NRA - ILA

Charlotte, NC --(Ammoland.com)- House Bill 4054 is scheduled to be heard in the state House Health Care Committee on Monday, February 13.

This hearing will be held at 1:00 p.m. in Hearing Room E of the Oregon Capitol.  Sponsored by state Representative Jim Thompson (R-23), HB 4054 would prohibit the Public Employees’ Benefit Board from authorizing or requiring the collection of information or maintenance of records about firearms from eligible employees or family members applying for health benefits.

HB 4054 was introduced after state Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli (R-30) secured commitments from both Kaiser Permanente and the Public Employee’s Benefit Board to purge gun ownership data that had been collected after implementing a new employee initiative called the “Health Engagement Model.”  After Senator Ferrioli’s inquiries, both plans dropped the questions related to firearms.

Please call and e-mail members of the state House Health Care Committee TODAY and urge them to support HB 4054.  Their contact information can be found below.

House Health Care Committee:

• Representative Mitch Greenlick (D-33), Co-Chairman
  503-986-1433
  rep.mitchgreenlick@state.or.us
• Representative Jim Thompson (R-23), Co-Chairman
  503-986-1423
  rep.jimthompson@state.or.us
• Representative Val Hoyle (D-14), Co-Vice Chairman
  503-986-1414
  rep.valhoyle@state.or.us
• Representative Bill Kennemer (R-39), Co-Vice Chairman
  503-986-1439
  rep.billkennemer@state.or.us
• Representative Jason Conger (R-54)
  503-986-1454
  rep.jasonconger@state.or.us
• Representative Margaret Doherty (D-35)
  503-986-1435
  rep.margaretdoherty@state.or.us
• Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer (D-46)
  503-986-1446
  rep.alissakenyguyer@state.or.us
• Representative Julie Parrish (R-37)
  503-986-1437
  rep.julieparrish@state.or.us

About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org

Elliott Jonasson of La Grande, with a turkey taken in the Catherine Creek Unit (Union County) during the 2011 youth spring turkey season. - Photo by ODFW

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

SALEM, Ore --(Ammoland.com)- This year’s youth spring turkey season will be April 7, 8 and 9, 2012 (Saturday, Sunday and Monday).

The season dates are misprinted in the current 2011-12 Oregon Game Bird Regulations (page 15).

Due to an ODFW staff error, the regulations list April 8-9, 2012 (Sunday-Monday) as the season dates.

Youth turkey season is always the weekend before the general spring turkey season which begins on April 15.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a rule that will begin the season on Saturday, April 7 and extend it by one day this year due to the error.

The youth spring turkey season is open to licensed hunters age 17 and under.

Youth that don’t fill their tag during the youth season can go on to hunt the general season April 15-May 31.

The youth turkey season is one of several youth-only hunts in Oregon.

A snowy owl photographed near Burns, Oregon in December. Snowy owls live in the arctic and are only rare winter visitors to the state. - Photo courtesy of Charlotte Ganskopp

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

SALEM, Ore --(Ammoland.com)-Fourteen species of owls can be seen —and heard— in Oregon. From the tiny sparrow-sized northern pygmy owl to the great horned owl with its powerful talons to that rare visitor the snowy owl, they delight and amaze.

To help Oregonians learn about the state’s owls, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has produced a new fact sheet, Whooooo Am I? Designed primarily for kids, it is the third in a series of flyers that is popular with Oregonians of all ages.

The fact sheet provides a description and photograph of each of Oregon’s 14 owl species and tells where they live. The flyer is available in the Living with Wildlife section of the ODFW website.

“We have wonderful species of owls in the state,” said Andrea Hanson, ODFW Conservation Strategy coordinator. “Learning about owls is the first step in knowing where you might hear or see one.”

Some of the facts in the new educational flyer:

• Most owls are nocturnal, hunting for insects, fish, frogs, birds, mice and other small mammals in the night
• Owls have large eyes so they can see in dim light
• Owls cannot move their eyes up, down or sideways, but they can rotate their heads 270 degrees!
• Owls do not build nests; instead, they use tree cavities, nests created by other species, naturally occurring structures or made-made nest platforms

Oregon Owls In Need Of Conservation
The flammulated, short-eared, northern spotted, western burrowing and great gray owls are identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy as species of conservation concern. The northern spotted owl is listed as threatened under both the federal and state Endangered Species acts. Visit the Conservation Section of ODFW’s website to learn more.

Download the flyer from ODFW’s website.
Other flyers in the series are Batty for Bats and Frogs are Cool.
For a print copy, email odfw.info@state.or.us

Oregon Cougar Hunting Closed In Coast & North Cascade Region For Rest Of Year

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

SALEM, Ore --(Ammoland.com)- ODFW is closing cougar hunting through the end of this year in the Coast/North Cascades region, after reaching the zone’s quota of 120 cougars.

Since Jan. 1, 2011, 120 cougars have been killed by sporthunters or in response to damage or public safety concerns in Zone A (Coast/North Cascade). ODFW closes sport hunting if a zone’s quota is reached.

The closure only applies to sport hunting. Cougars may still be killed if they are threatening livestock, pets or human safety.

This is only the third year that cougar sport hunting has been closed in Oregon. Previous closures occurred in 2001, with one zone closed, and 2002, when two zones closed.

Most of the increased take of cougars in Zone A this year is from “non-hunter” kill, or cougars taken due to damage, public safety concerns, roadkill or other reasons. So far, 59 cougars were killed in this category in 2011, compared to 48 in 2010 and 38 in 2009. Sporthunter harvest of cougars was 61 in 2011, 55 in 2010 and 61 in 2009.

ODFW closely tracks the take of cougars. Sporthunters and any landowner that kills a cougar due to damage or public safety issues must check in the cougar’s skull and hide (with proof of sex) at an ODFW office within 10 days of harvest. During the check-in, ODFW collects data to estimate the cougar’s age.

The data is used to estimate the overall cougar population in Oregon, which is about 5,700 cougars today. To keep the cougar population healthy, ODFW closes sporthunting zones when a certain quota is reached as it was today in the Coast/North Cascades.

Cougar sport hunting in the Coast/North Cascade region will resume on Jan. 1, 2012, when the 2012 season begins with the same quota for the new year.

Find a map of zones and each zone’s quota at the link below: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/big_game/cougar/quota.asp

A pup from northeast Oregon’s Wenaha pack that was born in spring 2011. Image taken by remote camera on Dec. 11, 2011. Courtesy of ODFW. Photo courtesy of ODFW-

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

LA GRANDE, Ore --(Ammoland.com)- Photos captured on an ODFW remote camera in northeast Oregon show the Wenaha wolf pack had at least one pup this year.

The photos were taken on forested land in western Wallowa County as part of ODFW monitoring efforts for the Wenaha pack. They are the first indication that the pack’s alpha pair reproduced in 2011.

The finding means that all four wolf packs in Oregon reproduced this year. The Imnaha, Wenaha and Snake River packs all had at least one pup. The new Walla Walla pack produced at least three pups.

While any reproduction is good news for wolf conservation, only one pack, the Walla Walla, will likely be determined to be a “breeding pair” for 2011, or a wolf pack that has produced at least two pups that survive through the end of the year. Breeding pairs are an important measure of wolf conservation for wildlife managers.

The Wenaha pack was determined to be a breeding pair in 2010. It is also believed to be the first pack to reproduce in Oregon since wolves were extirpated back in the 1940s, when a July 2008 howling survey found evidence of pups.

ODFW’s efforts to find additional pups for the Wenaha and other packs will continue so the department can get a complete year-end count of all pups born in 2011.

More information on wolves in Oregon.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Corvallis, Ore. --(Ammoland.com)- Greenbelt Land Trust announced today the acquisition of conservation easements on more than 300 acres of Willamette River frontage property in Benton County that will benefit a number of species including chinook salmon, cutthroat trout, Oregon chub, Pacific lampreys, western pond turtles and red-legged frogs.

This project will permanently protect important habitat for fish and wildlife identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy.

These purchases were made possible through a strong partnership with the existing landowners, the land trust, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and funding from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, the Bonneville Power Administration and the Meyer Memorial Trust.

Conservation easements allow for some traditional uses of the land, such as farming, by the landowner but permanently protect important wildlife habitat. They also allow conversion of farmland to restoration and conservation purposes as this project does.

They are particularly effective in the Willamette Valley where 96 percent of the land is privately owned. The 319-acre parcel includes Harkens Lake, a significant historic side-channel of the Willamette River that is critical habitat for native fish populations.

“This project is an integral part of creating opportunities for broad-scale floodplain habitat restoration on the Willamette River,” states Ken Bierly, Deputy Director of Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.

The conservation of Harkens Lake is made possible through a partnership with landowners Gary, Jenny and Steve Horning and Mark and Sherie Adams, a collaboration that will continue as the partners prepare to restore the property’s floodplain forests and riparian areas to their historic conditions. Restoration of these forests decreases erosion and flood damage from seasonal inundation throughout the 100-year floodplain.

“Our family has worked and lived on the Willamette River for five generations, which is why we take such pride in showing we can work around the river sustainably. We know the health of our crops depends on the health of the river system. Our goal for restoration is to utilize important floodplain areas to improve water quality and protect the valuable farm land that our family farm depends on,” said landowner Gary Horning.

“This important work can only be accomplished through partnerships with private landowners, non-profits, foundations and state and federal agencies,” said Michael Pope, GLT Executive Director. “We’re facing a monumental task in fish recovery and riparian restoration in the Willamette Valley, and we must all work together. We are extremely pleased to be able to complete this transaction, and grateful to all our partners who work with us to protect and restore environmentally sensitive lands.”

Funding from this project was dedicated through:

• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board through its Willamette Special Investment Partnership (SIP). The goal of the Willamette SIP is to identify and implement high-priority land conservation, fish passage, and habitat flow restoration projects that contribute to the enhancement of resident and migratory fish populations in the mainstem and tributaries of the Willamette River.
• The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program which was created to manage the funds dedicated to the State of Oregon by the Bonneville Power Administration for wildlife habitat mitigation in the Willamette Valley. The agreement requires a substantial investment in wildlife and fish habitat restoration over the next 15 years.
• Bonneville Power Administration funding helps fulfill an agreement that the State of Oregon made in 2010 to protect nearly 20,000 acres of Willamette Basin wildlife habitat. The agreement dedicates stable funding from electric ratepayers for 15 years to safeguard Willamette habitat for native species, supporting state efforts to protect the Willamette Basin and fulfilling BPA’s responsibility under the Northwest Power Act to offset the impacts of federal flood control and hydropower dams.

Another Cow Killed By The Imnaha OR Wolf Pack

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

LA GRANDE, Ore --(Ammoland.com)- ODFW confirmed that another cow was killed by wolves from the Imnaha pack over the weekend.

The yearling heifer was found dead on private land in Wallowa County.

This brings the total number of confirmed livestock losses by Imnaha pack wolves to 19 since spring 2010.

It is the fifth confirmed livestock loss to wolves since an Oct. 5, 2011 court-ordered stay ended ODFW plans to kill two wolves from the Imnaha pack in an attempt to stop further livestock losses.

While the pack is continuing a pattern of chronic livestock depredation begun in spring 2010, ODFW wolf coordinator Russ Morgan characterizes the recent kills as a “significant” change in the pack’s behavior. Previously the pack killed mostly smaller calves, but now it has shifted to larger-sized yearling and adult cows. The timing is also new, as depredation by this pack has not been previously confirmed during the period October through December.

“The latest incident reaffirms that the pack is in a pattern of chronic depredation, which we expect to continue,” said Morgan. “While we believe the appropriate response is lethal removal of these problem wolves under the chronic depredation rule, that option is off the table due to litigation.”

The wolves targeted the ranch twice over two days. The cattle involved had recently been gathered and placed into a holding pasture near the main ranch house, as they were scheduled to be hauled on Monday. On Sunday morning, the landowner discovered that the cattle had been run through the fence and the yearling heifer was found dead a half mile away. The cattle were returned to the pasture, only to be scattered again by Monday morning. GPS radio-collar data shows that the alpha male of the Imnaha wolf pack was present at the site of the depredation and was also in the area when the cows were scattered the next day. Other wolves from the pack were likely with the alpha male, but their VHF radio-collars don’t allow such close location tracking.

The alpha male wolf was in remote country about five miles from the pasture the evening before the Sunday morning attack, yet by 2 a.m. he was only about 300 yards from the main ranch house, on the way to the pasture with cattle.

This rancher had taken a variety of non-lethal measures on different areas of his large ranch over the past two years. He had installed barrier fences with fladry (flagged fencing that can deter wolves) on parts of his ranch and has used a radio-activated guard device that makes noise when a radio-collared wolf approaches. The rancher had also increased monitoring of his livestock and has used a radio receiver to detect when a collared wolf was nearby.

“This is a good example of a situation where the landowner had done everything right,” said Morgan. “I don’t think there are other measures that could have been reasonably taken in this case, so it is a very frustrating situation for livestock producers and wildlife managers.”

ODFW continues to work with area landowners on non-lethal ways to avoid wolf-livestock problems. For example, ODFW sends twice-daily text messages about wolves’ locations to area livestock producers. A range rider funded by ODFW and Defenders of Wildlife has monitored the wolves’ location in relation to livestock.

