Category: OFF Alerts

As you know, a district court in southern Oregon ruled that teachers give up their right to protect themselves and others when they accept a job in a public school.

In a case that has received worldwide attention, Medford teacher Shirley Katz sued to overturn her school’s policy of denying the right of self defense to its employees. The Oregon Firearms Educational Foundation, with your generous support, has paid the legal fees for Ms. Katz.

Yesterday, attorney Jim Leuenberger filed a brief appealing the decision, a decision which directly contradicts the extremely plain language of Oregon law. Oregon law says, in no uncertain terms, that only the Oregon Legislature may make rules to restrict possession of firearms.

And now, we will need your help again. The costs for the case are mounting, but it’s essential that we see it through to a conclusion.

You see, the Oregon Firearms Educational Foundation is not only funding Ms. Katz’s case. In addition to all our past litigation, OFEF has also come to the aid of other gun owners. We have been working to help provide funds for David Bacon, currently fighting an outrageous Federal charge.

We have provided legal aid to a gun owner who was pulled over in Portland in a “routine” traffic stop. When the officer discovered the driver had a concealed handgun license, he became incensed and threatened the driver with revocation because he had failed to inform the officer he had a license, something the driver had NO obligation to do.

He then called for “back-up” and numerous other Portland Police officers arrived to intimidate the driver, who had done nothing wrong. (In fact, even the traffic violation was dropped.) But the officer insisted he was going to arrange to revoke this man’s license. (To hear audio of the clueless cop discussing the “requirement” to volunteer that you have a CHL, click here.)

OFEF is providing legal services to this gentleman in his efforts to seek discipline for the officer in question.

OFEF is also assisting a businessman who was arrested at gunpoint by a Clackamas County Deputy Sheriff for having a handgun on the seat of his pickup. The only problem? It’s perfectly legal to have a handgun on the seat of your car. In fact, if you don’t have a CHL and there is no place in your vehicle to store a gun where it’s “not readily accessible,” having it on the seat beside you is virtually the only LEGAL way to transport a handgun. Once again, an innocent gun owner is the victim of ignorant or vindictive police.

You can see why I need your help. Contributions to OFEF are entirely tax deductible, and only together can we afford to confront the growing number of abuses against gun owners in Oregon. Remember, you could easily be next.

You can make a secure, online donation here. As I said, your donation to OFEF qualifies for a tax deduction, and with a growing number of cases of attacks on gun owners, we have never needed your generous support more.

Some legislators have already vowed to expand the restrictions on gun owners in the 2009 session. House Rep Peter Buckley of Ashland, has promised to introduce a bill to ban self-defense guns at schools, just as his cohort Ginny Burdick (503)244-1444 has tried to do over and over for years.

Buckley (541)482-9885 is apparently unaware of the number of people who have been gunned down in schools across the country because of the kind of policies he is proposing.

All this comes on the heels of the much anticipated “Heller” case which was heard on Tuesday.

While media outlets across the country have largely concluded that the majority of Justices will support an “individual right” theory of the Second Amendment, many gun rights organizations reacted in astonishment when the lawyer attempting to overturn Washington DC’s gun ban, agreed that “reasonable restrictions” on gun rights would be acceptable and that Americans had no legitimate right to own machine guns, a point directly contradicting his own reliance on the “Miller” case. Gun Owners of America expressed “shock and horror” and local organizations likened the comments to Pearl Harbor except that we were not torpedoing our own ships.

The outcome of this is far from clear. But we should assume that no matter what happens there will be much work to do to keep our rights.

The Chief of Police of Washington DC had some comments after the case that can only be described, (and then only with great generosity) as incoherent.

There is no question that DC has a serious issue with the quality of the people it puts in positions of power. We believe we may have already found their next Chief.

The ground breaking Second Amendment “Heller ” case was heard today by the US Supreme Court.

Alan Gura, who argued on behalf of Dick Heller, a Washington DC security guard who wanted to be allowed to own a handgun, made some peculiar and perhaps astonishing, assertions.

In defense of the right to own a handgun, Gura (who we have met and seems to be an intelligent and competent attorney) suggested that the Second Amendment did NOT protect an individual’s right to own a machine gun.

