Oregon: URGENT - Anti-Gun Sneak Attack in the Final Hour of the Legislative Session

Contact Your State Senator TODAY!

Today, in what appears to be a last ditch effort to pass a campus gun ban, state Senate President Peter Courtney (D-11) introduced Senate Bill 1594, an exact replica of Senate Bill 1550, sponsored by state Senator Ginny Burdick (D-18), which died earlier this legislative session.  The Legislature is within a few short days of adjourning and with budget issues still waiting to be addressed, the timing of SB 1594’s introduction could only be categorized as underhanded – designed to either sneak past gun owners’ attention or make political hay out of the tragedy in Ohio.

SB 1594 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 colleges and universities do not have the authority to ban Concealed Handgun License (CHL) holders from carrying on campus grounds.   

SB 1594 could be heard on the Senate floor as early as tomorrow.  Please contact your state Senator TODAY and urge him or her to oppose SB 1594.  To determine your state Senator, please click here. 

Also, please call AND e-mail state Senator Peter Courtney and request that he withdraw SB 1594.  You can reach Senator Courtney by phone at (503) 986-1600 and by e-mail at [email protected].