Since taking office, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has doubled down on the legacy of his progressive predecessor, pushing forward aggressive gun control measures, supporting controversial criminal justice policies, and leaning heavily into a political playbook that many say has weakened law enforcement and emboldened criminals. His administration’s recent legislative moves have sparked backlash from sheriffs across the state, caused rifts within the Washington National Guard, and alienated a growing segment of law-abiding citizens, especially in rural and eastern parts of the state.
Now, one veteran and former law enforcement officer is speaking out.
In the open letter below, William D. Foster offers an unfiltered, boots-on-the-ground assessment of the Governor’s actions and their potential consequences. It’s part warning, part plea, and all frustration, echoing sentiments that many gun owners, first responders, and patriotic citizens across the country have been quietly sharing behind closed doors.
At The Truth About Guns, we don’t censor uncomfortable truths. We believe in the First Amendment just as strongly as the Second. Whether you agree with every word or not, Foster’s letter offers a raw insight into the growing divide between those in power and those they govern.
Read the letter. Then decide for yourself.
AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR BOB FERGUSON OF WASHINGTON STATE
Dear Governor Ferguson, 12 September 2025
It’s time for a reality check sir, and it might be in your best interest to listen to what I have to say. I get paid for consulting and offering my professional advice on security and at times, common sense. I’m going to offer you a little bit of both sir. I’ll preface this letter by stating that I am absolutely zero threat to you in any way, I am of sound mind and offer a different perspective as someone who was a “transplant” to Washington State some 12 years ago. I’ve lived on both the “wet side” (including near Seattle) and the “dry side.” I do not encourage political violence in any way, shape, or form. I simply want to offer some commonsense advice that you don’t seem to be able to grasp. What I am is a former US Paratrooper (Infantry) and prior Law Enforcement Officer (another state) and freelance writer who will no matter what honor the US and State Constitutions. This is where I’m coming from with this….
It took a lot of years of blood, sweat, and tears, in service to our nation as well as my community to gain the perspective needed to convey this to you. You need take a good, hard look internally at how you are conducting yourself here. Your Washington State Patrol (as honorable as they are) have been gutted by you and people in Olympia of your caliber. So, count them out. That leaves local law enforcement, and it’s well known that not all of them will follow you or your unconstitutional mandates. As someone who actually wore that uniform for a career, I wouldn’t follow you into a Dairy Queen for free ice cream, let alone follow your “orders.” A good chunk of the Washington Sheriff’s don’t care for you and won’t enforce your unconstitutional mandates. The Fed’s will be very selective while President Trump is in office. This means that the people who share your thought process and still currently occupy some of the ranks of federal law enforcement are sitting politically dormant because in the end, it’s about their paycheck and their little bit of power. Not much help for you there.
Now, let’s talk about your National Guard support. You have very limited Infantry support even less Military Police support. Remember, your Washington National Guard (WA. NG) rank and file are made of everyday citizens, most of whom couldn’t honestly care less if you drew your next breath of air, let alone risk their lives for you. Did you know that when you and your predecessor surrounded the state capitol with WA NG during the 2020 elections, those brave soldiers had absolutely zero intention of stopping any serious mobs that would have tried to get through? Yes sir, you really should get out more and get to know the people of the State of Washington, as you seem to know only Jack and Shit apparently, respectfully speaking. I’ve personally spoken with a few of them, and they are amazing people.
You do have a Special Forces contingent in the WA National Guard, but I really would not count on them to enforce your unconstitutional laws, as they are comprised of the best that the US Army has to offer, both militarily, as well as human beings in general. What does that leave you with sir?
Please feel free to fact check my claims sir. Do yourself a favor though, don’t send one of your “yes men” for that task, as you’re going to want brutal honesty, such as I’m trying to share with you now. Literally, the only thing you have going for you are some of the crooked courts in this state that Olympia exerts its political control over. You have a mob of confused would be mental patients who like to play “dress up” in black and throw rocks at our nations law enforcement, when they aren’t hiding in their parent’s basements. That is literally all that you have sir, courts and cowards, unless you are counting on your foreign government friends for support…..