Besides non-lethal measures, ODFW has also provided some ranchers with permits to kill a wolf they catch “in the act of biting, wounding or killing” livestock or with permits that allow them to haze wolves. The chance to use these permits is rare because wolves typically avoid people and usually attack livestock at night. None of these permits issued by ODFW has ever been used, again because it is very rare for a person to actually be present when a wolf is “in the act” of attacking livestock.

This landowner and others that have lost livestock animals to wolves are likely to be compensated for their losses. Earlier this year, the Oregon State Legislature and Governor Kitzhaber directed the Oregon Department of Agriculture to create a wolf compensation program. The program is expected to be in effect in early 2012. Ranchers that lost livestock since early September 2011 (when a compensation program funded by Defenders of Wildlife ended) will be eligible for retroactive compensation.

Summaries of the wolf investigations and confirmations can be found on ODFW’s livestock loss investigations page.

More information on wolves in Oregon.

Sage-Grouse Implementation Team Meetings Set

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

BEND, Ore. --(Ammoland.com)- The Hines, Prineville and Baker Sage-Grouse Conservation Strategy Implementation teams will meet on Dec. 6, Dec. 8 and Dec. 13, respectively, to discuss the Core Area approach to sage-grouse conservation, to identify threats and potential habitat improvements for each Core Area and to hear team updates.

The Hines meeting will be held Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Blue Room of the Bureau of Land Management office, 28910 Hwy. 20 West, Hines.

The Prineville meeting will be held Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bureau of Land Management office, 3050 NE 3rd Street, Prineville.

The Baker City meeting will be held Dec. 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the ODFW office, 2995 Hughes Lane, Baker City.

The meetings are open to the public, and there will be a public comment period.

About the Sage-Grouse Conservation Strategy Implementation Teams
There are five Sage-Grouse Conservation Strategy Implementation teams, one for each Bureau of Land Management District within the current distribution of sage-grouse in Oregon as well as one in the Baker Resource Area in the Vale district. Public meetings will be held in each of the Implementation Team areas. The Lakeview and Vale meetings were held on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18, respectively. A second meeting of the Vale district team will be scheduled in Jordan Valley in December.

Teams have been meeting since 2005. In May 2011, they reviewed and recommended changes to the Core Area maps as defined in the April 2011 revision of the updated Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy for Oregon.

TheGreater Sage-Grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy for Oregon, is available on ODFW’s website.
Sage-grouse photos are available on ODFW’s Flickr site.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

SALEM, Ore. --(Ammoland.com)- The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife today announced an art contest to benefit its new Habitat Conservation Stamp.

The winning artist will receive $3000 and his or her artwork will be used to produce a stamp and other promotional items. Deadline for entries is 5 p.m. Feb. 29, 2012.

Artwork must feature one of the fish or wildlife species identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy in its respective Strategy habitat. There are 286 native species and 11 habitats called out in the Strategy, which is available on ODFW’s website.

See the ODFW website for a copy of the announcement, rules and entry form.

The contest winner will be chosen by a panel comprised of a Fish and Wildlife Commissioner and four citizens to be selected by Roy Elicker, ODFW Director. Artwork will be available for public viewing.

About the Habitat Conservation Stamp
Adopted by the 2011 Oregon State Legislature, the new Habitat Conservation Stamp allows Oregonians to purchase an annual stamp to benefit conservation of Oregon’s native species and habitats. Stamps sell for $40 a year and include a free ODFW Wildlife Area Parking Pass (a $22 value). Revenue will be used for restoration of the native habitats that are home to the state’s fish and wildlife. Habitat Conservation Stamps will go on sale in 2012.

About the Oregon Conservation Strategy
The Oregon Conservation Strategy provides a blueprint and action plan for the long-term conservation of Oregon’s native fish and wildlife and their habitats through a voluntary, statewide approach to conservation. It was developed by ODFW with the help of a diverse coalition of Oregonians including scientists, conservation groups, landowners, extension services, anglers, hunters, and representatives from agriculture, forestry and rangelands.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has learned that an Oregon court has agreed to consider in its final ruling the RMEF motion outlining the need for science-based, state regulated wolf management.

The court is reviewing the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s authority to manage and control wolves as part of a state-approved plan.

Oregon wildlife officials recently announced the agency would use lethal means to stop two wolves known to habitually kill livestock in Wallowa County. Animal rights and wolf activist groups sued the state, claiming that any loss of wolves could cause “irreparable harm” to wolf recovery in Oregon.

That argument was rejected in a previous lawsuit heard in a Montana federal court. But an Oregon court granted a temporary stay to stop the search for the two wolves until the legal merits of the case can be considered.

“The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has always believed strongly that the management of all our wildlife be based on science, said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Oregon is just one example of our commitment to support proven wildlife management procedures. By allowing wildlife agencies to create state-approved plans we know the entire balance of these complicated ecosystems can be maintained to the benefit of all.”

RMEF attorneys also continue to respond to legal wrangling by animal rights and wolf activist groups seeking to foil management plans in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and the Great Lakes states. On Nov. 8, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, Calif., will hear arguments from RMEF and others as it considers a lawsuit alleging that Congress acted outside the Constitution when it delisted wolves in parts of the West.

In some areas, such as the northern Yellowstone in Montana and the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho, elk calf survival rates are now too low to sustain herds for the future.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that has protected or enhanced habitat on over 6 million acres—an area larger than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is seeking to defend the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s authority to manage and control wolves as part of a state-approved plan.

Oregon wildlife officials recently announced the agency would use lethal means to stop two wolves known to habitually kill livestock in Wallowa County.

Animal rights and wolf activist groups sued the state, claiming that any loss of wolves could cause “irreparable harm” to wolf recovery in Oregon. That argument was rejected in a previous lawsuit heard in a Montana federal court.

But an Oregon court granted a temporary stay to stop the search for the two wolves until the legal merits of the case can be considered.

RMEF has filed a motion to enter an amicus curiae brief opposing the plaintiff groups.

If the motion is granted, RMEF documents outlining the need for science-based, state-regulated wolf management will be considered as part of the court’s final ruling.

“Our organization has over 15,000 members in Oregon, including hunters, ranchers and other conservationists. Together we endorse the efforts of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to manage and control wolves alongside other wild species as part of an approved plan,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “We support the agency’s work to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of citizens.”

RMEF attorneys also continue to respond to legal wrangling by animal rights and wolf activist groups seeking to foil management plans in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and the Great Lakes states. On Nov. 8, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, Calif., will hear arguments from RMEF and others as it considers a lawsuit alleging that Congress’ acted outside the Constitution when it delisted wolves in parts of the West.

In some areas, such as the northern Yellowstone in Montana and the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho, elk calf survival rates are now too low to sustain herds for the future.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that has protected or enhanced habitat on over 6 million acres–an area larger than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Newberg Oregon School District Tells Legislator They Plan To Continue Breaking The Law

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- The Newberg, Oregon School District is setting an interesting example for the children it is “educating”.

That lesson is: if you don’t like the law, ignore it.

In spite of the fact that the Appeals Court has ruled in no uncertain terms that schools cannot create or impose their own rules dealing with firearms, Newberg School District Superintendent Paula Radich has made it clear that she intends to do just that.

When informed that the District’s policy on firearms possession was illegal, Radich wrote to a district resident:

“After considerable research and thought regarding your request to change Board Policy KG and Administrative Regulations KG-AR, in the interest of protecting the safety and well-being of children in our care, I will not be recommending a policy change to our Board of Directors. Thank you for your input”

When contacted by House Rep Kim Thatcher and reminded that the Oregon University System squandered almost $50,000.00 in taxpayer funds in a failed attempt to defend their unlawful gun policies (in spite of having been repeatedly warned that they were illegal) Radich responded:

“Thank you for writing me. I have read both court cases and have discussed this matter with our Board of Directors. At this time, I am not recommending a change in Board policy.”

In other words, “The law means nothing to us.”

This is an interesting situation given that not a legislative session goes by without the public school establishment demanding huge increases in their funding. The District Superintendent is handed a very well publicized court decision saying she is breaking the law, she is reminded of how costly these policies can be and she chooses to simply ignore the facts and the law. And these people are teaching Oregonian children.

Clearly, the law must be changed so that bureaucrats who flagrantly ignore or break the law can no longer flush away precious taxpayer money. They must be held accountable themselves.

Given the current makeup of the Oregon Senate, any change of that kind will be an uphill climb, but if you would like to share your thoughts with the Superintendent, her contact info follows:

Newberg School District Superintendent
Paula Radich
(503) 554-5042
radichp@newberg.k12.or.us

Sample cut and paste message:

Dear Superintendent Radich,

I am amazed and outraged that after being repeatedly told your firearms policy is forbidden by law, you would respond with nothing more than an arrogant refusal to consider obeying what the courts have decided. Your reckless disregard for the potential cost to the school district is incredibly irresponsible in these difficult financial times. The example you are setting for the students in your district is reprehensible.

Yours,

Here is contact info for the school board members:

Melinda Van Bossuyt
Board Chair, Director Zone 3
503-538-5717
melinda@springcreekllamas.com

Polly Peterson
Director Zone 2
503-538-6923
popeters@gmail.com

Todd Thomas
Director Zone 4
503-780-4880
TThomasNWNGS@nwnatural.com

Jim Chogyoji
Vice Chair, Director Zone 5
503-538-9530
jchogyoji@verizon.net

Mitsi Vondrachek
Director Zone 6
503-538-4241
mitsi@verizon.net

Debbie Hawblitzel
Director Zone 7
503-537-0888
debbiehawblitzel@comcast.net

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, Va. --(Ammoland.com)- In what promises to be a continuing debate on the rights of law-abiding citizens, the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled this week that banning firearms on the grounds of Oregon’s public universities exceeded the scope of the university system’s authority, thereby opening up the state’s campuses to individuals who hold valid concealed handgun licenses.

Long viewed by gun rights activists as a violation of the state firearms preemption law, the restriction of license holders from exercising their right to self-defense while on campus served as a slap to law-abiding gun owners.

The issue was forced into the spotlight when, in 2009, former Marine Jeffrey Maxwell was suspended from Western Oregon University for carrying on campus. Maxwell was 30 years old at the time and had his concealed handgun license. He was arrested for possessing a firearm in a public building; however, after further review, the Polk County district attorney dropped the charges.

As a result of Jeffrey Maxwell’s treatment by the university and the administration, a lawsuit was filed against the Board of Higher Education and the Oregon University System. The case was argued before the Court of Appeals on March 29, 2011.

The Court concluded that the campus gun ban was an exercise of an ‘authority to regulate’ firearms that is not expressly authorized by the Legislative Assembly…Accordingly, the rule exceeds the agency’s authority…and is invalid.”

This ruling is an important step toward protection of the rights of law-abiding gun owners in Oregon, and we welcome this opinion.

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military. Visit: www.nra.org

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

MONMOUTH --(Ammoland.com)- A state Court of Appeals has overruled an Oregon University System prohibition on carry of firearms.

The suit was brought by the Oregon Firearms Federation(OFF) after student Jeff Maxwell, a US Marine, was arrested for carrying a small derringer on campus. All charges were dropped, but Maxwell was suspended from the college for violating its rule against firearms.

The OFF then filed a lawsuit on behalf of Mr. Maxwell. (Maxwell was not a party to the suit due to a rule stating anyone involved in litigious action could not be involved in a dispute regarding the policy.)

Two years later, the Oregon Court of Appeals returned its verdict, stating that:

“[The college's policy] is an exercise of an “authority to regulate” firearms that is not expressly authorized by the Legislative Assembly, and that it is preempted by ORS 166.170. Accordingly, the rule exceeds the agency’s authority, ORS 183.400 and is invalid.”

Although the ruling overturns campus bans on carry, the court ruled only on grounds of institutional authority, not Second Amendment or state preemption.

Oregon Revised Statute ORS 166-170 states that “the authority to regulate in any matter whatsoever the sale, acquisition, transfer, ownership, possession, storage, transportation or use of firearms or any element relating to firearms and components thereof, including ammunition, is vested solely in the Legislative Assembly.”

The Oregon University System comprises seven public universities, including the University of Oregon, Western Oregon University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Eastern Oregon University, Southern Oregon University, Portland State University and Oregon State University. In a statement of response, OUS stated they were “disappointed” with the ruling and would consider their options.

“Students for Concealed Carry is obviously pleased with the court’s decision,” said David Burnett, a spokesman for SCC. “It’s ridiculous that a United States Marine trained to defend America’s freedom with an M-16 on the streets of Fallujah can be suspended for carrying a tiny little pistol on campus. Colleges nationwide consistently fail to protect campus populations, yet flagrantly ban the fundamental right of citizens to protect themselves. We’re happy with the ruling, and we look forward to similar victories in the near-future.”

In July, Virginia Attorney-General Ken Cuccinelli ruled that blanket university gun bans are invalid, and on November 1, campus carry external to college buildings will become legal in Wisconsin.

ABOUT:
Students for Concealed Carry is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization comprising over 40,000 college students, professors, employees, parents and concerned citizens who believe that licensed concealed carry permit holders should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that they enjoy off-campus.

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- HB 2792 was supposed to be a bill that recognized other state’s concealed handgun licenses.

After passing the House by a wide margin it was sent to the Senate where Senate Judiciary Chairman Floyd Prozanski “gut and stuffed” it so it was no longer recognizable.

Now, while the bill does contain language we sought to clarify the lawful carry of firearms on motorcycles, snowmobiles and ATV’s it also contains complex and vague language creating new restrictions on persons attempting to get their firearm’s rights restored.

