IT’S SHOWTIME
The first of what may be many hearings on gun related bills has been scheduled.
The following bills have been scheduled to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on February 9th at 1PM.
These are PUBLIC hearings. If you feel strongly about any of these bills, please come and testify. The bills will be heard in room 343. (Committee schedules are subject to change. You can get the latest schedules here.)
HB 2080 FIRST PUBLIC HEARING – Requires that certain court orders indicate that person subject to order is barred from possessing, receiving, shipping or transporting firearm or firearm ammunition.
Frankly we don’t know just where they are going with this bill, but we will certainly be there watching it.
THIS BILL HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SCHEDULE.
HB 2415 FIRST PUBLIC HEARING – Directs Department of State Police to adopt rules identifying states that allow holder of Oregon concealed handgun license to carry concealed handgun and have substantially similar eligibility requirements.
This bill allows the state police to recognize other states’ licenses if they, the State Police, consider the other states’ license “worthy.” While we can always hope, this is an idea that has failed spectacularly in the past. Let’s just recognize everyone. (As in HB 2792 below.)
HB 2787 FIRST PUBLIC HEARING – Prohibits public body from releasing information that identifies holder of or applicant for concealed handgun license.
Simple, straightforward and long overdue, this bill, shot down by extremist Democrats in 2009, would protect license holders from the snooping eyes of anti-gun organizations and agenda-driven media outlets like the Medford Mail Tribune. The Sheriff’s Association actually requested that this bill be listed as “at their request.” Clearly we are making progress.
HB 2792 FIRST PUBLIC HEARING – Provides nonresidents who are authorized to carry concealed handgun in another state with protections provided to persons with Oregon concealed handgun license.
Commonsense legislation that was torpedoed in 2009 by Democrat Judy Steigler. She has now been returned to private practice thanks to gun owners in Bend. This is a great bill, we encourage your support.
Whether or not you can attend the hearing, we ask that you contact the House Judiciary Committee expressing your support for HB 2787 and 2792.
Contact info and a sample cut and paste message follow. Please feel free to modify it.
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Dear Representative,
Your Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear two important bills on February 9th. I am writing to urge your support for House Bills 2787 and 2792.
HB 2787 is long overdue legislation to protect the privacy of concealed handgun license holders. There is no reason this information should be public. These are not records of government activity. This is private information of people who were compelled by law to disclose it in order to exercise a “right.” This information should no more be public than income tax returns.
HB 2792 simply recognizes concealed handgun licenses from other states, much as we recognize driver’s licences. In 2009, the Oregon Sheriffs came out in strong support of this concept. I urge you to pass both these bills through your committee.
Yours,
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Contact Info for House Judiciary Committee Members
Jeff Barker, Co-Chair rep.jeffbarker@state.or.us
Wayne Krieger, Co-Chair rep.waynekrieger@state.or.us
Chris Garrett, Co-Vice Chair rep.chrisgarrett@state.or.us
Wally Hicks, Co-Vice Chair rep.wallyhicks@state.or.us
Mary Nolan rep.marynolan@state.or.us
Andy Olson rep.andyolson@state.or.us
Mike Schaufler rep.mikeschaufler@state.or.us
Carolyn Tomei rep.carolyntomei@state.or.us
Matt Wand rep.mattwand@state.or.us
Gene Whisnant rep.genewhisnant@state.or.us