Last week, Senate Bill 913, the ivory regulation bill, died in the House Judiciary Committee. Additionally, both House Bill 3093 and Senate Bill 315 were amended in an attempt to fix the incredibly flawed background check legislation signed into law earlier this session, Senate Bill 941.
HB 3093 passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with a 3 - 1 vote and is now awaiting a final vote by the full Senate. Sponsored by state Representatives Cliff Bentz (R-60) and Bill Post (R-25), HB 3093 would improve Oregon’s firearm laws to allow for the recognition of out-of-state carry permits. To qualify, a state must recognize Oregon concealed handgun permits and meet the specified training requirement. HB 3093 would also require the Oregon Department of Justice to maintain a list of those states that qualify. This legislation passed with an amendment to exempt certain nail guns from the background check regulations created by Senate Bill 941. Currently, certain nail guns could meet the definition of a firearm and could therefore be subject to the burdensome provisions of SB 941. Fixes like this are merely a superficial band-aid to the numerous underlying flaws and issues that make up the misguided background check legislation.
SB 315 passed out of the House Judiciary Committee last week with a 5 - 4 vote and is now awaiting a final vote by the full House of Representatives. This bill was completely gutted and used as a vehicle to offer supposed “fixes” to the onerous regulations set forth in SB 941. Similar amendments were previously offered for HB 3093 but were not accepted in the Senate. While the House Judiciary Committee accepts the amendments to this legislation, they will do little, if anything, to fix the issues inherent in Senate Bill 941. Even with the amendment, the law will remain far more restrictive than California's stringent laws and could cause someone to become a criminal even if a background check is performed during a temporary loan.
As previously reported, SB 913 was introduced with the intent of curbing poaching and helping to end the illegal ivory trade. Unfortunately, this bill would not accomplish its purported objective. The bill would however harm those who have no part in these activities; firearm owners, sportsmen, hunters, recreational shooters and gun collectors who have legally purchased firearms (knives, jewelry, antiques and other items) that have incorporated ivory features for decades. Nevertheless, under SB 913, the sale, offering for sale, possession with intent to sell or importation for purchase or sale of any ivory, ivory product, rhino horn and rhino horn product would be prohibited, absent limited exceptions.
Your NRA-ILA will continue to keep you updated when more information becomes available.
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