Today the bill went to a “Conference Committee” to iron out differences between the House and Senate.

The committee members from the Senate side were Floyd Prozanski, Jackie Dingfelder and Doug Whitsett. The House members were Wayne Krieger and Jeff Barker. The entire committee voted unanimously to accept the “gut and stuffed” Senate version of the bill with one meaningless amendment. The amendment changes from three to one year, the amount of time that must transpire before those who may still apply for rights restoration must wait after leaving prison.

No one from the “pro-gun” side offered substantive pro-gun amendments.

We have no idea why the committee felt the need to make this change. While we have no objection to it, it serves no purpose, something we have repeatedly pointed out to committee members. Federal law still forbids anyone with a felony record from having his rights restored in Oregon for 15 years. So the amendment was a meaningless gesture that benefits no one.

So now, with the help of the House members of the conference committee, and the Republican Senate member, a message has been sent to Senator Prozanski that he can mangle or simply kill pro-gun bills with impunity.

Much will be said by legislators about the need to not “arm felons.” Many who supported the original bill that had no language about rights restoration,are fearful that this will become a campaign issue. But there are two important points to keep in mind. In 2009, the bill that allowed felons to seek rights restoration was drafted by Floyd Prozanski and it passed both Houses with no opposition. So “arming felons” was actually done in 2009, and no one lost a re-election campaign as a result. It’s a bogus issue.

Secondly, in spite of the “sky is falling” rhetoric by Prozanski, the law is working. Murderers and rapists are neither seeking nor receiving gun rights restoration. There simply is not a problem.

Before the law was changed in 2009 it was clear that many in the legislature were confused about what existing law said. It soon became clear that many were confused about what the correcting legislation did. In 2010, when Floyd Prozanski introduced legislation to reverse what he wrote in 2009 it was clear he did not understand what his new bill said. Now we have a cluttered, unneeded and confusing bill that accomplishes little and is likely to be misunderstood by most,

And every single word about recognizing other states’s concealed carry licenses is gone.
Today, Prozanski also led the floor debate to kill SB 347. 347 would have protected the privacy of CHL holders and victims of domestic violence. Prozanski and fellow Democrats voted to throw domestic violence victims under the bus just to make sure CHL holders got no protection.On this vote, a “nay” is a pro-gun vote.

As a result of that vote, 347 must be assigned to a conference committee of the type that just sold out to the anti-gunners in the Senate.

So while SB 347 awaits a conference committee, HB 2792 will go back to both Houses for a vote on whether to agree with the conference committee’s decision to go along with all the “gut and stuff” language added into it in the Senate.

We strongly urge you to contact both your House Rep and your State Senator and urge them to vote “No” on HB 2792 when it comes back to them. The bill no longer protects visitors to our state, is confusing and unneeded. You can reach both your House Rep and your State Senator here.

Please tell them that while you strongly supported the original bill, you cannot support a bill that has been used by anti-gunners to promote their own agenda.

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- Oregon House passed SB 347…again.

This bill protects the privacy of certain domestic violence victims. After passing the Senate, the House Judiciary Committee added protections for persons who had, or applied for, a concealed handgun license.

As you know, the House had previously passed, by a large margin, a bill to protect CHL privacy. That bill was killed in the Senate by Floyd Prozanski who would not even allow discussion of the bill in committee.

When 347 came to the House, the House Judiciary Committee wisely added the CHL protections with the obvious reasoning that it made little sense to protect domestic violence victims unless they had taken steps to protect themselves, at which point their private, sensitive information would once again be made public.

As you might expect, the more militant haters of self-reliance were so horrified by the idea that CHL holders might be afforded some protections, that they actually voted against protections for domestic violence victims because they so objected to any protections for CHL holders.

This bill will now have to go back to the Senate for concurrence on the changes. We are going to go way out on a limb here and predict that the anti-gun zealots in the Senate will not concur and this bill will be dead.

On another note, HB 2792, another pro-gun bill that was “gut and stuffed” by Prozanski is due for a vote on the Senate floor on Wednesday.

To see who hates gun owners so much that they are willing to vote against the victims of domestic violence, view the vote count on SB 347 here.

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- We are now entering into that time in the legislative session where tempers fray, rational thinking is in short supply and really bad things happen.

Now that our session has a statutory ending date, the last minute back-stabbing, bill-stuffing and childish retribution is highly compressed.

While following what has happened to gun bills in 2011 would be better illustrated with a flow chart, we’ll do our best to explain where we stand now.

Although we had quite a few bills introduced in 2011, four actually made it through part of the legislative process. They were:

• HB 2787, a bill to protect the privacy of CHL holders.
• HB 2791, a bill to turn background checks over to the Feds and save gun buyers some money.
• HB 2792, a bill to recognize other state’s concealed handgun licenses and,
• HB 2797, a bill to define how a person may lawfully transport a firearm on a motorcycle, ATV or snowmobile.

Early in the session we were informed by an unimpeachable source that Floyd Prozanski planned to insert a poison pill in any gun bill that came to his committee, unless he planned to kill the bill outright. This information turned out to be painfully accurate. So here’s where we are at.

HB 2787 passed overwhelmingly in the House and was killed by Prozanski in Senate Judiciary. Although scheduled for a work session, Prozanski simply ignored the bill and it died on Wednesday.

HB 2791 passed out of the House Judiciary Committee. Representative Andy Olsen, usually a supporter of gun rights voted no, but Representative Chris Garrett, who is not in any way a reliable friend of gun rights, voted yes as a courtesy for a Republican rep who was out of the room at the time. 2791 was sent to the Ways and Means Committee where it currently lies, bruised and bleeding by the side of the road while legislators step over it and pretend it does not exist. It is not officially dead, but without some action soon it will die of neglect. The State Police will continue to mismanage background checks and gun buyers will continue to pay twice for a “service” they never requested. Even some of the early supporters of this bill started to get cold feet when the public employee’s unions came out in force to proclaim that if a few union employees at the State Police ID unit lost their jobs, Oregon’s economy would collapse.

HB 2792 passed the House by a wide margin and was also sent to Floyd Prozanski’s sausage factory. There, any reference to recognizing other states’ permits was removed. Inserted was the motorcycle language from HB 2797 and new restrictions on felon’s abilities to get gun rights restoration. This issue has been an obsession with Prozanski ever since 2009 when SB 603 passed. 603 allowed felons to go to court and make a case for why they should have their firearms rights restored. From the moment that bill passed (with no opposition in either house) Prozanski has been trying to reverse it. This is all the more odd since the bill was crafted by and approved by and voted for by…Floyd Prozanski. 2792 will next go to the full Senate for a vote. If it passes there (which is likely given that the two Republicans on the committee gave their blessings to this latest “gut and stuff”) it has to go back to the House for “concurrence.” The House can refuse to concur in which case a “conference committee” will be created to craft a compromise. We have repeatedly requested the key players to consider an amendment that will move “recognition” forward and defuse the gun haters argument against it.

The gun haters primary, stated objection to recognizing other states’ handgun licenses is that other states do not have the lofty standards we do when issuing a CHL. We have crafted an amendment and have been distributing it to key legislators for months that instead simply allows residents of any state to apply for our license. We still believe this is a positive strategy but there is a serious case of “not-invented-here” in our legislature and it’s unlikely any politician will suggest this simple commonsense amendment.

HB 2797 is the most pathetic example of legislative nonsense. In 2009, we drafted and passed legislation to define the term “readily accessible” for the purposes of transporting handguns for those without concealed handgun licenses. Our language included definitions for transport on a motorcycle. The motorcycle language was mistakenly removed from the final version, so right now we have no legal and practical way to transport a handgun on a motorcycle without a CHL. HB 2797 fixed that problem, but also clarified how to lawfully carry on a snowmobile or ATV. This was NOT in any way a controversial bill. It passed the House without a single no vote. Then it was sent to Prozanski to be turned into a Frankenstein’s monster. We have to give him credit, he did a heck of a job. That bill now bans guns on any school or college property, a goal that has been Ginny Burdick’s delusional fantasy for years. It’s interesting to note that in the past, Prozanski voted against the same legislation because he knew it could not pass the House and he did not want to force Senators to go on the record supporting such lunacy when it had no chance of passing. Now, with the exact same dynamics. Prozanski did a 180 and passed this garbage out of his committee, forcing Senate Democrats to go on record with almost no chance of the bill ever becoming law. We’ve been told that Burdick has been haunting Prozanski about this issue and that might explain his otherwise inexplicable about-face, but maybe it was this brilliant letter from “Ceasefire Oregon.”

They repeatedly testified that there were three murders committed by CHL holders in schools. While there is no evidence in any of the cases they mentioned that the killers were actually CHL holders, what is interesting is this; none of the cases were in Oregon, they had to search nationally to find three incidents, all happened in states where it is already illegal to have a gun on school property and not a single one of these incidents would have been prevented by the enactment of their demented “no self-defense-in-schools” policy. But it looks like this was enough for Prozanski and his fellow Democrats on the committee, Bonamici and Dingfelder. Who needs facts when you can always fall back on hysteria? (The bill also includes language to keep CHL info private. Prozanski told us he could not move a bill that did this because his caucus did not approve, but he did put it into this bill which is sure to fail. Confused yet? )

The Republicans on the committee, Doug Whitsett and Jeff Kruse responded with a “minority report” which is basically an alternative bill that the Senate can vote on. Neither discussed any element of the proposed legislation with OFF, and while their proposals were ambitious, even Senator Kruse, on a local talk show, admitted it had no chance of approval. Given that their proposal was 34 pages, that it gave almost every anti-gunner something to hate, and was hastily and poorly drafted, this may be no net loss. The minority report had plenty of pro-gun language in it, but also included things that really made no sense, like making it a crime for someone under 18 to have a concealed firearm on school grounds. Last time we checked, that was already illegal.

On the other hand, the House Judiciary Committee modified a Senate Bill (SB 347) that was intended to protect private info of domestic violence victims and now includes protection for CHL holders. House Reps Mary Nolan and Carolyn Tomei, staunch liberal feminists voted against the bill in committee because it protects CHL holders. They would have voted yes to protect victims until the bill also protected victims who took steps to protect themselves. There are some people we will never quite understand.

So that’s where we stand today. 2797 and 2792 will be on the Senate floor soon. 2791 remains on life support in the Ways and Means Committee and Floyd has managed to artfully muck up everything that came from the House with wide majorities. And now we get to do this every year.

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- Having already eviscerated HB 2797 by turning a simple motorcycle carry bill into a ban on self-defense in schools, Floyd Prozanski is now making another colossal mess of HB 2792, a bill that would recognize other states’ concealed handgun licenses.

With these amendments, any language that recognizes other state’s CHL’s is removed and replaced by a bizarre mash up of other bills.

In these amendments the recognition language is gone and in its place is much of the language that Prozanski stuffed into 2797 dealing with restricting felon’s rights restoration, but he has also included the language that clarifies lawful carry on motorcycles, ATV’s and snowmobiles! The motorcycle, ATV and snowmobile corrections were already in HB 2797!

All Prozanski had to do was leave the bill alone. Confused yet? Frankly, we cannot give you any clue to what Prozanski is thinking.

Oregon Senator Prozanski

HB 2792 is scheduled for a work session tomorrow. Also scheduled is HB 2787, a bill that would protect the privacy of CHL holders. Strangely, Prozanski stuffed the privacy language from that bill into the motorcycle bill where he also included a ban on guns in schools. Never has the old saying about law and sausage been more appropriate.

What amendments may be offered to the House CHL privacy bill are anyone’s guess, but given the astonishing mess Prozanski has made out of the other two bills, he may well amend THAT bill to ban guns in schools as well.

The Senate Judiciary Committee under Prozanski’s chairmanship has devolved into a dysfunctional graveyard for popular legislation, The two Republican members have done what they can to maintain some sanity, but frankly they are outnumbered.

Tomorrow’s work session promises to be another exercise in confusion and futility.

Please contact Senate President Peter Courtney and request that he provide some adult supervision for the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Contact info and sample message follow:

Senator Peter Courtney
503-986-1600
FAX:
503-986-1004
sen.petercourtney@state.or.us

____________________________________________________________________

Dear Senator Courtney,

Bills that passed the House with overwhelming bi-partisan support are being turned into unrecognizable and confusing nonsense in the Senate Judiciary Committee. We’ve already seen House Bill 2797 go from a simple clarification on firearms transport to an all-out attack on personal protection on school grounds.

Now a bill that would have recognized other states’ concealed handgun licenses is being butchered as well. I urge you to request Senator Prozanski to just move the gun bills that have come from the House to his committee to the floor so Senators can vote on them as they were written. The confusion that Senator Prozanski is creating serves no one.

Yours,

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- “Legislative hi-jinks” was the accurate description Senator Jeff Kruse gave to today’s Judiciary Committee antics when they held a “work session’” on House Bill 2797.

It’s important to understand that all this bill did was clarify how a person may lawfully transport a firearm on a motorcycle, ATV or snowmobile. The bill was so uncontroversial that no one, not one single House Rep, voted against it.

But the Senate Judiciary Chairman, Floyd Prozanski, claimed in committee that the “volatile “ nature of gun bills required a “compromise.” Prozanski’s compromise? Add 11 pages of amendments to a 4 page bill and turn simple “clean-up” legislation into a bill to ban licensed, concealed carry on all school grounds including college campuses.

