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 6.20.11
Conference Committee Cave In. |
HB
2792 was supposed to be a bill that recognized other state's
concealed handgun licenses.
After passing the House by a wide margin it was sent to the
Senate where Senate Judiciary Chairman Floyd Prozanski "gut
and stuffed" it so it was no longer recognizable.
Now, while the bill does contain language we sought
to clarify the lawful carry of firearms on motorcycles, snowmobiles
and ATV's it also contains complex and vague language creating
new restrictions on persons attempting to get their firearm's
rights restored.
Today the bill went to a "Conference Committee" to
iron out differences between the House and Senate.
The committee members from the Senate side were Floyd Prozanski,
Jackie Dingfelder and Doug Whitsett. The House members were
Wayne Krieger and Jeff Barker. The entire committee voted unanimously
to accept the "gut and stuffed" Senate version of
the bill with one meaningless amendment. The amendment changes
from three to one year, the amount of time that must transpire
before those who may still apply for rights restoration must
wait after leaving prison. No one from the "pro-gun"
side offered substantive pro-gun amendments.
We have no idea why the committee felt the need to make this
change. While we have no objection to it, it serves no purpose,
something we have repeatedly pointed out to committee members.
Federal law still forbids anyone with a felony record from having
his rights restored in Oregon for 15 years. So the amendment
was a meaningless gesture that benefits no one.
So now, with the help of the House members of the conference
committee, and the Republican Senate member, a message has been
sent to Senator Prozanski that he can mangle or simply kill
pro-gun bills with impunity.
Much will be said by legislators about the need to not "arm
felons." Many who supported the original bill that
had no language about rights restoration,are fearful that this
will become a campaign issue. But there are two important points
to keep in mind. In 2009, the bill that allowed felons to seek
rights restoration was drafted by Floyd Prozanski and
it passed both Houses with no opposition. So "arming felons"
was actually done in 2009, and no one lost a re-election campaign
as a result. It's a bogus issue.
Secondly, in spite of the "sky is falling" rhetoric
by Prozanski, the law is working. Murderers and rapists
are neither seeking nor receiving gun rights restoration. There
simply is not a problem.
Before the law was changed in 2009 it was clear that many in
the legislature were confused about what existing law said.
It soon became clear that many were confused about what
the correcting legislation did. In 2010, when Floyd Prozanski
introduced legislation to reverse what he wrote in 2009 it was
clear he did not understand what his new bill said.
Now we have a cluttered, unneeded and confusing bill that accomplishes
little and is likely to be misunderstood by most,
And every single word about recognizing other states's license
is gone.
Today, Prozanski also led the floor debate to kill SB
347. 347 would have protected the privacy of CHL holders
and victims of domestic violence. Prozanski and fellow
Democrats voted
to throw domestic violence victims under the bus just to make
sure CHL holders got no protection.On this vote, a "nay"
is a pro-gun vote.
As a result of that vote, 347 must be assigned to a conference
committee of the type that just sold out to the anti-gunners
in the Senate.
So while SB 347 awaits a conference committee, HB 2792 will
go back to both Houses for a vote on whether to agree with the
conference committee's decision to go along with all the "gut
and stuff" language added into it in the Senate.
We strongly urge you to contact both your House Rep and your
State Senator and urge them to vote "No" on HB 2792
when it comes back to them. The bill no longer protects visitors
to our state, is confusing and unneeded. You can reach
both your House Rep and your State Senator here.
Please tell them that while you strongly supported the original
bill, you cannot support a bill that has been used by anti-gunners
to promote their own agenda. |
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© 2000 - 2011, Oregon Firearms Federation. All Rights Reserved.
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