Tag: gun control bills

Posted on by

03.21.13 Pot, Policies and Protests

On April 3, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear SB 281. This bill “adds post-traumatic stress disorder to definition of “debilitating medical condition” for purposes of statutes authorizing medical use of marijuana.”

OFF takes no position on marijuana, but we are concerned about the gun rights of veterans. Persons who use medical marijuana lose their gun rights under Federal law. We think it’s important that any bill that expands marijuana use to those dealing with PTSD should clearly warn the users of the threat to their liberties.

This bill was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee from the Health and Human Services Committee with a “Do Pass” recommendation.  Please  contact the Senate Judiciary Committee and ask that they consider amendments that would include a warning in the language of the bill to protect veterans. The Committee’s contact info is available here.

Last night, the St. Helens School Board adopted a policy to guarantee that children and school employees in their district will be every bit as vulnerable as the kids who were massacred in Connecticut. In a 3-2 vote, they implemented a policy forbidding employees, contractors and volunteers from having the means to respond to an attack.  It’s hard to imagine any responsible person concluding that this policy is anything other than a recipe for disaster, but they did it. Voting to protect the kids were Ray Biggs and Marshall Porter. Voting to put targets on the backs of children and school workers were Allen King, Matt Freeman and Nathan Helwig. St Helens voters will have an opportunity to elect School Board members who actually care about the kids soon. Ballots for school board will go out May 5 and are due back May 21.  We have been informed that at least one solid pro-gun candidate, Traci Brumbles, will be in the race. These kinds of policies demonstrate how important these races can be. (Interestingly, St. Helens Girls Softball League seem to have more brains than the majority of the school board.)

Finally,  yesterday the Deschutes County Democrats sent out an email asking for folks to come and protest against NRA fundraisers that are scheduled for Saturday March 23. The email says ” Concerned citizens will be protesting the proliferation of guns in our society and the increasing violence that accompanies this. Gun safety advocates are asked to be on the sidewalk in front of the Convention Center from 2 p.m.-3 p.m. and 4 p.m.-5 p.m. on saturday.(sic)”

The email goes on to say :

“We endorse the banning of high capacity magazines and assault weapons and for the creation of a federal registry for all gun transactions. We also endorse the printing of serial numbers on all ammunition.”  It then comically adds the following:

“We do not want to take away everyone’s guns. This is not a partisan issue. It is a human rights issue, public health issue and a safety issue. More guns equals more violence. We ask all patriotic citizens to join with us against the bullying tactics of the N.R.A. The N.R.A. has lost its way.  They are no longer about sportsmanship and gun safety, but have evolved into a lucrative money making lobby for the armaments industry…..Anyone interested in attending or helping Jim organize the event can contact him at 541-389-9163 orjhauser@bendcable.com“

Included in the email was a request that folks join a march for same sex marriage:

From our friends at PFLAG:

Join PFLAG Central Oregon in Bend, Oregon for a local march for marriage equality! Let’s show our support nationally and right here in Oregon!

Where: Corner of Newport & Wall St. in downtown Bend

When: Saturday, March 23

Time: 10AM – 12PM

Bring your signs!

RSVP: pflagcentraloregon@gmail.com

or join our facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/617426938272711/

Together we can make history!

Looks like Bend is about to be a hotbed of protests.  We’re going to go out on a limb here and bet that the PFLAG folks get lots more participants than the gun banners do.

 

 

 

 

Posted on by

GUN BILLS COMING. BACKGROUND CHECK SHUTDOWNS

03.08.13

UPDATE: THIS IS THE LATEST FROM BURDICK 8.40 PM :

Dear Friends,

The March 14th hearing on four gun safety bills has been postponed for a week or two. We will let you know as soon as they are rescheduled. Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Senator Ginny Burdick

Believe NONE of what they say. Check the schedule on the link below.

Today, OFF debated “Ceasefire Oregon” at the Portland City Club.

One of the demands that Ceasefire Oregon made repeatedly was for “universal background checks.”

While their spokeswoman claimed that “criminals don’t get background checks” AND claimed that “background checks stop criminals“, here is an interesting fact.  The Oregon Background Check System has been shut down today.