All of us who are familiar with the Miller decision, (the case usually noted as the last major Second Amendment case taken up by SCOTUS) know that any rational reading of that decision would require you to conclude that in fact, machine guns are exactly what are protected by the Second Amendment. As such, Gura’s arguments seemed extremely counterproductive and may have well undermined his own case.

The Miller decision was faulty on several grounds, not the least of which, that Miller had no representation in court and the decision was based on the mistaken belief by the court that shotguns had no military use. The ignorance of all the participants in today’s hearing of basic facts about firearms works very much against us, and may, in many ways replicate the flawed conclusions the Court came to in Miller.

For a transcript of the hearing click here.

For more info and important links, click here.

For info direct from the lawyers who argued for gun rights, click here.

KMED Radio Interview with OFF Director Kevin Starrett 03.19.08 (MP3 Format)

Immediately after passing a resolution to refer mandatory government health care to the voters, the Oregon House today passed SB 1080, a “driver’s license” bill intended to move Oregon closer to compliance with the Federal mandates for a national ID card.

Sold as an effort to prevent illegals from getting driver’s licenses, it places additional burdens and privacy invasions on Americans. Numerous other states have refused to capitulate to the demands of the Department of Homeland Security and subject their citizens to the heavy hand of the Federal Government, but in Oregon, the only legislators to oppose the bill did so because they did not want to inconvenience people who are here in violation of the law.

The bill requires that you surrender a Social Security Number to apply for a driver’s license, and unlike current law, makes no exception for Americans who have chosen not to accept a Federal ID number.

Every single Republican voted in favor of the bill. The Democrats who opposed it, for the sake of illegal’s, not for the protection of Americans were:

Barnhart
Bonamici
Buckley
Cannon
Dingfelder
Gelser
Greenlick
Holvey
Kotek
MacPherson
Nathanson
Nolan
Rosenbaum
Shields
Tomei

Silver Falls Safe.

A plan that would have made Silver Falls Park off limits to gun owners has been withdrawn by its sponsor.

Citing “unintended consequences” Senator Fred Girod has dropped his efforts to turn SIlver Falls into a National Park.

It is illegal to have accessible firearms in National Parks even for people with concealed handgun licenses. We first brought this to your attention on January 13th.

Thanks to everyone who contacted Girod to voice your opposition.

Meanwhile, SB 1080 continues to race through the legislature and may be heard on the House Floor as early as tomorrow.

Although supporters in the Senate praised the bill as putting us much closer to total capitulation with the Federal REAL ID act, others continue to claim it’s nothing of the kind.

Representative Dennis Richardson has referred concerned voters to his on line newsletter where he is openly critical of Real ID, but then says ” I am actually impressed that SB 1080-1 is a good bill for Oregonians regardless of party.”

Representative Larry Galizo responded to a concerned voter with this utterly incoherent reply :”The bill is still being worked. I will continue to base my vote on the specifics of the bill when it comes before me.I appreciate you taking the time to contact me on this bill. Again, I will only vote on a bill that will balance access to credit, with worthwhile consumer protections.”

Of course the bill is NOT “still being worked.” It cannot be further amended, and the bill has nothing to do with “access to credit” or “consumer protections.” If this is the kind of diligence we can expect during this “special” session, things are worse than any of us imagined.

The dangers of out-of-control data basing of American citizens has been proven by the damage done by the Brady Bill. SB 1080 is another step towards the Brave New World of Big Brother, and there is very little time to stop it.

You can find your House Rep here.
You can write your House Rep here.

 

NATIONAL ID CARD COMING TO OREGON

YOUR PAPERS PLEASE.

Oregon moved a step closer to capitulating to a national ID card today as the Oregon Senate overwhelmingly approved SB 1080.

The bill was sold as method of assuring that persons who got Oregon driver’s licenses were in Oregon legally.

News reportsrepeatedly commented that the bill did not comply with the Federal “Real ID” act (The National ID Card.) However, on the Senate floor today, both Senators Bruce Starr and Rick Metsger claimed that the bill took large steps in that direction.

This bill has been racing through the legislature at remarkable speed. It passed a Senate committee and went immediately to Ways and Means. It will NOT receive a hearing in a House Committee and cannot be amended. It could be on the House floor any day.