By the way, Prozanski had previously stated in committee that these amendments “did not exist.”

In Salem, no matter how cynical you are, you just can’t keep up.

Prozanski’s amendments, ( the latest version which only became available this morning, minutes before the hearing began) will almost certainly tank this bill.

We know that Prozanski and the two other Democrats on the committee are rabidly anti-gun, but this bill was an odd vehicle to try to gut gun rights at the school room door. In spite of Prozanski’s comments about the “volatility” of gun bills, this piece of legislation was nothing more than a correction for a previous legislative screw up.

The amendments almost certainly mean this bill is dead. So, for at least one more year, Oregon law will contain no guidance for anyone who wants to know how they can stay within the law while riding motorcycles, ATV’s and snowmobiles. Nice work Floyd.

Predictably, Ceasefire Oregon came to complain that the amendments did not go far enough. Their spokeswoman, who can most charitably be described as delusional, told the committee that there have been three school shootings by CHL holders, events that seem to have been reported to her and her alone. It is sad indeed to be this terrified by things that do not exist.

The bill now goes to the full Senate floor where we will ask you to do all you can to oppose it.

We fully expected the “paranoid caucus” to oppose any effort to protect the rights of gun owners in this session, but it ‘s a particular shame that they chose such an important and popular bill to try to ramrod their agenda.

Senators Jeff Kruse and Doug Whitsett made notice they they would be filing a minority report. This would be a substitute to this bill written by rational people. They should be thanked for standing up for liberty and common sense.

Please contact your Oregon State Senator and urge them to vote AGAINST HB 2797 when this monstrosity comes to the floor. You can use this link to write to your Senator. Uncheck the box that says “State House” as this bill is no longer in the House and we need only contact Senators. A suggested cut and paste message follows:

____________

Dear Senator,

Partisan games have turned a simple and uncontroversial bill, HB 2797, into a vehicle to attack the rights of concealed handgun license holders. I am embarrassed by a process that would subvert a simple “clean-up” bill and use it to advance the agenda of those who would attack the most law-abiding Oregonians. I hope in the future we can do better, but for now I urge you to vote “no” on HB 2797 as amended by Senator Prozanski.

____________

Voting to attack the rights of those who ride motorcycles, ATV’s and snowmobiles:

Senator Suzanne Bonamici
Party: D District: 17
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1717
District Phone: 503-627-0246
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-403, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: PO Box 990, Beaverton, OR, 97075
Email: sen.suzannebonamici@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/bonamici

Senator Jackie Dingfelder
Party: D District: 23
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1723
District Phone: 503-493-2804
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-407, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: PO Box 13432, Portland, OR, 97213
Email: sen.jackiedingfelder@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/dingfelder

Senator Floyd Prozanski
Party: D District: 4
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1704
District Phone: 541-342-2447
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-417, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: PO Box 11511, Eugene, OR, 97440
Email: sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/prozanski

Voting rationally to protect those who ride motorcycles, ATV’s and snowmobiles:

Senator Jeff Kruse
Party: R District: 1
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1701
District Phone: 541-580-3276
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-315, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: 636 Wild Iris Lane, Roseburg, OR, 97470
Email: sen.jeffkruse@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/kruse

Senator Doug Whitsett
Party: R District: 28
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1728
District Phone: 541-883-4006
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-303, Salem, OR, 97301
District Office Address: 23131 N. Poe Valley Road, Klamath Falls, OR, 97603
Email: sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/whitsett

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- At the last possible moment, the Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled three gun bills that OFF has been working on all session, in some cases for more than one session.

There is no question that your tireless efforts are the reason why.

While there can certainly be changes, HB 2797 has been scheduled for May 26 at 8 AM. This bill does nothing more than clarify a lawful way to transport a handgun on a motorcycle and any firearm on a snowmobile or ATV. It is non-controversial and has had no opposition, but it is also the bill we believe most likely to be used as a vehicle to ban licensed carry in schools. So, while it is a victory that it has been scheduled, the battle is far from over. We still need to make sure the bill is not turned into something its sponsor never intended.

House Bills 2787 and 2792 are scheduled for June 1 at 8:30 AM. These two bills protect the privacy of CHL holders and recognize the concealed handgun licenses from other states respectively.

Make no mistake, it was your pressure that forced the Committee Chair to put these bills on the schedule. But we have a long way to go. As we have said, we believe there may be some very damaging amendments that could be attached to these bills, so we still need to keep the pressure on to make sure they are passed with no amendments.

Committee Chairmen typically do NOT schedule bills they don’t plan to pass, but this committee is controlled by anti-gun Democrats so they might very well have some tricks up their sleeves. Don’t stop now. Please contact the committee and urge them to pass these three bills as they are with no amendments. And thanks for all you have done, against all odds, so far.

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- HB 2791 removes the Oregon State Police as the point of contact for gun purchase background checks. Under 2791, the State Police would be replaced by the National Instant Check System.

35 states contact the Feds directly for these checks and buyers pay no fee for the “service.” In Oregon, when a purchase is initiated, the dealer contacts the OSP who call NICS and then OSP charges a $10.00 fee.

In the last 6 months or so, gun dealers in Oregon have had serious difficulty conducting these checks due to long delays when attempting to contact OSP. Even after finally getting an operator on the phone, the wait times can be onerous. The incidence of “pended” or delayed approvals has spiked as well. Many people have reported that they could make a purchase one day and be delayed the next. People with long histories of problem-free gun buys, have suddenly faced delays, sometimes for months.

HB 2791 would solve this problem by removing the middleman and simply going directly to the NICS system where no similar problems have been reported. In fact, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which represents gun dealers, has informed us that NICS has an excellent track record of rapid approvals and the only states having problems are ones which, like Oregon, use local “points of contact.”

At the hearing, Representative Greg Smith (who did an excellent job) questioned the State Police ID Unit Director who testified that gun purchase background checks subsidized many other types of checks that OSP conducts for free.

The Director, David Yandell, also testified that the ID Unit was experiencing difficulties completing background checks, but hoped things would improve. He noted that the unit plans to soon have an electronic check system that would allow dealers to conduct the checks themselves online. He also testified that even if this “new and improved” system became functional, reducing the need for staff time, that it was their intention to still seek the higher fee per check that they have requested. The current fee is $10.00. The State Police want to almost triple that to $26.00.

As expected, “Cease fire Oregon” came to oppose the bill with borderline hysterical testimony and invented statistics. More interestingly, a representative for the public employees unions came to oppose the bill on the grounds that several union jobs would be lost if the Feds took over the checks. Her position was that this bill would devastate Oregon’s economy because a handful of state workers would not longer be able to pay taxes after losing their jobs.

This is a fascinating premise. By her reasoning, Oregon could solve all its economic problems by hiring everyone in the state. Those people would then pay taxes and Oregon would be flush.

The magnitude of economic illiteracy out there is staggering.

Oddly, the public employees representative did not question whether the new “electronic” check would cost any jobs. None of the committee members asked about that either.

Senator Rod Monroe seemed primarily interested in not losing any state jobs, but most committee members appeared to get the point that Oregonians should not be paying twice for the same “service,” a process they never asked for which is being provided so poorly.

Now the bad news. The hearing was only one step. The bill cannot move without a “work session” and we have been reliably informed that the Democrats will be resisting such action. Apparently, saving millions of dollars of taxpayer money and endless headaches is less important than losing a single public employee job. So there is strong reason to suspect that the leadership in the Senate Democrat Caucus will be doing what they can (which is a lot) to stop progress on this bill. It’s by no means dead, but it is clearly in the cross hairs of the Democrat Leadership. By simply taking no further action on the bill, it will die, you will continue to face hassles and expense at the hands of the OSP, and “no one” will be to blame because no one had to vote.

Over in Senate Judiciary, Senator Floyd Prozanski, with the full support of Senate President Peter Courtney, is continuing to hold up any progress on House Bills 2787, 2792 and 2797. If he has not chosen a date to have work sessions on these bills by Monday, May 23rd, they will all be dead unless some legislator steps up and moves that they be removed from his committee. So time is running out.

Based on previous testimony and Prozanski’s own comments, we are confident that the Senator will make some attempt to turn one of these good bills into a Frankenstein monster of an anti-gun bill. Almost certainly it will be HB 2797 which only seeks to clarify firearms carry on motorcycles, snowmobiles and ATV’s. Expect this bill to be stuffed with language to ban guns on any school property along with lots of potential other amendments. Prozanski also wanted to change the rules about the restoration of felons’ gun rights. Having failed to make his own bill go anywhere, he could well add that language to any gut-and-stuff amendments to HB 2797.

We believe that it is unlikely (but by no means impossible) that Prozanski can pass a “no guns in schools” bill, however what he can do, and clearly is trying to do, is torpedo every bill that can in any way be perceived as “pro-gun.” In the case of HB 2797 this is particularly troubling. All that bill does is fix a legislative screw-up from 2009. It merely provides guidance so people can avoid running afoul of the law. So Prozanski and Courtney’s actions here are particularly reprehensible.

No doubt both will be cheered by the Supreme Court’s recent decision to further eviscerate the US Constitution.

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- Today’s Senate Judiciary Committee “hearing” was another display of the paranoia of the anti-liberty crowd.

Although the meeting was supposed to be a hearing on three good gun bills, it was, in fact, nothing more than theater arranged by, and for, the anti-gun rights, government school establishment.

In an unusual “informational meeting”, the opponents of gun rights were given a virtual monopoly on public testimony, but more, they were given information provided to no one else and the opportunity to testify at length before anyone from the pro-freedom side had a chance to respond. While limited and abbreviated testimony was taken from a few pro gun citizens, no one from OFF or NRA had a chance to testify in spite of the fact that they were “signed in” before almost everyone else.

The meeting followed a format we have never seen before. The “informational meeting” took center stage but no pro-gun people had any insights into exactly what the meeting was about. Strangely, that was not true of the people who testified on behalf of the government schools.

They repeatedly voiced their support for “amendments to HB 2797.” 2797 is the bill that clarifies lawful carry of handguns on motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles. The “amendments” clearly outlawed CHL holders from being on school property. Oddly, only the government school representatives seemed to have actually seen these “amendments.”

Even one member of the committee asked what these supposed “amendments” were, since he had not seen them either.

After repeated references to these amendments. the chair of the committee, Floyd Prozanski, informed the audience that “there were no amendments to any of the bills” being heard today. But even after he said that several times, more representatives of the government schools referred to the “amendments to HB 2797.”

It was quite odd that numerous people who worked for the state school establishment testified in favor of amendments to a specific bill that would outlaw CHL carry on school property, but no one else saw these amendments and the Chair insisted they did not exist. Someone is not being very forthcoming.

Although we were told that the “informational meeting” would cover guns in schools, rights restoration for people with felony convictions, and “mental health issues” it was clear that the focus was on licensed carry at schools. It was also clear that the anti-gun school establishment was privy to inside information denied to everyone else.

The government school reps trotted out all the same paranoid cliches they have been relying on for years. School superintendent Susan Castillo testified that guns in schools were a dangerous proposition and illustrated her position by citing Columbine, Thurston High School and Virginia Tech. When asked if any of those shooters were concealed handgun license holders she admitted they were not, but the schools did not want to “wait “until a CHL holder opened fire on a class full of children. (Hey, it could happen, right?) Of course, just as every CHL holder is a potential mass murderer, every public school teacher is a potential child molester. So clearly we need to address that issue.

Ginny Burdick demonstrated, once again, her perennially addled state by testifying that CHL holders could not be trusted in schools because they did not have the extensive training that police have. She went on to illustrate her point by citing data from the New York City Police Department which concluded that NYC cops rarely hit their targets.

This is an interesting argument. On the one hand, the anti-gun crowd does not want to recognize the CHLs from other states because they may not meet Oregon’s lofty training requirements. On the other hand, we cannot trust CHL holders in schools because they have such paltry training requirements.

Of course, over and over, the anti-gun mouthpieces complained about the carnage caused by guns in schools. And over and over they were asked if any of the people who were responsible for violence in schools were CHL holders.

The number of problems involving CHLs according to the anti-liberty zealots? Er…uhh…oh…none.

After listening to multiple representatives of the Oregon government schools testify that the most law abiding Oregonians need to be disarmed because of the acts of the most criminal Oregonians, we were struck with a horrifying thought. These people are teaching our children. There have been few more compelling arguments for homeschooling than today’s testimony.

If you are a public school teacher, you should know how you are being represented in Salem. If you are a parent with children in the public school system you should know how your children are being propagandized.

In spite of Prozanski’s repeated denials, there would seem to be amendments to one of the gun bills to, once again, dredge up the failed efforts to ban CHL holders from being on school property. Why we are allowed to be in malls, parks and even the Capitol, but we can’t be trusted to pick up our children from school is never answered by the school union reps, the School Superintendent, or the orchestrated and delusional members of the government school monopoly.

Either the teachers’ union or the Chairman of the committee is lying about the phantom “amendments” to 2797. The hearing ended with no testimony from any member of the gun lobby. Prozanski announced that he would pick this hearing up again next Tuesday. If the deck will be stacked again then, we cannot say. It is clear however, that there is an effort to butcher the pro-gun bills that passed the House with wide margins.

We strongly encourage you to continue to make your voice heard on the three bills that were supposed to be heard today. Please contact the following Senators and tell them to pass House Bills 2787, 2792, and 2797 as passed by the House with NO amendments. These are the people that need to hear from you. Do not be hesitant to contact them multiple times.

