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Speaker Defends Attacks on Foster Parents |
What follows is an e-mail response from House Speaker Dave
Hunt to people who have contacted him to express opposition
to HB 2530.
HB
2530 would allow the Department of Human Services to dictate
to foster parents, the manner in which they would be required
to store, transport and use their firearms.
Hunt insists that the bill "in no way restricts a foster
parent's right to own guns." To no one's surprise,
Hunt has decided to play word games with the truth. Hunt seems
to believe that gun owners can't read. The fact is, the
bill turns over to the Department of Human Services, total dictatorial
power to control the "storage, transportation
and use of firearms and ammunition in the presence of children
placed in a foster home."
Somehow, Dave Hunt thinks that having a notoriously anti-gun
state agency making rules about every aspect of gun ownership
"in no way restricts a foster parent's right to own
guns."
That's like saying that you may own a car, but
the state will tell you where, when and how often you can drive
it, and then insist they are not restricting your right to own
it. Looks like we are in for another long session of double
talk.
It is simply absurd that the state would seek to discourage
parents from caring for foster children by imposing rules that
could very well leave those children defenseless in the case
of a criminal attack. Hunt and his allies like to talk about
"the children" but are clearly more interested in
ramming through new restrictions on rights then they are in
protecting Oregon's neediest.
Please contact Hunt and tell him that you don't want an agency
that created rules forbidding toys that shot ping pong balls,
making rules for every aspect of gun ownership. Tell him to
can the double talk and kill the bill.
Contact info and a sample message follow.
________________________________________________________
Dear Speaker Hunt,
I have seen your response to voters who oppose HB 2530. I am
disappointed that you would choose to play word games instead
of addressing the problems with the bill. You claim that the
bill will "in no way restrict a foster parent’s
right to own guns. This is simply nonsense. If
DHS creates the rules regulating the storage, transportation
and use of firearms and ammunition, "ownership"
becomes meaningless.
Please stop using your office to placate anti-gun state
agencies and stand up for the rights of foster parents.
Yours,
_______________________________
Dave
Hunt rep.davehunt@state.or.us
900 Court St. NE, H-269
Salem, OR 97301
Phone:
503-986-1440
From: Rep Hunt
To:XXX
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 4:18 PM
Subject: RE: NO HB 2530
Dear Mr.XXXX,
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about House Bill
2530. Your feedback is important to me and helps inform the
actions I take in the Legislature.
I share your commitment to protecting the right of Oregonians
to own firearms. Let me assure you that this bill in no way
restricts a foster parent’s right to own guns. The specific
language of the bill says the following:
“The Department may not deny or revoke certification of
a foster home on the basis that a person possesses firearms
or ammunition or is licensed under ORS 166.291 and ORS 166.292
to carry a concealed handgun”
This language explicitly protects the right of foster parents
to own guns. Specifically, House Bill 2530 relates to the storage
of guns and related issues, but does not infringe on the right
to own firearms.
It is the responsibility of the Department of Human Services
to ensure that children in foster homes are safe. This bill
would grant case workers the right to cite when guns are not
stored appropriately. This bill gives them the ability to make
rules around the proper storage of guns so that they are kept
out of the reach of children.
Those who choose to be foster parents are giving the greatest
possible gift to a child in need, a house and a safe place to
stay. We have no intention of discouraging these generous individuals
from continuing to do this meaningful work.
Thanks for writing me. I hope this clears up the intention of
this bill. It is an honor representing you in the Oregon House
of Representatives and I hope you will continue to write me
about issues that are important to you.
Sincerely,
Dave Hunt
State Representative
Speaker of the House
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