While we agree it is essential for Oregon to change its policy of being a safe haven for law breakers and illegal aliens, this bill requires that you provide the Department of Motor Vehicles with your Social Security number before being allowed to apply for a driver’s license. Those who have chosen not to have a “government” number or force their children to get one will not be allowed to apply, even if they provide proof of legal residency like a birth certificate.

Americans, born in America, will now be compelled to give up the most regularly stolen piece of ID in order to be allowed to drive, and Oregon will be far closer to capitulating to the Federal Government’s demand for National ID.

Gun owners should be very concerned about the promotion of a national ID card. The current administration has been openly hostile to gun ownership while pushing the “Department of Homeland Security” to demand national ID. Of the current front runners for president, ALL are anti-gun. That means that the next administration will almost certainly be no friend to gun owners.

The failed Brady Bill has proven what corrupt national databases can do to harm gun rights.

National ID cards under the control of administrations hostile to gun rights promise to be a nightmare. Oregon should join the states that have the courage to stand up to the Federal Government and not capitulate to unconstitutional demands.

Please contact House Speaker Jeff Merkley and urge him not to support SB 1080.

Please also contact your own rep. You can contact them with this link:

Contact info and a suggested message follow:

Speaker Jeff Merkley
503-986-1200
rep.jeffmerkley@state.or.us

_______________________________________________

Dear Speaker Merkley,

SB 1080 has been promoted as a way to stop people who are not in the US legally from getting Oregon driver’s licenses. But its supporters on the Senate floor admitted it was really an effort to move us to compliance with “Real ID” and a National ID card.

I urge you to join other western states and refuse to capitulate to unconstitutional Federal demands that Oregonians be required to have a national id card.

Oregonians should not be subject to invasions of their privacy because the Federal Government has failed in its obligation to secure our borders.

Reject SB 1080.

Very truly yours,

____________________

Silver Falls National Park?

Silver Falls State Park is a beautiful area that is just a short drive from Salem and has 14 waterfalls. If Representative Fred Girod has is way however, it will be off limits to gun owners.

Girod wants the state park turned into a National Park. Guns are forbidden in National Parks, even to people who have concealed handgun licenses.

Unfortunately, National Parks offer no refuge from crime. Just like everywhere else, people have the need, and should have the right, to defend themselves in National Parks. But in spite of years of efforts by pro-gun organizations, Congress refuses to correct the Federal law that prohibits guns in National Parks.(Please note the alert link is from 2006 and the names and addresses are no longer relevant.)

We have no doubt that a gun ban was NOT Girod’s intention. But it would be the result if he is successful.

Please contact Representative Girod and ask him to withdraw his attempts to make Silver Falls off limits to you until Congress corrects this dangerous law.

Girod’s contact information and a sample letter follow:

Representative Fred Girod
900 Court Street NE
H478
Salem OR 97301
503-986-1417
E-mail rep.fredgirod@state.or.us

Bush Signs NRA Gun Control Bill Into Law.

When George Bush JR. ran for president, the NRA promised that they would “work out of his office.”

Yesterday, in a giant victory for Sarah Brady and the National Rifle Association, Bush signed into law, a vast expansion of the Brady Bill gun restriction law.

Today, the Brady Campaign sent out an e-mail saying “The first major piece of national legislation to reduce gun violence in more than a decade was signed into law yesterday. Thank you for making this success possible.”

That extreme, anti-gun bill was resurrected by the NRA after 5 years of oblivion.

The new gun ban bill, (supported by Brady and the NRA) HR 2640, will take the failed background checks of the Brady Bill, which regularly delays or denies thousands of lawful gun purchases, and apply them to millions more gun buyers.

While the damage caused by the NRA’s duplicity cannot yet be calculated, it is clear that with each new sell out, your chances of being able to purchase the gun of your choice drop precipitously.

If you have any doubts that the gun grabbers are using this victory to push more gun bans, see here.

The sponsor of the bill wants more. Lots more. And she got her last victory with the active support of the NRA.

It’s very likely that those who would legislate away your right to defend yourself, will use the NRA’s support for new gun restrictions to promote their own gun control schemes. It’s also a near certainty that politicians will use the NRA’s support of this latest gun grab as political cover.

