Opinion
U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- Beaver State gun owners are breathing easier in the aftermath of a GOP legislative maneuver that saw state Senate Republicans return to the chamber floor this week to help pass a major education funding bill, because Democrats agreed to kill a sweeping gun control package in exchange, according to the Salem Statesman-Journal.
The newspaper said Republicans had staged a four-day walkout that ended “Monday after securing major Democratic concessions.” One of those concessions was stopping Senate Bill 978.
But the Oregon Firearms Federation (OFF), while congratulating state gun rights activists for their efforts, also cautioned against celebrating just yet.
“Anti-rights zealot Senator Ginny Burdick promised that gun grabbing bills would fail ‘over my dead body’ and the last time we checked Burdick was still with us,” OFF said in a prepared statement. “Rest assured she will be doing everything she can to revive and least some of the onerous elements of SB 978.”
In an email to AmmoLand News, OFF noted, “There are three other gun bills that are not dead…It’s not over till the last Prius leaves the building.” Those other bills are House Bill 2505, House Bill 3299 and House Bill 3329, OFF said.
Republicans had walked out a few days earlier, leaving Senate Democrats without the required number of votes. The Senate needs 20 votes present to take action. There are 18 Democrats in the Senate. When Republicans returned, the gun control bill, SB 978, immediately became a casualty of political warfare over constitutional rights versus anti-rights activism.
Under SB 978, Oregonians would have faced a variety of new regulations including safe storage, allowing gun dealers to raise the minimum age for purchasing firearms, accessories, and components, added prohibitions on where armed citizens could carry, mandatory theft or loss reporting within 72 hours, empowered the Oregon Health Authority to set minimum specifications for trigger and cable locks, and locked containers, and a raft of other requirements. The bill spanned 26 pages.
According to the Salem Statesman-Journal, Burdick, a Portland Democrat who has been in the legislature more than two decades, vowed to “continue pushing for gun control measures in future sessions.”
“When we have a school shooting just about almost every day these days we cannot afford to just give up,” Burdick told the newspaper.
But is that an accurate statement? Not according to a list found at Wikipedia, a story by FactCheck.org or an earlier report from NPR about “The school shootings that weren’t.”
What happened in Oregon should be a warning to gun owners south of the Columbia River about the challenges that may be coming over the horizon. With Democrats in firm control of the State Legislature in Salem, at least for the time being, the potential for more restrictive proposals seems almost guaranteed. They aren’t getting the financial support that their contemporaries in Seattle and the Puget Sound Basin enjoy in neighboring Washington, but anti-gunners in the Willamette Valley are a busy bunch.
That much was confirmed by KATU News by interviewing Penny Okamoto, executive director of Ceasefire Oregon.
“Where is the leadership on this issue,” she demanded. “You do not have to pit money for kids’ education versus a law that is going to save the lives of kids. There is no reason to pit those two against each other, that’s ridiculous.”
According to KATU, Okamoto is hopeful that the Senate “takes up SB 978 once again.” According to the Statesman-Journal, she was in disbelief that lawmakers agreed to let SB 978 die in deference to passing the multi-billion dollar education package.
This may be a reminder to Oregon anti-gunners that, in politics, big money education packages sell a lot better than gun control, even along the I-5 corridor.
About Dave Workman
Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.
I have 3 very simple solutions. 1. everybody develop a list of the senators/congressmen and email/call them daily harassing them when there is gun control bills and anything else unconstitutional being put forth. 2. everybody email/call the republicans daily when there is an unconstitutional bill being put forth and tell them not to entertain a decorum and walk out on the democrats. 3. everybody purchase and put up OregonPushBack signs everywhere they can think of and conduct grassroots level activism.
Don’t fall this B.S. These Anti-Constitution politicians will continue to disarm the American people every chance they get.
Of the House Bills that remain “live” the one to watch is HB3299. The bill contains the same line 2: “Relating to firearms” which allowed the dumpster fire amendment to SB 978.
Thanks for bringing this info out Dave. To add to it, I did feel relieved a bit when the libtards gave in to the Republican pressure this time, even though we are a seriously dangerously small minority in Salem. The dems were forced to give up their feeble attempt to pass not one but two anti-constitutional bills this session; the gun control bill and the forced vaccination bill, in order to get their new $2B gross receipts tax bill (so-called “education” bill) passed. This bill has virtually nothing to do with education funding, but rather another business tax hike, designed… Read more »
We need a bill to lock up domestic enemies instead of our guns!
What ever tactic you have to use is acceptable to me to curb this rash of gun control legislation. The democrats are certainly not above it, time to take off the gloves and go at it.
Bar Gainers they are. More West Coast Wizardry taught by the destroyers of the Republic from Seattle, The Former Emerald City. > A quote from the above stated article: ” the gun control bill, SB 978, immediately became a casualty of political warfare over constitutional rights versus anti-rights activism.” > This is an element of BARGAINING. > The problem, at the center of the attack on the 2nd Amendment, is the simple fact that these so called “Elected Officials” continue to use IT, the 2nd, as some sort of POLITICAL Football. Apparently, many consent and assume that they can “Just… Read more »
why not have a recall vote. then put a progun person in her place.
“Where is the leadership on this issue,” she demanded. “You do not have to pit money for kids’ education versus a law that is going to save the lives of kids. There is no reason to pit those two against each other, that’s ridiculous.” I have to agree with Okomoto and this statement. Why should OUR CHILDREN be left in “no gun zones” that EQUAL “FREE LARGE TARGET ZONES”? It is time to remove the “MULTIPLE TARGET ZONES” that put OUR CHILDREN, even if it is only ONE CHILD, in danger of people who are WANTON to harm others. It… Read more »
Ginny you gun grab failed so it’s time to live up to over my dead body promise. A heroin OD is a painless way to go.