You might as well have encouraged the riots yourself in the Seattle “CHOP” back in June of 2020 as you were the Chief Law Enforcement Officer for Washington State as the AG. You and your predecessor stood idly by while a police precinct and city hall were overrun, a foreign flag was flown over a US City, and illegal weapons were handed out of the back hatch of a white Tesla by a convicted pedophile, where death and serious injuries occurred. You did nothing, as this happened on your watch! So, please spare us all of your BS rhetoric about how you don’t condone political violence, as you truly are transparent sir. The monsters committing these crimes are your people, your base! Sure, you can take the easy way out like most politicians, and blame your predecessor, but that won’t work as you were the Top Cop for the State of Washington.
Governor Fergeson, you make threats, you act tough, but in the end, you sir are pretty much nothing more than a paper tiger. Your negative attitude and reckless “leadership” are going to get more Washingtonians killed. You know nothing about diplomacy, nor what it takes to actually lead. But instead, you stoke the fires of division and play to your “base.” Seriously, do you think that Washingtonians can’t see that? With all of the mental health issues in this state that you keep enabling, the habitual drug abusers you keep giving free needles and “fix kits” to, the criminals that your administration quietly endorses putting back onto the streets, the perverts your administration allows to masturbate in public in Denny Blain Park in Seattle. Criminals of your political persuasion are not held accountable for their firearms crimes but instead are released back into the public with your “quiet blessings.” But yet, you seriously expect the rest of us to obey new laws that you and your predecessor have rammed through the legislation and are in direct conflict with the Constitution of this once great state. During covid you used your powers as AG to go after church goers and small businesses but not after the takeover of one of the cities in your state? Washington is slowly destroying itself sir, and you simply cannot blame President Trump for all of the failures that are emanating out of Olympia.
What will you do when you finally realize that literally the only support you have is from the angry, confused political base of yours that has been lied to for so many years? What then Governor? Most of your states law enforcement will not enforce the unconstitutional “laws” that you brought on as AG of this state as it is! Do you honestly think all of the basement dwelling misled, mentally unstable multicolored hair screamers or paid ANTIFA rioters in Seattle will be of much defensive help to you or the people of Washington?
Iryna Zarutska was brutally murdered on public transit in NC by a career criminal. Did you see the look of utter horror and shock on her face as she was bleeding out? She also had a Black Lives Matter poster on her bedroom door. She bought into your fairytale, and those that preach your political message. News Flash: ALL LIVES MATTER SIR! It has not a thing to do with race, as you know this sir. It had to do with a disturbed convicted criminal being allowed to roam the streets, similar to how your judges are releasing criminals here in Washington State. Criminals roam free, injuring and killing our fellow citizens while you harass the good people of this state with your ever increasing taxes, etc.. Why are you so stuck on “Bad Orange Man, Mean Orange Man…etc…..?” Charlie Kirk was just politically assassinated, and your political base is waving signs in Seattle stating they are happy about it! This isn’t a Republican vs. Democrat thing, we’re way past that sir. This is a “we desperately need competent and morale leadership” thing. We collectively need to bring God back into our lives, into our nation.
Bottom Line Governor Ferguson, you should be a better person, and actually represent ALL OF US, not just your “yes crowd.” The people in this state are pissed off sir. I hear the grumbles, the complaints, and what people are saying about you and your administration. But you go ahead and ignore this free advice. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if you had your people or your “base” retaliate against me for daring to speak the truth. As we all know, “Truth is the new hate speech. If that unfortunate time ever comes, and I pray that is doesn’t, where some politically minded group (left, right, or other) in this state decides that enough is enough, you will be virtually powerless to stop them, and that is the God’s honest truth sir.
You can’t jail, mandate, or threaten an idea away, no matter what it is. You know as well as I do sir that the political pendulum swings both ways, and when the mail in only ballots are done away with, you won’t be able to cheat enough to win again. When that pendulum swings too far to the right to compensate for your failed attempts at leadership, we will all suffer, just as when it swings too far to the left. You know this to be true, as well as the rest of us who are free thinkers. I’d hope that you change your current course sir and at least try to heal the division. Best of luck in your endeavors Governor, you look as though you really will be needing it.
Respectfully,
William D. Foster
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