Evergreen, please re-read my post. I said we only get suppressors and AOWs but never said we can't use cans. I've had cans waiting to see the light of day the second the suppressor law was amended a couple years ago. There aren't really any cool AOW's though. The gun market is promising as Daniel Defense is releasing the ISR and Sig is developing the MPX so we'll soon have a "suppressed SBR-in-one" option for those of us who want to run it for fun or home defense.
It doesn't really matter if it's the wet or dry side as WA's state preemption law prevents Seattle from enacting Chicago-like laws. Seattle is throwing a fit but there is nothing they can do about it. The only thing you have to contend with is the people. The great and terrible thing about most Washingtonians is they keep to themselves. We aren't a very open people. We're friendly but we don't talk a lot. This means I don't bump into a lot of anti-gunners because they keep to themselves. Most people here are very passive aggressive so they won't bother you if you huff or grunt at them.
The last few elections for a Republican governor have been very close. If Gregoire didn't demand vote recounts until she won, we'd have Rossi in office right now.
You have summarized Washington in a nutshell
. I noticed people are lot quieter about their opinions than in my home state of Oregon. Also, people are very reserved and almost what appears rather shy and/or anti-social. Oregon is state where people also are a bit reserved and passive aggressive, but not to the degree as in Washington.
I find Washington to be the most beautiful state I have ever seen. I love looking out at Mt Rainier on a clear or semi-clear day. I have three gun ranges within modest driving distance and one 10 min from me. I like the fact I can drive 30 min and be in world class city and another 30 min and be in the wilderness.
I sure hope WA gun laws will stay as non-restrictive as they are. Outside of Seattle/Bellevue proper, things redden up around the wet side. Pierce (outside Tacoma), Clark and Whatcom counties where I have lived are more on the conservative side.
Most people I meet around here are not vehemetly anti-gun. Also, I don't realy feel Seattle, for being a very large city is more anti-gun than many other large cities its size. Yeah the liberals there would love to take away every gun we own, but the same can be said for most big cities around the country.
On the suppressor subject:
Sorry, I don't quite understand what you are talking about with not being able to acquire a can. I know a guy who has a huge selection at the Vancouver, WA gun show and many people tell me it is like a 2 or 3 month wait from the ATF for NFA stamp, which has nothing to do with the state of WA. I am not even understanding what you mean by a suppressor not seeing the light of day. There is a lot of people selling suppressors in WA state, or at least there was when I was looking at them a little while ago.