Thanks to the NRA’s support for the original Brady Bill, we hear from people every day who have been denied, or illegally delayed, a firearm’s purchase. It’s about to get a whole lot worse.

It is truly astonishing that people in the business of making guns would support someone who wants to take them away. But Alex Robinson of Robinson Armament Co is determined to do just that.

Robinson posted an endorsement for Mitt Romney on his regularly updated website.
He has also stated :”There’s no one in the country who knows more about this subject or who can talk about it more intelligently than I can.”

When he was informed by gun owners that his support for Romney was, well, just plain nuts, he bent over backwards to give the Romney campaign an opportunity to spin their candidate’s message, much like the NRA. Now he is trying to convince gun owners to “change the minds” of the anti-gun candidates. Good luck. For more on NRA’s recent sell outs, click here.

Something go keep in mind when you buy your next rifle. On the other hand, it’s far from the first time we’ve seen this. In New York in 1989, the City Council attempted to pass an “assault weapon” ban. They did not succeed until 1992. But when the first attempt was made, a list of banned guns was created. Oddly, Ruger’s Mini 14 was not on the list. In what was sure to be seen as a complete coincidence, Ruger was supplying Mini-14’s to the New York City Police Department.

HR 2640, The NRA’s Latest “Victory.”

“We commend the United States Congress for its action today to strengthen the Brady background check system.”

Those were the words of Paul Helmke the President of the Brady gun ban group. The action to which he was referring, as you no doubt know, was the passage of HR 2640, in lighting moves with no debate and no recorded votes.

Both the US Senate and the US House passed this bill on December 19th under “unanimous consent” agreements. That means it was not even discussed. In order for this to happen, the leadership of both parties had to agree to allow it.

We are not surprised politicians would push more gun control with no accountability. But what is greatly troubling is that the National Rifle Association was the primary force behind this latest attack on gun rights.

The NRA’s spin machine is operating at full capacity praising the passage of a bill written by the most anti-gun members of Congress.

The bill expands and extends the failed Brady background check system, a gun registration scheme which has cost thousands of qualified people the ability to purchase a firearm.

It is amazing the NRA would revive a bill that was going nowhere just to give more power to the people who are denying legitimate purchases now.

You will recall the NRA supported the original Brady Bill because they approved of background checks for gun buys. That a “pro-gun” organization could support prior restraint of a right is bad enough, but now, years after this system has been in place, the NRA joins forces with an organization that has raised millions to strip Americans of their Second Amendment right in order to expand this dangerous law.

The NRA has insisted that this bill, rammed though when they hoped no one was watching, is going to benefit gun owners. On their website, the NRA uses the following quote to prove what a great deal this is for gun owners:
“Provides that if a person applies for relief from disabilities and the agency fails to act on the application within a year—for any reason, including lack of funds—the applicant can seek immediate review of his application in federal court.”

A year? A person who applies for relief has to wait a year before they can demand that some action be taken? That’s a mighty long time to wait for the right to have a firearm …especially if you need one. Oh, and then they get to go to court, to “seek” review. At their own expense of course.

Aside from the fact that the enemies of gun rights are crowing about this “victory” the biggest problem,(lost in NRA’s extensive justification for what CBS News called the first major new gun control bill in more than a decade,) is a simple reality the NRA refuses to acknowledge.

This bill turns over more power and more information to the very agencies which have used existing law to deny the rights of Americans or make it impossibly expensive to exercise those rights.

In Oregon, countless qualified buyers are denied purchases because of the intentional obstruction of government agencies who maintain these records. But it is even worse than that.

The original Brady Bill allowed for an end to the mandatory waiting periods when the availability of records allowed for an “instant” background check. We have long since passed that point, but for far too many people the background check is anything but “instant” stretching to weeks and months for many. How can the NRA and its apologists believe that the abysmal record keeping (or the outright obstruction of some agencies) is going to improve by handing these bureaucracies more power and personal information?

