—this clearly isn’t the common meaning of “prohibiting the use of”. Here is the exact definition from the bill:

“Prohibit the use” or “prohibition” may include requiring disclosure, removal, rendering inoperable, providing evidence of destruction, or other similar requirements as may be approved by rule by a local air pollution control authority or the department.”

Call your legislature, send Freedom Foundation some money DO SOMETHING to tell these people to keep their hands off your wood stove. If not then what or who is next? 

Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com