The measure now heads to
Democratic Gov. Kate Brown, who has indicated support. Her signature
would make Oregon the eighth state to require screening before firearms
could be transferred between private, unrelated owners. No other states
have passed such legislation this year, advocates said.
Oregon’s effort is the latest
after the long-running debate over gun rights intensified following the
shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. Last year, Washington
state passed a ballot initiative requiring background checks on all gun
sales and transfers, and Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to
Prevent Gun Violence, said the group has the signatures for a similar
ballot initiative in Nevada.
Supporters have tried twice
before to expand background checks in Oregon, saying it closes a
loophole that allows people to purchase firearms online without a
review. Neither attempt made it past a Senate vote, but Democrats
managed to increase their majorities in both chambers after last year’s
election, partially because key candidates in the Senate were backed by
billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s gun control group, Everytown for Gun
Safety.
The bill that passed the state
House on a 32-28 vote Monday requires background checks on most private
sales and transfers, except those between close family members such as
spouses or siblings. There are some exceptions, such as sharing a gun
while hunting or handing over a firearm for use at a shooting range.
Three Democrats joined all 25 Republicans in opposition.
Once the measure takes effect,
private sales would need to happen in front of a licensed gun dealer who
would run the check through Oregon State Police.
There is an exception for gun
sellers and buyers who live more than 40 miles from each other. In that
case, the seller could send the firearm to a dealer near the buyer, who
would then run the check and hand over the gun to the buyer if they’re
cleared.
The bill has borne intense
opposition from gun rights supporters, and every legislative Republican
has voted against it. Many cited law enforcement officials in their
districts who said they wouldn’t enforce the law or that it would be
difficult, if not impossible, to enforce.
Senate Bill 941, worse than
doing nothing, gives false hope, because it represents to people that
felons are not going to get guns. And colleagues, I think we all know
that’s not true. They are going to get them one way or another,” House
Republican Leader Mike McLane said.
Others argued the bill would
trample Second Amendment rights or would make criminals of gun owners
who choose not to get a background check every time they hand over a gun
to a friend or neighbor.
The seller of a gun would face a
misdemeanor for a first offense, punishable by up to a year in jail and
a $6,250 fine. A second offense would be a felony, with a potential
sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Under current law, anyone
purchasing a gun from a licensed dealer has to pass a background check
to ensure the buyer isn’t prohibited from owning a gun because of
convictions for felonies or violent behavior. Oregon goes further than
federal law by also requiring background checks at gun shows under an
initiative voters approved in 2000.
“This bill is not about stopping
all gun violence in Oregon, and it’s not about taking guns of the hands
of law-abiding citizens,” said Rep. Jennifer Williamson, a Portland
Democrat. “It’s about keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers,
those suffering from mental health crises, and convicted felons.”
Bloomberg and his minions just keep checking off states on their list one by one-Nevada’s next.I’ve posted many times about this-as have a lot of others,apparently no one’s listening,because every state on Bloomberg’s list is going down one after the other-and he’s going to keep checking off states on his list because no one’s paying attention.
Maybe when he buys enough votes in Nevada-people will wake up.
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