Oregon: Three NRA-Opposed Bills to Be Heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday

On Wednesday, February 8, three NRA-opposed bills will be heard in the state Senate Judiciary Committee in Hearing Room 343 of the State Capitol, at 1:00 p.m.

Senate Bill 1550, introduced by state Senate President Pro Tem Ginny Burdick (D-18), would amend ORS 166.370 by creating a new prohibition, also a Class C felony, for possessing "a firearm or other instrument used as a dangerous weapon, while on school grounds." The definition of "school grounds" would specifically include not just K-12 schools, colleges and universities (as the "public building" ban does), but also community colleges.  This bill is in response to the Oregon Court of Appeals ruling which ruled that universities do not have the authority to ban Concealed Handgun License (CHL) holders from carrying on campus grounds.   

Senate Bill 1551, also authored by state Senator Burdick (D-18), is even more dangerous than SB 1550, since it expands the prohibition on carrying firearms in public buildings. 

Senate Bill 1574, introduced by Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, state Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-4), would set up a system whereby Oregon CHL holders could enjoy limited reciprocity with other states.  Unfortunately, this measure is narrow in scope in that it allows for "subsets" of reciprocal licenses that would be dependent upon national databases available to law enforcement in the field called "verifiable reciprocal licenses."  This could create a scenario whereby an individual carrying a concealed firearm on a reciprocal license that was not a "verifiable reciprocal license," could be arrested and the validity of the license would be a matter to be resolved in a subsequent investigation and prosecution.  Senator Prozanski has rebuffed the NRA in crafting a clean and concise reciprocal CHL measure in favor of one that could put law-abiding gun owners at risk, which is why the NRA is opposing SB 1574. 

Please call and e-mail members of the Senate Judiciary Committee immediately and urge them to oppose SB 1550, SB 1551 and SB 1574.  Contact information can be found below.

Senate Judiciary Committee:

Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-4), Chairman

(503) 986-1704

[email protected]

Senator Jeff Kruse (R-1), Vice Chairman

(503) 986-1701

[email protected]

Senator Peter Courtney (D-11)
(503) 986-1600
[email protected]

Senator Jackie Dingfelder (D-23)

(503) 986-1723

[email protected]

Senator Doug Whitsett (R-28)

(503) 986-1728

[email protected]