Oregon: URGENT – Campus Gun Ban Measure Now on the Senate Floor

Please contact your state Senator TODAY!

As we reported yesterday, state Senate President Peter Courtney (D-11) introduced Senate Bill 1594, identical to 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 can considered as underhanded – designed to either sneak past gun owners’ attention or make political hay out of the recent tragedy in Ohio.

The NRA has learned that there may be a handful of state Senators who vote “Yes” on this bill with the hopes that it dies in the House or runs out of time to advance beyond the Senate.  This is a very dangerous strategy in the waning days of session – which is why we need ALL pro-gun state Senators to stand firm in defense of our Second Amendment rights.

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 last year’s Oregon Court of Appeals decision 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 passed in the state Senate Rules Committee yesterday, by a vote of 3-2, with the two Republicans voting against it.  This bill is now on the Senate’s Third Reading calendar, but has not yet come up for a vote. 

Please keep the pressure on your state Senator and respectfully urge him or her to oppose SB 1594.  To determine your state Senator, please click here.  Our goal is for this bill to either be defeated on the Senate floor, or not be brought up for a vote at all.

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].