The NRA, in an article entitled “Clearing The Air On The Instant Check Bill “ said the following:

“In the late 1990s, gun buyers often experienced ridiculous delays while NICS sorted through cases of mistaken identity or incomplete police records. Many purchasers were wrongly denied and forced to go through a cumbersome appeals process. At the same time, state officials testified before Congress about woefully incomplete records they provide to NICS–a problem confirmed in recent reports by the U.S. Department of Justice”

Well someone needs to alert these guardians of our gun rights, that nothing’s changed. And now we are well passed the 1990’s. Gun owners are still being delayed and denied and still face cumbersome appeals processes. If you are delayed without cause, it’s your tough luck. The so called “safeguards” built into the law are meaningless and ignored. Sure, the law says if you don’t get an approval within three days, a firearms transfer may take place, but just try it.

Now NRA wants to solve the problems they created with Brady by giving us more of the same. They are telling us that the government bureaucrats will now be using accurate records, we should all be thankful and this is a great step forward.

In the world of gun rights, “good intentions” don’t cut it . As poorly kept and abused as the records of criminal behavior are, at least crimes are generally easy to quantify. “Mental illness” is far less black and white. You will recall the Bush efforts to screen the entire US population for “mental illness.”

The NRA has joined forces with politicians and organizations who have declared their intention to end gun ownership in this country. They have rammed through legislation that requires that more records be handed over to people who have proven they cannot be trusted with them. They have asked that gun owners believe that the same people who defunded the process to allow people to get their gun rights back under the current law won’t defund the lengthy process to get your rights back under this new law.

If you believe that more records in the hands of more government operators is a good idea, you may want to think about the first act of the Clintons when they took over the White House. The FBI record scandal proved beyond any doubt how unscrupulous and criminal political operatives can bypass the law to ruin people’s lives.

In an alert title “Outrage of the Week” the NRA has invited readers to share their “weekly outrage.”
They say “If you see something that you feel would be a good candidate for the “Outrage of the Week!” section, please send it to: freedomsvoice@nrahq.org.”

We think the sneaky passage of NRA/Schumer/McCarthy bill more than qualifies.
800-392-8683 – Grassroots Hotline

“We commend the United States Congress for its action today to strengthen the Brady background check system.”

Those were the words of Paul Helmke the President of the Brady gun ban group. The action to which he was referring, as you no doubt know, was the passage of HR 2640, in lighting moves with no debate and no recorded votes.

Both the US Senate and the US House passed this bill on December 19th under “unanimous consent” agreements. That means it was not even discussed. In order for this to happen, the leadership of both parties had to agree to allow it.

We are not surprised politicians would push more gun control with no accountability. But what is greatly troubling is that the National Rifle Association was the primary force behind this latest attack on gun rights.

The NRA’s spin machine is operating at full capacity praising the passage of a bill written by the most anti-gun members of Congress.

The bill expands and extends the failed Brady background check system, a gun registration scheme which has cost thousands of qualified people the ability to purchase a firearm.

It is amazing the NRA would revive a bill that was going nowhere just to give more power to the people who are denying legitimate purchases now.

You will recall the NRA supported the original Brady Bill because they approved of background checks for gun buys. That a “pro-gun” organization could support prior restraint of a right is bad enough, but now, years after this system has been in place, the NRA joins forces with an organization that has raised millions to strip Americans of their Second Amendment right in order to expand this dangerous law.

The NRA has insisted that this bill, rammed though when they hoped no one was watching, is going to benefit gun owners. On their website, the NRA uses the following quote to prove what a great deal this is for gun owners:
“Provides that if a person applies for relief from disabilities and the agency fails to act on the application within a year—for any reason, including lack of funds—the applicant can seek immediate review of his application in federal court.”

A year? A person who applies for relief has to wait a year before they can demand that some action be taken? That’s a mighty long time to wait for the right to have a firearm …especially if you need one. Oh, and then they get to go to court, to “seek” review. At their own expense of course.

Aside from the fact that the enemies of gun rights are crowing about this “victory” the biggest problem,(lost in NRA’s extensive justification for what CBS News called the first major new gun control bill in more than a decade,) is a simple reality the NRA refuses to acknowledge.

This bill turns over more power and more information to the very agencies which have used existing law to deny the rights of Americans or make it impossibly expensive to exercise those rights.