Floyd Prozanski
Capitol Phone:
503-986-1704
District Phone:
541-342-2447
sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us

Jackie Dingfelder
Capitol Phone:
503-986-1723
District Phone:
503-493-2804
sen.jackiedingfelder@state.or.us

Suzanne Bonamici
Capitol Phone:
503-986-1717
District Phone:
503-627-0246
sen.suzannebonamici@state.or.us

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- Today, both the Senate and House Judiciary Committees were scheduled to vote on bills that would save gun owners enormous hassles and Oregonians millions of dollars.

The Senate Committee was, once again, due to vote on SB 934, a bill which would remove the responsibility for running firearms background checks from the Oregon State Police and turn those checks over to the feds, who do not charge and have a far better track record of getting the checks done efficiently.

For the record, OFF does not support or endorse any background checks for a number of reasons.

First, we believe it is a prior restraint on your rights. Second we do not believe it prevents bad actors from getting guns. However, as long as we are saddled with a federal mandate to subject ourselves to background checks, we believe we should have the least time consuming and least expensive system we can. Right now, that would be the federal NICS system.

Although SB 934 has been scheduled for action for several days, it was once again postponed. We have been told that amendments to the bill have been drafted, but as of now, we have not been permitted to see them. It is very likely that the amendments will completely change the contents of the bill. Until we see the amendments we simply do not know. However, when we see them, you will see them.

In the House, a work session was held on a similar bill, HB 2791.
As with SB 934, this bill would end the fees and delays on background checks by removing the State Police as the point of contact. While more and more states who rely on local authorities have been experiencing problems with background checks, states that use the national NICS system have been having no problems.

The House Judiciary Committee took testimony from the Oregon State Police at today’s work session even though OSP chose not to comment at the public hearing where testimony is normally taken. At that hearing, the only testimony taken against the bill was from the public employee’s union.

The OSP said that the delays dealers have been experiencing while trying to contact them on the phone, and the surge in delays in approvals was due to a big increase in background check requests. Oddly, they also said that in spite of the almost three million dollars in federal grants already received to forward mental health records to the feds, they have not yet done so.

While we, of course, wonder what they have been doing with the money, we are more perplexed by the statement that they have not shared any mental health records as required by federal law.

To be clear, we oppose sharing that data and fought hard to prevent Oregon from enacting a law that forced us into compliance with the NRA-and-Brady-Campaign-backed legislation demanding this sensitive information. But the fact is, we are now stuck with this law and the OSP has gotten lots of money to comply. What is particularly inexplicable is their statement that they have shared no information with the feds, when we already know of one person who has been denied firearms purchases because of mental health records that the feds recently got.

What’s even more troubling is that this person had already had his rights restored by the courts! So why his private data was shared with the feds is a mystery. Clearly, someone is not getting his story straight.

A side note to this issue is that Psychiatric Safety Review Board has received almost $300,000.00 to conduct gun rights restoration hearings and so far has conducted …none. They have also created a resolution process so onerous, expensive and invasive that few rational people would attempt it. When you get a boatload of money to run a process that no one wants to engage in, you get to keep a boatload of money.

The vote on HB 2791 had a few surprises.

(One thing that was not a surprise was when Representative Carolyn Tomei expressed opposition to the bill because she wanted to “keep Oregon jobs.” In other words, gun owners should pay twice in order to insure that the people who work in the ID unit at OSP have jobs. The millions in savings to Oregon did not impress Tomei.)

The first surprise was when Representative Andy Olson vote no. Usually a reliable supporter of gun rights, Olson’s “no” vote was unexpected. Mary Nolan, who can always be counted on to vote against gun rights, regardless of the millions in potential savings for Oregon, stated that it was Olson’s vote that convinced her to vote “no.” Representative Gene Whisnant was excused at the time of the vote. As a supporter, his vote was crucial. (Whisnant was attending other business and not avoiding this vote.)

In the end Representaitves Krieger, Barker, Wand, Hicks and Schaufler vote yes.

A “yes” vote was a vote for gun rights and common sense.

Tomei, Nolan and Olson voted no.

The deciding vote, which passed the bill, came from Representative Chris Garrett, who said that while he expected to vote “no” on the floor, he was casting a courtesy vote for the excused Whisnant and voted “yes.”

Ironically, a regular supporter of gun rights, Andy Olson, almost sank this important bill, and a Democrat who often votes against gun rights saved it.

We hope they will both reconsider their positions and vote “yes” on the floor of the House, but there can be no denying that it was Garrett’s vote that kept this bill alive.

The bill is now scheduled to go to the full House floor, although procedural moves could send it to another committee. But right now we have to assume the next step is the House floor.

Please take a moment to write your own House rep and urge a “yes” vote on HB 2791.

Your rep can be reached using this link.

A sample message follows:

___________________________________________________________

Dear Representative,

HB 2791 has been voted out of the House Judiciary Committee and should be coming to you on the House floor soon.

This common sense bill can save Oregon millions in duplicated services and eliminate costly delays for Oregon’s law-abiding gun owners. I strongly urge you vote yes on a bill that will accomplish so much at no cost.

Yours,

________________________

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Mule Deer Foundation

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. –-(Ammoland.com)- The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) is expanding its presence in the state of Oregon. This year there will be eight fundraising banquets held across the state.

The first event was held Feb. 19, 2011, in Klamath Falls, Ore. This MDF Chapter is in its 20th year, and banquet attendance included over 350 supporters.

There is an upcoming banquet and youth raffle scheduled for April 23, in Bend, Ore. Tickets are still available. Monies raised from this event are slated for habitat work in the Metolius hunt unit. In May, fundraisers will be held in Christmas Valley, Oregon City and Grants Pass.

The Western Oregon/Eastern Idaho Chapter will host an event July 16. The newly-formed North East Oregon Chapter will hold their first banquet Aug. 6, in Pendleton, Ore. On Sept. 24, the final Oregon banquet of the season will be held in The Dalles, also celebrating their 20th anniversary.

Currently, there are approximately 700 MDF members in Oregon. Over the past couple of years, Oregon chapters have invested over $32,000 in on-the-ground projects. They are on target to obligate over $10,000 this year.

Projects have included such things as adding and repairing fencing, deer collaring to study summering locations, habitat improvement and plantings, purchase of a robotic deer decoy, and numerous guzzler repairs and installations.

Current and upcoming projects include youth programs, a deer telemetry study, purchase of materials for guzzlers, and removal of juniper from highway right of way in an area of high auto/deer collisions.

Become a part of the growing MDF community in Oregon. For more information or to attend an upcoming banquet, contact MDF Regional Director Ken Hand at 541-281-2224 or visit www.muledeer.org.

About MDF (www.muledeer.org)
The Mule Deer Foundation is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with members in every state, as well as Canada and Mexico. MDF’s mission is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat. MDF is dedicated to restoring, improving and protecting mule deer habitat (including land and easement acquisitions) resulting in self-sustaining, healthy, free ranging and huntable deer populations; encouraging and supporting responsible wildlife management with government agencies, private organizations and landowners; promoting public education and scientific research related to mule deer and wildlife management; supporting and encouraging responsible and ethical behavior and awareness of issues among those whose actions affect mule deer; and acknowledging regulated hunting as a viable component of mule deer and black-tailed deer conservation.

For information about the Mule Deer Foundation or to join please call 1-888-375-DEER (3337).

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- “Our first priority when it comes to domestic violence issues has to be ensuring the safety of Oregon’s domestic violence survivors, and this bill does just that,” said Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland).

Much as we would like to report that Senator Rosenbaum was discussing Senate Bill 582, or House Bill 2787, which would have protected the identities of victims of abuse who obtained concealed handgun licenses to protect themselves, we cannot.

In fact Rosenbaum was talking about SB 347, a bill that would keep information from domestic violence centers out of the public records.

The sheer hypocrisy of this is breathtaking.

While laudably protecting the victims of domestic abuse if they seek help at a public shelter, the Senate Democrats are determined to keep public the home address and phone number of any abuse victim who takes steps to protect herself. This is shameless.

As you know, HB 2787 passed the House with a large majority. It now languishes in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

A very similar Senate Bill, SB 582, was heard in that same committee, but after scheduling it for a “work session” (the meeting where bills are amended and voted on), Prozanski abruptly yanked the bill from the schedule and informed us it would not be moved or voted on. Privacy for license holders was dead as far as Prozanski was concerned. This is a serious problem, since reporters are still seeking the private info of CHL holders.

The opponents of CHL privacy have repeatedly stated that people should know if their “crazy neighbor down the street had a gun.” This was one of their most popular excuses for voting against CHL privacy. What’s so bizarre about this argument is that while you can own a gun without having a CHL, and you can have a CHL without owning a gun, the records of gun purchases are exempt from public disclosure! If your “crazy neighbor down the street” bought a gun, you would not be allowed to know it. Only if they had jumped through state mandated hoops to prove they are not a danger to anyone would you be informed.

So now both CHL privacy bills, as well as a bill to recognize other states’ permits, are being held hostage by Prozanski in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

But the plot thickens.

After telling us in no uncertain terms that SB 582 WOULD NOT move out of his committee, Prozanski has scheduled another “work session” for it.

Did Senator Prozanski have a sudden change of heart? Did the Senate Democrats “see the light?” We’d like to report they had. But frankly, we doubt it.

So why would he schedule a work session on a bill he wants to kill?

Well there are a few possibilities. The deadline for bills to be scheduled for work sessions in their originating house is tomorrow. That means that by Friday, April 8, all Senate bills must have been given a date for a work session in the Senate and all House bills must have been given a date for a work session in the House. So timing is critical. But why schedule it at all?

In many cases when something like this happens, the Chair is simply keeping the bill “in play” so that later on he can come back and “gut and stuff” it. That means that he can take a bill and change every single word, so it has no resemblance to its original intentions. But he can only do this if the bill has met the required deadlines.

But all the changes in the bill still must conform to the “relating clause” of the the bill. So, if the relating clause were “relating to firearms” there would be the very strong potential that this bill would be “gut and stuffed” and turned into an anti-gun bill. But in this case, the relating clause says “Relating to the records of concealed handgun licenses.” This is not a clause that gives them a lot of room to turn it into a bad bill, unless his plan is to stuff the bill with all the terrible amendments that became part of a similar bill in 2009. Those amendments actually turned the bill into a roadmap for getting the information rather than a method to protect it.

Another scenario is that Prozanski is attempting to keep the bill in play so that he can discourage any attempts to have it removed from his committee and voted on on the floor. Most legislators would be reluctant to call for the removal of a bill that had action scheduled on it.

Keep in mind that although the bill is scheduled, there is no guarantee action will actually be taken on it. The work session could be entirely procedural to simply meet the deadlines.

Once again, we need to remind Senator Prozanski that this bill is important to all people who value privacy: Democrats, Republicans and independents, gun owners or not, from every district.

Please contact Senator Prozanski one more time and remind him that you do not believe that sensitive private information should be available to newspapers and stalkers. Contact info and a suggested message follow:

Email: sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us

_____________________________________________________________

Dear Senator Prozanski,

I am troubled that the Senate would continue to block the safeguarding of private information of CHL holders, many of whom received their licenses to be able to defend themselves.

I applaud the passage of SB 347, but simply cannot understand why you would not extend that same protection to persons who took steps to assure their safety and the safety of their loved ones. This is astonishing hypocrisy.

I know that you have scheduled a work session for SB 582 after saying the bill would not move out of your committee. I strongly urge you not to use this important bill as a bargaining chip or a tool to play political games.

If you truly intend to hold a legitimate work session on the bill, I thank you and urge you to vote yes. But I also urge you not to use the sensitive private information of Oregonians as a political football to achieve other ends.

Yours,

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- House Bill 2787, a bill that will protect the private information of concealed handgun license holders, passed the Oregon House today with a 42 to 18 vote.

The single Republican who voted to keep this sensitive information available to any and all was Vicki Berger. While not unexpected, it was still inexplicable. Why anyone would insist that this info be made available to any criminal, newspaper, or junk mail firm defies reason. But that’s politics.

Berger’s comment after the vote… “I had to do it.” It remains to be seen why she “had to do it.” But the bill has now passed another hurdle and moves on to the Senate where things promise to be more interesting.

An identical bill * was due to be voted on in the Senate Judiciary Committee today. (*This link does not show the proposed amendments that would have mirrored the House amendments, but they had been introduced.)

The bill had had already received a hearing and today’s “work session ” was being held to include the same amendments the House bill had and vote the bill out of committee. But the bill was yanked off the schedule by the Committee Chair, who, while supportive or the bill himself, had been pressured by the Senate Democratic Caucus to spike the bill.

This means that when HB 2787 is assigned to that same committee, the Chairman will be strong- armed by the Senate Democrats to kill it.

So clearly, we have our work cut out . This bill is so commonsense that it is hard to imagine what excuse the Senate Democrats have to try to kill it, except for pure vindictiveness. But things are, by no means, over.

The bill has passed the House. It will now be assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee where, without a strong demand by gun owners, it will never get a hearing and it will die. So let’s get to work.

Every Oregon Sheriff we know is behind this bill. Eleven House Democrats (including co-speaker Arnie Roblan) voted in favor. Clearly the idea of protecting CHL holder’s private data is something most people understand. We now have to turn our attention to the Senate.

