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FLOYD PROZANSKI'S EMAIL 08.24.11 |
After reading Kevin Starrett's recent attack e-mail and blog
posting, I thought it was time to send out another message to
each of you. But first, I truly appreciate the many replies
of thanks to my last e-mail. I believe that it is important
to communicate directly with folks, especially as I try to set
the record straight against someone spreading misinformation
about me.
I'd like to start by acknowledging that gun owners may not always
agree with each other on every issue, but we should be willing
to discuss the merits of those issues without misrepresenting
the facts or calling each other names.
That said, I am continually disappointed in the behavior of
Kevin Starrett and his attacks on my character. Kevin has demonstrated
his skill at name-calling, but he does not have the facts to
back up his claims. Even I was surprised that Kevin continued
to deny any association with the altered photo of me that appeared
… and his accusation that I was the person who fabricated
it.
Really? Here are the facts:
Although he took down the image the day after I pointed it out,
Kevin failed to realize that it would be retained on the World
Wide Web. Here’s a link to the picture my staff was able
to locate through a Google "spider" search: www.leg.state.or.us/prozanski/ammoland_website.jpg.
As clearly indicated by its web address, the altered photograph
was posted on ammoland.com. The posting, titled "Anti-Gun
Oregon Senator Prozanski, Cuckoo or Crazy Like a Fox,"
was contributed by and credited to OFF.
After my first e-mail, Kevin sent me a message demanding that
I apologize to him for stating that he altered my picture and
posted it on ammoland.com.
He even threatened to file an ethics complaint if I did not.
Knowing that my statements are factual, I sincerely had hoped
that Kevin would file his complaint. He did not because the
facts don't support him. Instead, he sent out another e-alert
blasting me and, predictably, asking you for money. Kevin continues
to defame my character and misrepresent my position on gun rights.
If he truly believes that the facts support his claims, he should
file his ethics complaint.
As stated in my last e-mail, I am pro-gun. I support the Second
Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 27,
of the Oregon Constitution. I personally own several firearms
and have owned guns since I was 15. I am also a member of my
party’s gun caucus.
As a gun owner for more than 40 years, I believe certain felons
(e.g., murderers, rapists and felons who used a gun or dangerous
weapon to commit a person felony) should not be eligible to
petition for restoration of their right to purchase or possess
guns. On the other hand, Kevin believes all felons should have
that right. I see no reason for Kevin to resort to such extreme
tactics against me just because we disagree on this issue, except
to try to raise money.
In Kevin's recent e-alert, he praised passage of HB 2792 as
it pertained to clarifying possessing firearms on motorcycles
and ATVs, but stated he had misgivings about some felons not
being able to petition the courts for gun rights. As the chair
of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I amended HB 2792 to include
both of those provisions. The bill passed the Senate 24-5, and
the House 45-12.
Since Kevin did not give you all of the facts, here is a link
to the bill signed by the Governor: leg.state.or.us/11reg/measpdf/hb2700.dir/hb2792.en.pdf.
As I also stated in my first e-mail to you, Kevin uses scare
tactics to raise money for his organization. He denies it on
the premise that he did not ask for money in his May 31 posting
that contained the altered photo. He then makes a pitch for
your money in his July 23 e-alert! Does he really think we're
that gullible? All session long he used a time-honored approach
of some advocacy groups to raise money: First, sound the alarms
and use scare tactics, and then ask for money to fight the "Big
Bad" __________ (fill in the blank). Kevin decided to make
me the "Big Bad" to try to raise money. He fails to
mention that I’m a gun owner and that I work as a municipal
prosecutor when I’m not in session.
Kevin continues to provide you with misinformation and has lost
credibility with many legislators. I suggest you consider getting
the facts from another gun rights organization. The NRA and
the Oregon Gun Owners are two respected advocacy groups that
will provide you with actual facts and that work positively
with legislators. Those groups are known to advocate effectively
for gun rights in Oregon.
You can also review the legislative record yourself. All bills
and committee records can be accessed here: www.leg.state.or.us/index.html.
Currently, the two judiciary committees are scheduled to discuss
additional gun legislation during the interim. You can follow
the committees’ work through the above link.
In closing, I want to reemphasize that gun owners may not always
agree with each other on every issue, but we should be willing
to discuss the merits of those issues without misrepresenting
the facts or calling each other names. As always, my office
is ready to assist you in getting legislative information and
I welcome your input.
Thanks again,
Floyd |
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