Posted on

03.16.11. ONE MORE PRO GUN BILL MOVING. DON’T RELAX JUST YET.

One More Pro-Gun Bill Moves Out Of Committee

House Bill 2797,  a bill we requested to clean up and clarify Oregon’s laws dealing with carrying handguns on motorcycles, ATV’s and snowmobiles, passed unanimously out of the House Judiciary Committee today.This is a positive development. There were minor amendments that have not yet been reflected on the legislative website, but they do not hurt this bill.

It is hard to imagine anyone having an objection to this simple, commonsense legislation. (But never assume anything.)  Its next stop will be the full House.

Please consider contacting your House Rep and reminding them that all HB 2797 does is clarify outdated and contradictory language in current law.

Interestingly, one committee member, Chris Garrett, offered to carry the bill on the House floor, because he was a “strong supporter of 2nd Amendment rights.” That’s more than a little ironic since he has already voted “NO” on two important pro-gun bills this session.

Tomorrow, the full House is scheduled to vote on HB 2787, the CHL privacy bill and the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a “work session” on a CHL privacy bill of their own. We are expecting amendments on the Senate bill, but of course, we have seen nothing yet.

We have been informed that there is the possibility of some House Republicans defecting and voting AGAINST CHL privacy tomorrow for no discernable reason, so we strongly urge you to consider sending one last email to your own rep asking for a “Yes” vote on HB 2787. This should not be a controversial bill, but politics is strange and you can’t be too careful.

By the way, please consider a “thank you” to House Rep Kim Thatcher, who has been a tireless fighter for gun rights and is the chief sponsor of every pro-gun bill that has moved so far. A word of encouragement for her staff is also in order. They work very long hours to protect our rights.

On Monday, the full House is scheduled to vote on HB 2792, a bill to recognize other states’ CHL’s.  While it’s always dangerous to make predictions, we think it’s safe to say there will be a fair amount of resistance to this bill. Let’s let them know we want it passed so we can get the benefits it would provide Oregonians (more states will recognize OUR permits) and we want to be a place that welcomes law abiding visitors.

On another note, the House is scheduled to take up a resolution to make the “Code of the West” the official conduct of Oregon. We think if the Oregon legislature actually acted this way, we would all be better off.

On a national note, lock and load, it’s very likely that some hard times may be coming down via the current administration which seeks to curtail your gun rights while helping to funnel guns to Mexican crime gangs.