If your state Senator is a Democrat, you need to inform them in the most urgent terms that you want HB 2787 to get a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. If you don’t know who your Senator is, it’s easy to find out. Use this link. Your STATE Senator will be the second to last person listed.

The message is simple and to-the-point.

Dear Senator, House Bill 2787 is very important to me. I urge you to do all you can to assure it gets a hearing and passes the Senate.

You can find easy contact info for ALL Senate Dems here.

Senator Peter Courtney is the Senate President and a Democrat. In the end, it is his responsibility to move this bill. The threatened hold-up could not take place without his approval. He needs to hear from you as well.

We are as committed as ever to see this bill pass. Please make sure your voice is heard.

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- We have received a number of communications from gun dealers across the state informing us of long waits and busy signals when they attempt to conduct background checks for gun purchases.

While some dealers are reporting no changes, others have let us know that the difficulty in contacting Oregon State Police has had a serious effect on their ability to conduct business.

We are also receiving an increase in complaints about unjustified delays for gun purchases and a lack of response by the OSP when buyers use their “Challenge Line” in an effort to resolve delays. This was a common problem in the past and had largely gone away.

This all comes at a time when the OSP has requested significant increases in their fees.

If you are a dealer, or someone who has had difficulty making a purchase, you may download and distribute our Background Check Fact Sheet, (also quoted below) which has info on pending bills that deal with these issues along with important and helpful contact info for legislators and OSP officials.

We have also received multiple, credible reports that Oregon dealers are being pressured by ATF to make highly irregular and suspicious gun sales. It would appear to be Oregon’s very own “Gunwalker” scandal.

The Oregon State Police are aware of these operations and have chosen to take a “hands off” approach.

If you are a dealer who has been pressured by ATF or the OSP into making transactions you consider suspicious, and are willing to share your experiences, please contact us. Rest assured your privacy will be protected.

Background Check Delay Fact Sheet

March 2011. Prepared By Oregon Firearms Federation. oregonfirearms.org .

Recently many Oregon gun dealers are reporting extremely long wait times to connect to the Oregon State Police in order to conduct background checks for firearms purchases. In some cases, it has taken hours to connect for a single transaction. The problem at gun shows is even more pronounced where dealers are relying on cell phones. In addition to the damage this is doing to dealers attempting to do business, this creates an undue burden for people attempting to make purchases.

Furthermore, there has been a significant increase in unjustified “delays” or “pends” after a long period of decline in this problem. There are currently two bills in the Oregon legislature that could solve this problem by ending the State Police involvement in background checks conducted by licensed dealers and turning this responsibility over to NICS, who also do not charge for checks.

All legislators can be reached at this number 1-800-332-2313

The House version of the bill is: HB 2791

The chairs of the House Judiciary Committee and the people who could make this bill happen are: Representative Jeff Barker

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1428

Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-491, Salem, OR, 97301

Email: rep.jeffbarker@state.or.us

Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/barker

Representative Wayne Krieger

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1401

District Phone: 541-247-7990

Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-381, Salem, OR, 97301

Email: rep.waynekrieger@state.or.us

Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/krieger

The Senate Version of the bill is: SB 934

The Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the person who could make the Senate bill happen is: Senator Floyd Prozanski

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1704

Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-417, Salem, OR, 97301

District Office Address: PO Box 11511, Eugene, OR, 97440

Email: sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us

Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/prozanski

The State Police have requested a large fee increase with the following bill:

SB 5538 Increases fees for background checks on gun purchases from $10 to $26.00.

Increases fingerprint fees for CHL’s from $15.00 to $29.00.

If you are delayed or denied for a firearms purchase, the State Police challenge line is 503-373-1808 EX 327.

Calls to this line used to be returned promptly. In recent months calls to this line HAVE NOT been promptly returned.

If your calls are not responded to, contact David Yandell, Oregon State Police ID Unit. 503-378-3055 x55000

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- WHERE WE STAND NOW This legislative session has seen a large number of firearms-related bills, both good and bad. But it’s no trick to get bills introduced; the typical session may see 4000 of them. The real challenge is to get any of them to go anywhere.

As of now several bills are scheduled for action in their house of origin, in this case the Oregon House. Keep in mind, this is just one of many steps on the long road to a bill becoming a law.

Three gun bills are scheduled for action on March 8th in the House Judiciary Committee. Two of those bills, HB 2792 and HB 2787, have already received hearings and are scheduled for “work sessions” where bills are amended and adopted. A third bill will receive its first public hearing. That is HB 2797.

To recap, HB 2792 recognizes other states’ concealed handgun licenses.

HB 2787 protects the privacy of concealed handgun license holders.

HB 2797 addresses the problem with Oregon law that forbids anyone to carry a loaded firearm on a snowmobile or ATV (but does not even define what “loaded” means) and also corrects the flaw in Oregon Statute that allows no practical, legal way to transport a handgun on a motorcycle unless the rider has a CHL. This is one of several bills dealing with carry on ATVs but the only one that deals with the motorcycle problem. OFF requested this bill after a Senate bill in 2009 inadvertently dropped the motorcycle language. We ask that you contact the committee and request that they support all three bills.

Also scheduled for that meeting is HB 3100, a bill which modifies the jurisdiction of the “Psychiatric Security Review Board.” While this is not a “gun bill”, we are paying close attention to this body since now, thanks to the NRA, it has a lot of control over gun owners and it has shown no interest in protecting gun owners’ rights.

There is a strong likelihood that the three gun bills will pass out of committee, although HB 2797 will not likely be acted on on the 8th. But anything can happen and there is always the potential for damaging amendments or other problems. So we are asking that you contact the committee urging support for all three bills.

That being said it is important to note that committee schedules can change at any time, right up until the very last minute. If you plan to attend the hearing, make sure you double-check that there have been no scheduling changes.

It’s safe to say that the two members of the Judiciary Committee least likely to support gun rights are Carolyn Tomei and Mary Nolan. But, if the committee does pass any or all of these bills, the measures will then have to pass the full House. If we prevail there, the whole process starts again in the Senate Judiciary Committee whose Chairman, Floyd Prozanski, is not at all friendly to gun rights. We fully expect a battle to get any of these bills heard in his committee.

While we are making progress, we still have a lot of work to do. There are other bills in the House that have NOT been scheduled for a hearing and they only will be if you let the co-chairs of House Judiciary know they are important. These bills should not be seen as controversial, but they could easily become bargaining chips if we don’t make our voices heard. A brief review of them follows:

HB 2791 Removes Department of State Police as designated state point of contact for purposes of National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

There is a companion bill for this in the Senate, SB 934.

Recently, the OSP has greatly increased the time it takes to conduct a standard background check with dealers often waiting over an hour to get through to the ID unit. You can imagine the strain this puts on business and it’s even worse at gun shows. Furthermore, a problem we thought we had solved in the past has come back with a vengeance. The incidence of complaints about unjustified delays on approvals has shot back up after having come down significantly. That’s why we want the State Police out of the background check business. That and their stated intention to TRIPLE their fees. (Slow downs, price increases…coincidence? You decide.)

HB 2793 Modifies definition of public place for purpose of certain city or county ordinances related to possession of loaded firearms.

In 2008 the Oregon Appeals Court turned our “preemption statue” on its ear by concluding that your car must be treated like a “public place.” Thus all the protections gun owners thought they had while traveling from place to place were gone and you could easily find yourself breaking some local code or rule because you drove into a locality with its own gun restrictions. Localities may only restrict guns in “public places” but who thinks their car is one? This important bill would reverse this problem and once again protect traveling gun owners.

HB 2789 Authorizes issuance of concealed handgun license to person convicted or diverted for certain marijuana offenses in another jurisdiction if conviction or diversion is equivalent to conviction or diversion that does not operate as bar to obtaining license under Oregon law.

Oregon law allows a person with ONE conviction or ONE diversion for a small amount of marijuana to apply for a concealed handgun license. But, that conviction or diversion MUST have been in Oregon and MUST have been AFTER 1973. So a person with a minor out-of-state conviction or someone whose incident was almost 40 years old is locked out. We think this is an oversight and not fair. HB 2789 would correct that problem.

There are numerous other gun-related bills in the hopper, but we think these should generate the least controversy and should not be held hostage to the process. But they will only move forward with your help.

We’ve included two sample messages below. One is to the entire House Judiciary Committee asking for speedy action, on the bills being dealt with on March 8th. The second is to the Committee Chairs, asking for hearings on the three important bills described above. Please feel free to modify them to suit your style, and thanks for your continued activism.

__________________________________________________________

House Judiciary Committee Contact Info.

Dear Representative,

Your committee will soon be dealing with House Bills 2787, 2792 and 2797. These bills safeguard the rights of law-abiding firearms owners.

They are commonsense bills that deserve your vote. I urge quick passage and your support for them on the House floor.

Thank you,

__________________________

____________________________________________________________

Co-Chair Jeff Barker rep.jeffbarker@state.or.us Co-Chair Wayne Krieger rep.waynekrieger@state.or.us

Dear Mr. Co-Chair.

Thank you for your continued advocacy for gun owners in Oregon. I request that you consider hearings on House Bills 2791, 2793 and 2789. These bills are not controversial and will further protect the rights of firearms owners in the state.

Thank you for your consideration

______________________

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- A rancher in eastern Oregon has placed over 10,000 acres of wildlife habitat under permanent protection via conservation easement with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF).

The easement ensures the future of vital winter range for a regional herd of 600-800 elk.

John and Patricia Habberstad of China Peak Ranch, near Monument, Ore., have placed 10,334 acres under easement with RMEF in three stages dating back to 2002. The most recent action, completed in January, added 5,101 acres to the total.

Bill Richardson, RMEF lands program manager for Oregon and Washington, said, “The Habberstads are doing a wonderful job of managing their land for the benefit of wildlife. They have worked to rejuvenate decadent fields, control invasive weeds and juniper, establish water sources and develop springs. The native bunchgrasses on the ranch are flourishing and the habitat quality is on an upward trajectory.”

“We appreciate the Habberstad family for the conservation ethic and generosity that led to this donated conservation easement and a guarantee of outstanding wildlife habitat—forever.” added Richardson.

The China Peak Ranch is a private working ranch, with cattle and timber operations, south of the North Fork John Day River and north of an area known as Rudio Mountain.

Elk can be found on the property year round, but hundreds more depend on China Peak Ranch for winter range. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says most of the elk that winter here inhabit public lands in the area during hunting seasons.

The ranch also is home to mule deer, pronghorn, black bears, mountain lions, eagles, hawks, neo-tropical migratory birds and a host of other species. Cottonwood Creek, an important tributary to the North Fork John Day River, provides coldwater inputs and spawning and rearing habitat for spring Chinook and summer steelhead, as well as bull trout.

A conservation easement ensures the property will remain much like it is today. The legal agreement to protect and manage wildlife habitat alongside working-ranch operations will stay with the land—even beyond the lifetimes of the Habberstads and all future owners.

RMEF holds several other conservation easements, and has completed a number of habitat enhancement projects, in the China Peak Ranch area.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.9 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- On Friday, February 18th, the House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear HB 2999.

The bill “Authorizes persons engaged in lawful activity to stand ground and use force in self-defense”.

Obviously this is an important piece of legislation and deserves your support. You may contact the House Judiciary Committee members with messages of support here.

Please keep in mind, if you plan to attend the hearing, that committee schedules can change at the last minute. It’s always a good idea to check the schedule before you come to the hearing. You can see committee schedules here.

On the same day another bill is scheduled. That bill is HB 3100. This bill “Modifies jurisdiction of Psychiatric Security Review Board”.

While this may not seem like a bill that gun owners should be concerned about, or even watching, we plan to keep a close eye on it. In 2009, the legislature passed, against our protests, HB 2853.

You can read our alerts about this bill in our alerts archived here.

You can see how the 2009 Oregon House voted here.

We call your attention especially to this alert.

In it we warned – We are quite sure that this bill, which will put us into compliance with the Federal Bill HR 2640, will cause more people to be denied legitimate firearms transfers. More people will face the inconvenience and burden of trying to prove that they are allowed to exercise a “right.” Some of those people will now be forced to ask for relief from the “psychiatric review board.”

Unfortunately we were 100% right.

The “psychiatric review board.” has now ensnared, as we predicted, Oregonians who are entirely qualified to purchase guns. They have create a byzantine system that all but assures no one who petitions them will have the resources to have their rights returned and put people who should never have been under their jurisdiction through hell. As such, we plan to pay careful attention to any bill that deals with the powers of this agency.

As of now, we have been unable to impress upon the people who passed this bill, the mess they have created. But we will continue to work on it. You could easily find yourself in this nightmare.

Stay tuned. We hope that our efforts will convince the supporters of this ghastly legislation to work to correct their mistakes. If not, we will count on your efforts to help them “see the light.”

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Oregon State Shooting Association

Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- A new bill submitted yesterday in the Oregon legislature adds unreasonable manufacturing requirements that would have the effect of outlawing all basic Gunsmithing services.