In Oregon, countless qualified buyers are denied purchases because of the intentional obstruction of government agencies who maintain these records. But it is even worse than that.

The original Brady Bill allowed for an end to the mandatory waiting periods when the availability of records allowed for an “instant” background check. We have long since passed that point, but for far too many people the background check is anything but “instant” stretching to weeks and months for many. How can the NRA and its apologists believe that the abysmal record keeping (or the outright obstruction of some agencies) is going to improve by handing these bureaucracies more power and personal information?

The NRA, in an article entitled “Clearing The Air On The Instant Check Bill “ said the following:

“In the late 1990s, gun buyers often experienced ridiculous delays while NICS sorted through cases of mistaken identity or incomplete police records. Many purchasers were wrongly denied and forced to go through a cumbersome appeals process. At the same time, state officials testified before Congress about woefully incomplete records they provide to NICS–a problem confirmed in recent reports by the U.S. Department of Justice”

Well someone needs to alert these guardians of our gun rights, that nothing’s changed. And now we are well passed the 1990’s. Gun owners are still being delayed and denied and still face cumbersome appeals processes. If you are delayed without cause, it’s your tough luck. The so called “safeguards” built into the law are meaningless and ignored. Sure, the law says if you don’t get an approval within three days, a firearms transfer may take place, but just try it.

Now NRA wants to solve the problems they created with Brady by giving us more of the same. They are telling us that the government bureaucrats will now be using accurate records, we should all be thankful and this is a great step forward.

In the world of gun rights, “good intentions” don’t cut it . As poorly kept and abused as the records of criminal behavior are, at least crimes are generally easy to quantify. “Mental illness” is far less black and white. You will recall the Bush efforts to screen the entire US population for “mental illness.”

The NRA has joined forces with politicians and organizations who have declared their intention to end gun ownership in this country. They have rammed through legislation that requires that more records be handed over to people who have proven they cannot be trusted with them. They have asked that gun owners believe that the same people who defunded the process to allow people to get their gun rights back under the current law won’t defund the lengthy process to get your rights back under this new law.

If you believe that more records in the hands of more government operators is a good idea, you may want to think about the first act of the Clintons when they took over the White House. The FBI record scandal proved beyond any doubt how unscrupulous and criminal political operatives can bypass the law to ruin people’s lives.

In an alert title “Outrage of the Week” the NRA has invited readers to share their “weekly outrage.”
They say “If you see something that you feel would be a good candidate for the “Outrage of the Week!” section, please send it to: freedomsvoice@nrahq.org.”

We think the sneaky passage of NRA/Schumer/McCarthy bill more than qualifies.
800-392-8683 – Grassroots Hotline

NRA/ Brady Campaign Gun Control Bill Passes Senate and House

UPDATE. SELL OUT COMPLETED.

As was predicted by our friends at the National Association For Gun RIghts, the Senate chose this busy time, when they hoped no one was paying attention, to ram through the NRA and Brady Campaign supported gun grab, HR 2640.

As we have told you, this bill will vastly expand the failed Brady background checks, which are already denying countless legitimate gun purchases.

In a press release issued today, the anti-gun “Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence” said “We commend the United States Senate for its action today to strengthen the Brady background check system by passing the “NICS Improvement Act of 2007′ (H.R. 2640).”

The Nation Rifle Association is now firmly in bed with the most militant gun grabbers in the country. While we have seen no press releases yet from NRA…

The NRA has issued this press release. The NRA and the Brady Campaign are now issueing press releases praising the same bill. If this does not give you chills, you are not paying attention.

…it is clear that they now have allied themselves with the people who have called for a complete elimination of privately owned semi-automatic firearms and countless other attacks on the Second Amendment.

As we write this, we do not have vote counts on the bill. We will post them as soon as they become available.

The bill now goes back to the House for concurrence with the Senate version. As you know, the bill originally sailed through the House on an unrecorded voice vote. The only “no” vote we know of was from Congressman (and Presidential candidate) Ron Paul.

Our last chance to kill this outrageous NRA gun grab is back in the House.

Contact info for your House member can be found here. Your House member will be the third person listed after your US Senators.