 Gun dealers could not transfer firearms.  So instead of the usual situation where only some people are denied without cause, today everyone was.
If you have to beg for government permission to exercise a “right” it’s not a “right”.  If that “permission” is not even available, it’s even worse.This is the danger we face if legislation to pass mandatory background checks for private transfers passes.  This is one of the bills we have been told to expect to be heard next week.

 For people who own guns, delays are inexcusable but not life-threatening.  For a person who has concerns for her safety, a delay on a firearms transfer is a game changer. That’s why we believe any bill to expand the failed background check system to private transfers must be defeated. As we said, we expect several restrictions of Second Amendment rights to be heard next week. While none of this is official, here is what Senator Jeff Kruse sent out today:

“Before I get into the subject of this week’s newsletter I want to give everyone an alert.  Senator Prozanski, who is the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has announced there will be hearings next Thursday and Friday on 4 gun bills.  They are SB 347, 699, 700 and 796.  The Democrats have the majority and therefor have the right to have hearings on any bills they wish.  Elections have consequences, and one of those is the ability to set the agenda.  As a member of the committee I will do everything I can to stop these bills and I think we may be able to.  My request of anyone who intends to come to the hearings is to be respectful and comport yourself in a dignified way.  Part of their strategy may be the hope there will be some sort of incident, and that is the last thing we need.”

 
Until  the bills are officially scheduled we cannot say for sure that anything will happen. So for now it’s all rumor. But it’s also likely.
There are a few things to keep in mind if you plan to come and testify on these bills.  At any time, right up to when the hearing starts, Senate Judiciary Chair Prozanski can make any changes he wants. He can cancel the hearing, reschedule it, or kill the bills.  He can take unlimited testimony from people who agree with his anti-gun agenda and then give the pro-gun side 30 seconds…or nothing.

 So, while even though at the time of this alert on Friday evening at 6:30, nothing has been officially scheduled, even if it is, Prozanski can make any changes he likes to the schedule. Factor that in  if you are planning to come to the hearing.  Use this link to double check on the schedule. Look for the schedule for “Senate Judiciary.”  Assume nothing.
The second thing to be aware of is this; one of the bills that may be heard outlaws Oregon citizens from having firearms in the Capitol. That’s your building. The gun grabbers have repeatedly said that the Capitol is “everyone’s” building. That’s why they don’t want you there.  It’s for “everyone” but gun owners.Rest assured that the gun grabbers are hoping for some kind of incident in the Capitol with a gun owner, even though time and again we have demonstrated how responsible we are.

 Keep that in mind if you come. Let’s not accommodate them. Be sharp.

At recent events at the Capitol, gun owners openly carried firearms inside and outside the building and the police reported “NO incidents.”  Because of this there is every reason to believe the anti-gunners may attempt to seed the crowd with someone who will do something to embarrass gun owners and create opportunities for the gun grabbers.If you see someone doing something stupid, don’t assume he is one us. Step in and take action. The politicians and the media want an incident and there is no reason to believe one won’t be fabricated.Don’t forget to use this link to contact all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and tell them NO on all the anti-gun bills scheduled.

 

Posted on by

Even More Anti-Gun Bills

03.01.13

There are several more anti-gun bills you should be aware of. They are by all the usual suspects.

House Bill 3114 gives colleges and universities the right to ban CHL holders from their property. In order to see the actual ban language you must scroll all the way to page 65 of this 66 page bill. This bill is a response to our successful lawsuit against the Oregon University System. On the other hand, House Bill 3009 does the exact opposite, specifically granting CHL holders the right to be there.

House Bill 3412 “Establishes Task Force on Reducing Gun Violence.” What a waste of time and money. As though the “task force” is going to learn anything new.

House Bill 3413 creates mandatory lock up laws for your firearms. If you’re not home and your 17 year old daughter uses one of your guns to defend herself  against a home invader you can spend a year in jail and pay a fine of $6250.00.

You can see all the bills at this link.

It’s imperative that we keep the heat on these people. Remember, you can contact your own legislator using this link. You don’t need to write anything long or profound.  Our job is not to “educate” them.  A simple “NO ON GUN CONTROL” will do it.

The Dembrows and Dingfelders and Keny-Guyers know exactly what they are doing. They are trying to eliminate your gun rights. They are not going to “see the light.” But we can make them feel the heat.