The bill would also stipulate adding economically impossible additions to all semi auto firearms manufacturing in addition to gunsmithing repairs.

www.leg.state.or.us/11reg/measpdf/sb0600.dir/sb0659.intro.pdf

Here’s the summary:

• Prohibits  manufacturing,  selling  or  rebuilding  firearm  without  chamber  load  indicator.
• Prohibits  manufacturing,  selling  or  rebuilding  semiautomatic  pistol  without  magazine  disconnect mechanism.
• Prohibits  removing  or  disabling  chamber  load  indicator  or  magazine  disconnect  mechanism.
• Punishes  violation  by  maximum  of  one  year’s  imprisonment,  $6,250  fine,  or  both.  Punishes  sub-sequent  violations  by  maximum  of  five  years’  imprisonment,  $125,000  fine,  or  both.
• Becomes  operative  January  1,  2013.

Oregon Senate Bill Sb0659 Gunsmith Ban Bill

About:
The Oregon State Shooting Association is dedicated to serving the needs, representing the interests and protecting the rights of all responsible Oregon gun owners.

OSSA believes the framers of our State and Federal constitutions meant exactly what they said, when they wrote “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

OSSA is a non-profit association dedicated to advancing shooting sports programs and defending the rights of gun owners. OSSA promotes adult and youth shooting programs, hunter and firearm safety and responsible sport hunting throughout the State.

As the official National Rifle Association state association affiliate in Oregon, the OSSA not only represents the NRA in Oregon, it represents you in the NRA. OSSA is also an affiliate of the Civilian Marksmanship Program. We keep you informed of important state and federal legislation that may affect your 2nd Amendment rights. Visit: www.ossa.org

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- It’s the time for giving and once again gun owners across the state are receiving requests for cash from an organization that claims to support gun rights, while working overtime for gun control.

Oregonians who have concealed handgun licenses are getting this letter from “Oregon Gun Owners Political Action Committee”

In 1999 “Oregon Gun Owners” worked with former legislator, and perennial candidate, Kevin Mannix, to forge legislation that would outlaw private transfers of firearms at gun shows. They failed. They then attempted a ballot measure to do the same thing. They failed again. (Their sister-in-arms, Ginny Burdick, armed with millions in out-of-state money succeeded.)

Now “Oregon Gun Owners” is asking real Oregon gun owners to send them cash. What do they do with it? Well in 2010 alone the sent over $8000.00 to anti-gun politicians in Salem. They endorsed Floyd Prozanski and Peter Courtney, two of the most anti-gun politicians in the state, and they sent their lobbyist, Paul Phillips to testify in FAVOR of more gun control in the February “special” session.

Their letter says that the cost of printing their fundraising letter was paid for “by another gun rights organization.” Oddly they don’t say who that was. We think it’s most likely that the other “gun rights” organization was… Oregon Gun Owners.

At this special time of year, when money is tight and scams are uptrending, we at OFF think it’s important to know who you are giving to.

Have a merry and scam-free Christmas.

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

2010 Election Not So Good For Oregon Gun Rights

Oregon Firearms Federation

Salem, Oregon --(Ammoland.com)- The historic 2010 elections are now mostly behind us.

While much of the country voted to restore some fiscal and political sanity, Oregon bravely bucked the trend.

With some notable exceptions, voters chose candidates who promised to end policies of massive government intrusions. In Oregon, Multnomah County Elections workers Portland voters returned John Kitzhaber to the Governor’s mansion.

This was an amazing race. While Chris Dudley held a small lead through most of the campaign, Kitzhaber pulled out a last minute victory, as so often happens when the Multnomah County votes are discovered recorded.

What’s most interesting about this race is that Kitzhaber campaigned on his “experience” but left office last time admitting he could not do the job.

Based on his history, it is reasonable to assume that along with creating special exceptions for his beach house and sweetheart deals for his girlfriend, Kitzhaber will veto any bill that can, in any way, be perceived as “pro-gun.” Anyone running a business will consider relocating, schools will continue to fail and unemployment will rise. The public employee unions will continue to benefit until the state runs out of productive people to tax. (Which, when you think about it, can’t take much longer.)

On the national level, there was one congressional race that was very close. That was the 5th Congressional District race between Scott Bruun and Kurt Schrader.

Schrader went to Washington with a record as a committed enemy of gun owners. He voted to decimate gun shows in Oregon and, as a Congressman, voted to shut down organizations like OFF. Schrader has been one of Nancy Pelosi’s most obedient servants, voting for bail-outs for billionaires and Obama’s health control. As you might expect, he was rewarded by an endorsement from the NRA who also sent thousands of dollars to Harry Reid who elevated two committed gun banners to the Supreme Court. Harry was victorious over his opponent Sharon Angle, a strong supporter of gun rights. Thanks NRA!

Ballot Measure 71 passed overwhelmingly, meaning the voters have decided that the legislature was not doing enough damage meeting every other year, now they will meet every year. The con job was that with the passage of this measure, the legislature would be better able to deal with the budget, but the new sessions won’t be limited to the budget. If you watched the fiasco in February’s “special” session you saw how bills that are not really understood or even read get rammed through with almost no citizen input.

The good news is the change in the Oregon legislature. With one or two seats still in play, it appears right now that the Oregon House is split in half. The Senate might be as well, depending on the final vote count in District 3, where Alan Bates has been the last minute beneficiary of a sudden “surge” of Democrat ballots. If the anti-gun Bates prevails, the Oregon Senate will be 16-14 Democrat. If his opponent wins, the Senate will likely be split evenly as well.

Having both Houses evenly split would be unprecedented. The last time anything like that happened, the Senate was evenly split in 2003. Picking a Senate President became quite a circus until the Republicans folded and allowed anti-gun militant Peter Courtney to assume the position, one he has held ever since.

While there are several races whose outcomes benefit gun owners, there is no question that the single most exciting victory we had was the removal of our number one target, House Rep Judy Stiegler.

Stielger, from Bend, was a freshman legislator who masterfully derailed several popular pro-gun bills while attempting to portray herself as a supporter of gun rights. We are very pleased to have been able to return Stiegler to private practice. For everyone who worked to send her home, we thank you. OFF, and many OFF members, supported her opponent Jason Conger. We suggest you drop Jason a note and congratulate him, and please remind him that as gun owners, we are expecting him to be a strong supporter of gun rights. His address and a sample message can be found here.

We are also very pleased to be able to announce (unless there is another surge of “discovered” Democrat ballots) the retirement of Martha Schrader, Senate district 20, who lost to OFF-supported Alan Olsen. During the campaign, Martha, (Kurt Schrader’s wife) attacked pro-gun Olsen for a 30 year old bankruptcy. Now that Martha will be returning to her Canby home, perhaps she will find time to pay the real estate taxes she and Kurt have, in the past, chosen to ignore.

2011 will be another uphill climb for gun owners. The election of John Kitzhaber means we will have to work harder than ever to protect our rights. While most of the country is trending towards liberty, Oregon has re-elected pro-bailout, pro-health control, anti-gun Ron Wyden to the US Senate and the failed ex-governor one more time.

With your help we will keep on doing what we have done since 1999, fighting. Buckle up, folks, it’s going to be an interesting ride.

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Oregon Firearms Federation

Oregon --(AmmoLand.com)- As you may have heard, the Jackson County Sheriff has lost his battle to protect the private information of concealed handgun licensees.

The Medford Mail Tribune has demanded, and now will receive, the names, addresses, phone numbers and occupations of license holders in Jackson County. They may also demand this same information for the entire state, as can anyone, “newspaper,” “reporter” or thief. (Many applicants included their Social Security numbers. It is not at all clear if these will be available as well.)

This info was demanded so the Tribune could “out” as many teachers as possible after the Oregon Firearms Educational Foundation funded a lawsuit to protect the rights of a Medford teacher.

Most sheriffs have taken steps to safeguard this information from future snooping, but those efforts have not yet faced legal scrutiny. So for now, if you are a license holder, your privacy is very much in jeopardy.

There is no reason this information should be available to the public. These are not records of “government activity” as has been falsely claimed by the “Tribune” and the ACLU. These are records of private information, extorted by the state in order for Oregonians to exercise what should be a right. There is no more a need for this information to be in the public domain than should be your tax records.

In 2009, House Rep’s Kim Thatcher and Jeff Barker introduced HB 2727 to make this data private. The bill had broad bipartisan support and seemed to be a sure thing, until House Rep Judy Steigler (D Bend), stepped in to torpedo it. Later Steigler blamed voters who strongly supported the bill for its failure! Steigler was also responsible for the death of a bill in 2009 that would have had Oregon recognize other states’ concealed handgun licenses, a bill that was strongly supported by the Oregon Sheriffs Association.

In 2011, CHL privacy legislation will almost surely be reintroduced. But we need to do all we can to make sure Steigler is not around to kill this important bill. That’s why OFFPAC is asking that you do all you can to help return Steigler to private practice and replace her with someone who respects gun rights.

Frankly, Steigler has done more to damage progress on gun rights in Oregon than even Ginny Burdick.

Ginny Burdick whose efforts to attack gun owners have been almost exclusively failures except when she had millions in out of state money and the help of John McCain. (2000′s Measure 5)

If you live in Steigler’s district, obviously, you can vote against her, but no matter where you live, you can help her opponent Jason Conger.

Remember, the laws are made by legislators whether they are in your district or not. We believe substantial progress would have been made in 2009 except for the actions of Steigler and we hope you will help us replace her.

Conger has answered our survey 100%. OFFPAC is asking that you consider the most generous donation you can make to help send Judy home and elect Jason Conger. You can contribute directly to Conger’s campaign here.

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFEF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

NRAHuntingrights.org

On May 6, a cow calf was found dead on private property in Wallowa County, Ore., and staff from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services determined the death to be a wolf kill based on bite marks on the carcass and wolf tracks at the scene.

A second calf was found dead in the upper Wallowa Valley on May 21, followed by a third on May 28, two on May 29, and another on June 4. All six deaths were confirmed as wolf kills.

After non-lethal means of controlling the problem wolves failed, ODFW authorized USDA Wildlife Services to kill two uncollared wolves from the Imnaha Pack, which has frequented the upper Wallowa Valley since the beginning of the year. Oregon’s 2005 Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, which is up for its five-year review this year, allows for the removal of wolves responsible for “chronic” livestock kills.

As of right now, no wolves have been killed, and it will stay that way until July 30 at the earliest because of a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Hells Canyon Preservation Council, Oregon Wild, and Cascadia Wildlands against USDA Wildlife Services for the planned kill.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has not been sued.

An Oregon Wolf

It’s important to note that the federal government does not consider wolves in eastern Oregon to be endangered. Gray wolves in eastern Oregon were removed from the federal Endangered Species List on May 4, 2009, at the same time wolves were de-listed in Montana, Idaho and eastern Washington. Upon delisting, management of eastern Oregon’s wolves was turned over to the state, while wolves in the rest of Oregon remained under federal protection. Even after delisting, ODFW has continued to protect wolves in eastern Oregon under the state’s own Endangered Species Act.

According to ODFW, there are 18 confirmed wolves in Oregon in two established packs, with additional individual wolves dispersing through the state. There are currently 13 or 14 wolves in the Imnaha wolf pack, including four new pups born in April and a GPS-collared alpha male that has not been detected since May 31. A second established pack, the Wenaha Pack, has at least four members.

In addition to the six calves killed in Wallowa County since May, Oregon confirmed 29 total livestock losses to wolves in 2009.

Oregon’s wolf management plan and associated Oregon Administrative Rules guide ODFW’s response to wolf-related livestock losses. If non-lethal measures to control wolves fail after repeated livestock kills, ODFW can issue permits to landowners to kill wolves caught in the act of biting, wounding or killing livestock (it has issued seven such permits to date). The department may also authorize its own personnel or Wildlife Services to kill problem wolves, as it has been forced to do in the case of the Imnaha Pack.

Livestock producers in the upper Wallowa Valley, ODFW, and USDA Wildlife Services tried a variety of non-lethal measures to avoid wolf-caused losses, as prescribed by policy, including the removal of livestock carcasses that can attract wolves; radio telemetry monitoring of wolves; use of radio-activated guard boxes; aerial hazing of wolves; the hiring of a wolf technician to haze wolves and monitor wolf activity nightly; and increased presence around livestock. All were unable to prevent further calf deaths.

According to ODFW, the lethal action is aimed at killing wolves that are showing an interest in livestock, not wolves simply in the area. Under the terms of the plan, the wolves can only be killed on private land currently inhabited by livestock that is near the locations of the previous attacks.

Through these specific terms, ODFW is trying to protect the pack’s breeding pair and den site, where the alpha female is caring for the four new pups. The alpha male and female are both collared, as are two other members of the Imnaha pack, and Wildlife Services cannot kill collared wolves.

Despite these precautions, the antis jumped on the fact that ODFW extended the expiration date for the wolves’ removal from June 11 to Aug. 31, saying in their suit that the depredation had to be presently occurring in order for the wolves to be removed. They also claimed ODFW failed to document how the non-lethal means of solving the depredation proved ineffective, even though five calves were killed after ODFW began working with landowners and the Oregon Cattleman’s Association on non-lethal means of dealing with wolves following the first attack on May 6.

All of this for two wolves. Thousands of dollars in public funds will be wasted fighting these environmental groups in court. More ranchers and farmers will run the risk of losing their livelihood to depredation. And groups like the Center for Biological Diversity will continue to armchair quarterback the decisions of biologists who should be the final authorities on managing Oregon’s wildlife.