Please contact them with the simple message, “The NRA and Sarah Brady DON’T speak for me. Vote NO on HR 2640.”

There may not be much time. The bill has already been sent back to the House and if the Senate’s actions are any indication, this might get acted on before Christmas.

Please contact your Congressman right now,and if you have not already done so, please consider making a ution to our political action committee.

Too late. The House concurred in the Senate Amendments tonight. The NRA/Sarah Brady gun grab now goes to the George Bush for his signature.

(Save this alert. When this bill prevents thousands of legitimate gun purchases, the NRA will be swearing they had nothing to do with it.)

Contributions qualify for a tax credit and will help us defeat politicians who are attacking your rights. You can make a secure and easy on line donation here.

Be sure to use the drop down menu to note that your ution is for our PAC. You can learn more about the tax credit here. But don’t delay, your ution must be made before the end of the year to qualify for the 2007 tax credit. And PLEASE contact your Congressman today and tell them to vote NO on concurrence with the Senate on HR 2640.

NRA BOARD MEMBER ENDORSES ANTI-GUN CANDIDATE

We hear almost daily horror stories about qualified persons being delayed or denied firearms purchases because the existing background check system regularly provides either bad, or no information on a buyer. As a result, the Oregon State Police routinely place excessively long delays on many buyers and have even informed dealers that they are at risk if they obey the law and allow the transaction after the 3 days. Both Oregon and Federal law allow a firearms transfer to take place if there is no denial within three days, but because of the false information the State Police have given many dealers, few are willing to risk the transfer, although it is lawful and they CANNOT be held liable if the transfer was done lawfully.

Yet the NRA is insisting that this failed system be massively expanded with HR 2640. That’s bad enough, but now a prominent NRA board member has endorsed an openly anti-gun candidate for president. NRA Board member and second vice president David Keene has endorsed Mitt Romney in spite of Romney’s repeated attacks on gun owners and his promise to do so again if elected.

As Governor of Massachusetts Romney supported and signed a ban on semi-auto firearms. In a recent interview he said he would support a similar ban nationally. He also claims he would ban weapons of “unusual lethality” which could be any hunting rifle you have. He supports the gun registration that comes with background checks and believes that the current system is “instant,” something too many Oregonians know to be nonsense.

David Keene, according to NewsMax, will automatically become president of the NRA in three and a half years.

OFF does not endorse or oppose candidates, however we believe it is critical that gun owners know that an important and prominent leader of the National RIfle Association has endorsed a candidate who is responsible for some of the worst gun laws in the nation and promises to support more in the future.

Sadly here we have another NRA board member,Joaquin Jackson, who argues against civilian ownership of modern firearms:

Here with the help of an NRA interviewer he tries to backpedal on what he said to Texas Monthly:

MEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT PUSHES GUN BAN

The Medford School District passed a resolution Tuesday calling on the legislature to pass legislation banning licensed, concealed carry on school property.

Displaying an ignorance of the law that has come to be the hallmark of the government school establishment, School Board Member Eric Dziura said “It’s possible we already have the legal authority to pass a policy on banning all guns on school property, but there is a doubt about that.”

Actually, there is NO doubt about it. School districts have NO such authority.In fact,it is the very confusing patchwork of contradictory gun laws that would be created by such a bill that got the Oregon legislature to pass preemption in the first place.

Neil Goldschmidt protégée, Senator Ginny Burdick (along with Senator Alan Bates) has announced her intention to introduce a bill to ban guns at schools in either the upcoming “emergency” session in February, or in the 2009 regular session.

Similar bills were introduced in 1999, 2001,2003 and 2005. Each time, they were defeated by the vocal opposition of not only gun owners, but people with common sense across the state.

If the bill is introduced in the 2008 “Special Session” it should be interesting to see how it is handled by Senate President Peter Courtney, who has made it very clear that he intends to avoid contentious, partisan issues.

In 2005, the Democratic Caucus tried to get Burdick to shelve plans to introduce a school gun ban, but after a nasty and belligerent caucus, minutes before the hearing, she introduced it anyway only to have it voted down by anti-gun Floyd Prozanski who realized what a loser the bill was.

But, because of Burdick’s obsession with anti-gun bills, she may very well attempt it.

