Oregon: Gov. Brown Announces New Anti-Gun Push for 2018

Last Friday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced that she will renew her effort toward passing future gun control legislation in 2018.  Failing this last legislative session to pass her anti-gun agenda, Gov. Brown urged legislators in the upcoming session to pass legislation that would allow for an indefinite delay of firearm purchases.

Anti-gun legislators, armed with the support from Gov. Brown, introduced a bill, SB 797, last session that would require firearm transfers to be indefinitely delayed if the Oregon State Police (OSP) are unable to determine eligibility.  A deferral from OSP does not necessarily mean the recipient is prohibited, but rather that OSP is not satisfied with the background check inquiry and a determination has not yet been made.  Currently, federal law allows a licensed firearm dealer (FFL) to release a firearm after three business days if they have not received any additional correspondence after receiving a “delay” when conducting the initial background check for a firearm transfer.  This safeguard prevents the potential shutdown of sales via endless delays and allows law-abiding individuals to take possession of a firearm in a timely manner.

Thanks to NRA members and Second Amendment supporters attending committee hearings and contacting legislators, these gun control efforts failed to move out of committee during the 2017 session. Governor Brown now seeks to renew this gun control platform as she heads into her bid for re-election in November 2018.  She accepted a quarter of a million dollars in campaign contributions from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2016 following her promise to push gun control legislation during the session.  It is no surprise that she is again voicing new gun restrictions for 2018 as she heads into her re-election campaign.

The Oregon Legislature is nearing a 35 day session that will start in February 2018. Your NRA-ILA will continue to be at the Capitol on a daily basis during the session to advocate on behalf of our members and supporters.  Please stay tuned to your email inbox and www.NRAILA.org for further updates on issues impacting your Second Amendment rights in Oregon.