Keeping wildlife management issues tied up in legal red tape indefinitely is exactly what these radical groups want, which begs the question: What is the motive of the Center for Biological Diversity and its allies in suing to save two wolves? Could it be opposition to hunting (and hunting of wolves)? Could it be using wolves as an iconic symbol for fundraising purposes? Perhaps both? It can’t be “protecting the species” when all of the professional wolf biologists have supported the wolf delisting decisions that have been made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

What the current issue in Oregon shows is that groups claiming to be pro-environment and pro-wildlife will stop at nothing to thumb their noses at the decisions of professional wildlife managers, all in the name of advancing their own agendas.

Oregon State Police Seek Huge Fee Increases to Exercise Your Gun Rights

Oregon Firearms Federation

Oregon --(AmmoLand.com)- Today, the Oregon State Police held their first “fee review” meeting to discuss their proposals for fee increases for background checks.

As you would expect, gun owners are being asked to subsidize most of the OSP’s budget with fee increases of 100 to 300 percent.

The OSP has suggested that gun purchase background check fees go from $10.00 to $28.00, almost tripling the cost of a mandated background check for a gun purchase.

The fees for fingerprints for a concealed handgun license will be doubled from $15.00 to $30.00

Most states charge nothing for a background check for a firearms purchase. Furthermore, those states that use NICS as their “point of contact” do not record any information on the make, model, caliber or serial number of the gun. Oregon does record this information, charges a fee, and has used their database against gun owners when no crime was committed and no criminal investigation was on-going.

Some have suggested that they do not want the Feds doing the background checks in Oregon because they don’t trust them. But the fact is, the Feds are already involved in our background checks because the State Police check with NICS as part of their investigation. So why are we paying twice (once through the fee and once through our taxes) for a “service” we should not be compelled to submit to and certainly should not have to pay for?

The State Police told us that gun background checks make up about 23% of the checks they do. But at the new suggested fee, they would be collecting almost $9 million dollars from gun owners in every biennium just in background checks for gun purchases. This does NOT include the fees they would collect from people applying for CHL’s at the new doubled rate which would be about $819,420.00 in 2011.

The State Police have stated that their required budget for the 2011-2013 biennium is about $17 million. So gun owners will be asked to pay more than half of the budget for less the one quarter of the checks. This is clearly outrageous.

Gun owners are not getting a “service” from the State Police. They are compelled to pay these taxes to exercise a “right.”

We strongly recommend that you attend one of the fee review meetings, if you can, to express your opposition to fee increases of 100 to 300 percent.

• You can see the proposed fee increases here.
• You can see a schedule of “fee review” meetings here.
• You can get more details about the OSP background checks here.

If you cannot be at one of these meetings, please contact the OSP ID unit to express your opposition to these giant tax increases.

You may e-mail David Yandell. david.c.yandell@state.or.us or Patricia Whitfield patricia.whitfield@state.or.us

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFEF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Cabela's Announces Springfield, Oregon Retail Store

Cabelas Shooting Sports

SIDNEY, Neb. --(AmmoLand.com)- Cabela’s Incorporated (NYSE: CAB) and General Growth Properties (NYSE: GGP) announced today plans to bring the Cabela’s retail experience to loyal customers in Springfield, Ore., and the surrounding area.

Cabela’s expects to open the Springfield store in early spring of 2011. The 58,000-square-foot store will anchor the west side of Gateway Mall at 3000 Gateway Street in retail space previously occupied by Ashley Furniture. It will be Cabela’s first retail store in Oregon.

The building’s exterior will reflect Cabela’s traditional store model, while the inside will highlight the company’s next-generation layout, which includes an aquarium, conservation-themed wildlife displays and trophy animal mounts. The store will also have a Gun Library, Fly-Fishing Shop, General Store and Bargain Cave. Construction is expected to start in mid-August 2010.

“Oregonians have a rich tradition of enjoying the outdoors,” said Cabela’s Chief Executive Officer Tommy Millner. “Fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing activities are a way of life for folks who live along the I-5 Corridor and throughout the state. We’re thrilled Springfield will be the location of Cabela’s first store in Oregon.”

Cabela’s expects to attract Oregon residents, as well as the many travelers who come to take advantage of the region’s abundant sporting opportunities. Showcasing thousands of products, including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, boating and wildlife watching gear, as well as outdoor clothing and outdoor-themed gifts and furnishings, the company is famous for its strong brand and world-famous reputation for quality merchandise, value and legendary customer service.

Cabela’s typically attracts passionate outdoorsmen and women, who join the Cabela’s family of employees famous for their excellent customer service, outdoor lifestyle and detailed knowledge of outdoor products.

“We’re excited to be a part of the Springfield community,” said Millner. “We have an outstanding customer base in the area and we expect to employ an equally exceptional local workforce.”

Gateway Mall, which opened in 1990, features a blend of retail shopping, entertainment and dining opportunities, including three department stores, an indoor children’s play area, 29 theater screens and an extensive selection of national retailers and restaurants. The mall features increased access via the area’s award-winning rapid transit system. For more information, please visit http://www.gatewaymall.com/.

About Cabela’s Incorporated
Cabela’s Incorporated & www.Cabelas.com is headquartered in Sidney, Nebraska, is a leading specialty retailer, and the world’s largest direct marketer, of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor merchandise. Since the Company’s founding in 1961, Cabela’s(R) has grown to become one of the most well-known outdoor recreation brands in the world, and has long been recognized as the World’s Foremost Outfitter(R). Through Cabela’s growing number of retail stores and its well-established direct business, it offers a wide and distinctive selection of high-quality outdoor products at competitive prices while providing superior customer service. Cabela’s also issues the Cabela’s CLUB(R) Visa credit card, which serves as its primary customer loyalty rewards program. Cabela’s stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CAB.”

Oregon Firearms Federation

Oregon --(AmmoLand.com)- Oregon Firearms has received a letter from the Oregon State Police alerting us to regional meetings that will be held to discuss fees charged by the OSP ID unit.

As you know, in many states, background checks for firearms’ purchases are done by the Federal government. There is no fee for this check. However, in Oregon, the State Police do background checks for gun buys and charge $10.00

The State Police are now “reviewing” those fees. There is no reason to believe they are coming down.

Unlike many checks performed by the OSP ID unit, the checks done on gun buyers are not a “service” that is voluntary. Lawful gun buyers have no choice about subjecting themselves to this check along with the fee, and the data kept by the state police has been misused.

In fact, recently the Attorney General has informed the OSP ID unit that, as a result of the David Pyles incident in Medford, they may no longer disclose info they collected during gun purchases.

We recommend that you attend one of the regional meetings.

OFF opposes any increase in fees. If the OSP cannot afford to conduct these checks we believe they should be handled by the Feds, as they are elsewhere, for no charge.

For more info on the meetings please use this link:

http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/ID/fee_review.shtml

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFEF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont.- -(AmmoLand.com)- Wildlife conservation projects in 12 Oregon counties have been selected to receive grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in 2010.

The new RMEF funding, totaling $153,500, will affect Benton, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Grant, Harney, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Union and Wallowa counties.

“These grants are possible because of the successful banquets and fundraisers staged over the past year by our Oregon volunteers—most of whom are elk hunters as well as devoted conservationists,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Since 1984, our annual grants have helped complete 633 different projects in Oregon with a combined value of more than $36 million.”

RMEF grants will help fund the following projects, listed by county:

• Crook County—Thin 575 acres of juniper encroachment in meadows and aspen stands, treat noxious weeds on 160 acres, and restore riparian habitat along 2 miles of stream in the Deep Creek area of Ochoco National Forest; hand-cut and burn 400 acres of encroaching juniper in the Maury Mountains area of Ochoco National Forest.
• Curry County—Prescribe burn 129 acres, and re-seed native grasses on 20 acres, to maintain forage areas for elk and other wildlife in the Wildhorse Prairie area of Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
• Deschutes County—Thin conifer from willow and aspen stands, prescribe burn 15 acres and treat noxious weeds on 5 acres in Tumalo Creek area of Deschutes National Forest.
• Douglas County—Create 20 acres of forage openings and plant shrubs on 93 acres to improve 113 acres of habitat for elk in the Umpqua National Forest.
• Grant County—Rehab 100 acres of meadow habitat used by foraging elk and deer in the Rudio Mountain area; thin encroaching conifer to restore 150 acres of meadow in the Logan Valley area of Malheur National Forest; remove juniper to promote sagebrush and bitterbrush growth on 1,235 acres in the Murderer’s Creek area of Malheur National Forest and state lands; re-seed native grasses on 880 acres in the Chrome Ridge area; thin 270 acres, construct fencing around 2 acres of aspen stands, treat noxious weeds and reconstruct two springs in Ochoco National Forest.
• Harney County—Enhance habitat for elk and other wildlife by repairing wildlife drinking stations, collecting native shrub seeds, reseeding habitat areas and employing livestock practices to control noxious weeds in the Egley wildfire area of Malheur National Forest; thin encroaching conifer on 160 acres, replace fencing around aspen stands and develop five ponds or wildlife drinking stations in the Pine Creek area of Malheur National Forest.
• Lane County—Improve forage for elk by removing encroaching conifer and noxious weeds to restore 283 acres of meadows in Willamette National Forest; treat noxious weeds and re-seed native grasses on 100 acres, and rejuvenate browse on 102 acres, in the Foley Ridge area of Willamette National Forest; thin and prescribe burn 112 acres and re-seed native grasses in the Chucksney and Grasshopper meadows area of Willamette National Forest; prescribe burn 56 acres, plant oak seedlings on 40 acres, and re-seed native grasses on 200 acres in the Jim’s Creek area of Willamette National Forest; mechanically treat noxious weeds and re-seed native grasses on 500 acres in the Siuslaw National Forest (also affects Benton, Douglas and Lincoln counties).
• Linn County—Remove encroaching trees from meadow complexes used year-round by foraging elk in the Lodgepole Flats area of Willamette National Forest; create 40 acres of forage openings in the Yellowstone Creek area of BLM lands.
• Union County—Control noxious weeds, re-seed native grasses and develop water sources for elk and other wildlife on 705 acres near Ladd Marsh Wildlife Management Area.
• Wallowa County—Treat 828 acres of noxious weeds to improve forage for elk along the Grande Ronde and Imnaha river corridors (also affects Union County).

Projects are selected for RMEF grants by a committee of volunteers and staff along with representatives from partnering organizations. Partners for 2010 projects in Oregon include Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, other agencies, corporations and landowners.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.7 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Oregon Firearms Federation

Oregon - -(AmmoLand.com)- The first hearing to reverse pro gun rights gains made in the 2009 session will be held on February 2nd at 8am.

(The pre-session hearing on this bill was scheduled for 8am. It was heard at 7.22 am before either Republican Senator had arrived.)

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold an “informational” hearing on SB603.
(Invited testimony only, neither OFF nor NRA was “invited.”)

SB 603 was actually a bill from 2009 which you may recall corrected an error in Oregon law that allowed a person with a felony conviction to petition to have his rights restored to BUY a gun, but then was forbidden from owning it

Your efforts for months finally got this error fixed, but now at the urging of the Department of Justice, Senator Floyd Prozanski has introduced SB 1008 to reverse the corrections he himself made in SB 603.

What’s so odd about this is that 603, which Prozanski rewrote to correct the mistake mentioned above, passed out of his committee with no opposition, passed the full Senate with no opposition, passed the House Judiciary and the full House with no opposition and then was re-passed by the Senate with no opposition.

Now Prozanski is claiming that a five page bill that was largely his own work, was a “drafting mistake” and must be overturned.

This is an amazing assertion.

He claims he did not understand the changes he himself made and that every other legislator AND the Governor made the same “mistake.”

(We strongly suggest you read both 603 and 1008. See if you think the 43 page 1008 is easier to understand than the 5 page 603.)

(Please see this link for the “rebuttal” Senator Prozanski asked us to post.)

It’s essential that you contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and urge them not to rush to overturn this bill in a short “special” session. If they are, in fact, that confused, a rush to replace this simple bill with a 45 page “correction” would be a tremendous mistake.

Contact info for the Committee members and a sample message follow.

SENATE JUDICIARY.
Floyd Prozanski CHAIR
sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us
900 Court St. NE, S-417, Salem, OR, 97301
503-986 -1704

Brian Boquist Vice Chair
sen.brianboquist@state.or.us
900 Court St. NE., S-305, Salem, OR, 97301
503-986-1712

Susanne Bonamici
sen.suzannebonamici@state.or.us
900 Court St. NE., S-403, Salem, OR, 97301
503-986-1717

Jackie Dingfelder
sen.jackiedingfelder@state.or.us
900 Court St. NE., S-407, Salem, OR, 97301
503-986-1723

Doug Whitsett
sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us
900 Court St. NE., S-303, Salem, OR, 97301
503-986-1728

Sample Letter: ____________________________________

Dear Senator,

SB 603 passed out of your committee with no opposition. It passed the Senate twice, with no opposition. Now it is being called a “drafting error.” SB 603 corrected a major error in Oregon law, and was thoroughly discussed and vetted. I strongly urge you not to reverse the gains made in this bill in the short time you have in the February “special session.”

In spite of what’s been said, SB 603 does NOT allow felons to walk out of prison and get firearms. In fact, there remain substantial hurdles to a restoration of firearms rights. Let’s give this law a chance to prove itself.

Sincerely,

_______________________

About:
The Oregon Firearms Federation has proven itself to be Oregon’s only no compromise lobbying group, OFEF takes the same tough stands and serves as a vehicle for educating gun owners, promoting their rights and when necessary, fighting the freedom haters in court. Visit: www.oregonfirearms.org