Oregon Democrats Introduce Senate Bill 348 to Tackle Firearms Control

Democrats in the Oregon Senate are working to pass a bill with comparable limits to the comprehensive firearm control package voters adopted last autumn, giving supporters fresh reason for optimism.

Senate Bill 348 is written like 114. Both would set up a system for getting a permit to buy a firearm, require training, and limit magazines to 10 rounds. Democrats hope the bill could become law if the permit process is improved.

β€œWe know there are some things that need to be changed to help ballot Measure 114 be implemented in the right way,” said Jonathan Eames of Everytown for Firearm Safety.

But several people who spoke out about the bill said it violates the Second Amendment.

Oregon Democrats Introduce Senate Bill 348 to Tackle Firearms Control

β€œSenate Bill 348 is a disingenuous attempt to usurp the authority of Oregon courts, an attempt to violate the separation of powers,” said Oregon NRA Director Aoibheann Cline.

The contents of this bill were not known until Friday, 24 March 2023, when it was introduced early in the session. However, sponsor State Senator Floyd Prozanski introduced a 64-page Amendment that is the real meat of the bill.

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It would make Measure 114’s permit-to-buy and 10-round magazine limit happen, but it would also require a background check before a firearm could be bought or given to someone else.

It would make the minimum age to buy a firearm 21 years old, except for rifles and shotg*ns used for hunting.

Most people who spoke Monday night, 27 March 2023, were against the bill, but some were also for it. On the same day, three nine-year-olds and five others, including three adults, were shot in a Nashville school.

Elizabeth Howe of the Oregon Alliance for Firearm Safety said that getting a permit or license to buy a firearm has been shown to cut down on both murders and suicides with firearms.

β€œWhen Connecticut passed its licensing law, its firearm homicides dropped by 28%, and its firearm suicide rate dropped by 33%,” Howe said.

But there were a lot more people who spoke against SB 348 than those who spoke for it. Measure 114 was passed by about 25,000 votes, but lawsuits quickly stopped it from going into effect.

Federal Judge Karen Immergut upheld the law against Second Amendment challenges, but Oregon Circuit Court Judge Robert Raschio temporarily stopped it because the systems for getting permits weren’t in place.

In addition to this bill, three others are being considered in Salem that would raise the age to buy a firearm to 21, ban and punish the ownership or sale of weapons that can’t be tracked, such as kits bought online, and make the age to buy a firearm 21. The third would let the government ban firearms on its land.

But law enforcement agencies were worried that Measure 114 wouldn’t give them enough money to pay for things like background checks and training with firearms.

Law enforcement agencies worried about Measure 114 because they said the $65 fee wouldn’t cover their costs. Senate Bill 348 raises the price of a permit to $150 and says that no more than $48 can go to the Oregon State Police for background checks. The rest of the money must go to local law enforcement.

The Oregon Director for DC Project, Candace Yow, said this could make buying and using firearms hard for some people.

Source- KOIN 6

Jessa
Jessa Martin

Jessa Martin is an accomplished news writer with a passion for keeping the community informed about the latest events and happenings in Hillsboro and the surrounding areas. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, Jessa has become a go-to source for breaking news and in-depth reporting.As a news writer for Focushillsboro.com, Jessa covers a wide range of topics, from local politics and government to community events and human interest stories. Their writing is always informative, insightful, and engaging, offering readers a deeper understanding of the issues that matter most to the people of Hillsboro.

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