Whenever the bill is introduced, we need to be prepared to fight it. If the Democrat majority grows after the next election, they may feel emboldened to push an anti-gun agenda that has failed in the past. Or, if they hear from us loud and clear, they may concentrate on other priorities. Either way, the outcome will depend on our willingness to stay informed, active and engaged.

Right now, one way you can help us stay in the fight is to visit the new OFF STORE and make a purchase of any of our apparel items. Not only does your purchase give you an opportunity to tell the world where you stand on freedom issues, but the proceeds from the sales go to our efforts to protect gun rights in Oregon.

All of us at OFF wish you and yours a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving, and want you to know that we regularly give thanks for the amazing support you have provided over the years.

Stay safe.

MEDFORD NEWSPAPER SUES TO GET NAMES OF GUN OWNERS

As you may have heard, the Medford Mail Tribune has sued to get the names of concealed handgun license holders.

This action was taken as a result of the lawsuit brought by a Medford teacher against the Medford school district. As you know, teacher Shirley Katz was suing to be allowed to carry her defensive firearm to work at Medford High School.

The Mail Tribune, which has repeatedly editorialized that licensed, trained adults should NOT be allowed to carry firearms on school property, believes that one of the ways to promote its anti-gun agenda is to intimidate gun owners by demanding that the Sheriff turn over the names of license holders.

What possible purpose this would serve, beyond invading the privacy of the most law abiding residents of Oregon, remains a mystery. But the Tribune’s Editor, Bob Hunter is determined to proceed.

Jackson County Sheriff Mike WInters has so far refused, correctly pointing out the dangers this would present. “We were reluctant to hand over the names because we don’t want to make it easier for anybody who would use the information for harm in terms of credit card fraud or identity theft.” Winters said.

Editor Bob Hunter believes that he has the right to those names for whatever purpose he chooses to use them. “This is information bought and paid for by the public, and the public has a right to it.” But of course, that’s not true. The public did not buy and pay for this information. The information was paid for by the fees license holders are forced to pay to exercise a “right.” But Bob goes on “It’s important for news media to take a stand on something like this because if public information is withheld in this way it will diminish the amount of public information the public is allowed to see,”

The truth is, whether it is legal for the press to obtain these names or not, (and attorneys have recently informed us it may NOT be legal) the only purpose being served is to chill the rights of gun owners. It would be no different if we published the home addresses and phone numbers of Tribune staff and hid behind the First Amendment. (Which we will do if they continue this senseless exercise.)

While the Sheriff should be applauded for his efforts to protect license holders,Bob Hunter and the Mail Tribune and its advertisers should know that it’s wrong to promote their anti self-defense crusade by threatening the privacy of gun owners.

You can contact Hunter by e-mail here bhunter@mailtribune.com or by regular mail and phone here:

Mail Tribune
P.O. Box 1108
111 N. Fir St.
Medford, OR 97501
541-776-4411

Court Finds Against Self Defense For Government Workers.

In a long awaited decision, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Philip Arnold, decided that teachers and other employees of the state have no right to protect themselves and others.

In his decision, Judge Arnold stated that school districts may make rules prohibiting teachers from having firearms on school property.

While we believe that this decision sends a clear message that our schools are a target rich environment, at a time when we can least afford it, we are not particularly surprised by the judge’s opinion.

We are still evaluating the Judge’s ruling, but Oregon Firearms Educational Foundation is committed to continuing this battle as long as our resources permit.

The teacher,Shirley Katz, and OFEF, are very grateful for the amazing outpouring of support we have received, not only from our members, but from others from coast to coast who recognize the importance of this case. We need your help now more than ever. This fight is not over, but the battle for the fundamental right of all people to stay safe will be long and expensive.

Your tax deductible ution to OFEF will help ensure that we have the means to take this fight to the next level.

Recently,Oregon’s most militant gun hater, Senator Ginny Burdick, announced her intentions to introduce new restrictions on gun owners, as she has year after year. The battle lines are clearly drawn. Your support for our legal efforts can make all the difference in the future for gun rights.

We thank you for all you have done, assure you that we will continue to fight for your freedoms, and ask that you do whatever you can to assist us in this battle for liberty.