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 02.08.10
SB 1008 Moves Out Of Committee |
Senate Bill 1008 moved out of the Senate Judiciary Committee
today with both Republican Senators objecting.
As you know, SB 1008 is a 43 page bill, not counting amendments,
that reverses SB
603 which took effect in January.
SB 603 originally dealt with creating a legal definition for
the term "readily accessible" for the purposes of
transporting handguns in vehicles.
Senator Floyd Prozanski added language to it that would correct
the strange anomaly in Oregon law that allowed persons with
felony convictions to petition the courts for the right to purchase
a firearm, but still did not allow them to own it.
This was, we felt, a commonsense correction to an obvious error.
But now, as you know, Prozanski has reversed his position and
is claiming he never wanted felons to be able to request rights
restoration until at least 15 years had passed since they left
parole or probation.
This element was never part of the bill, was never discussed
and there were no objections to SB 603 which passed both Houses
and was signed by the Governor. Prozanski has claimed that he
and the House Judiciary Chairman knew there was something "wrong"
with the bill before the Governor signed it. He has not
explained why no one asked the Governor to veto it.
It has become very clear that legislators are very confused
by SB 1008. Some think it does the very thing it is overturning.
But the same people who voted "yes" on SB 603, (a
four page bill) and are now saying they didn't understand it,
are pushing for a 43 page "correction" that even its
drafter admits is very confusing.
We believe if there are problems with the current law,
that now, in a brief "special" session, is not the
time to reverse a bill that passed without a single "no"
vote. There is simply too much confusion, and there are
no facts to indicate that the law, as amended by SB 603, is
causing any problems at all. We doubt that the people who are
now claiming to have misunderstood a four page bill can possibly
understand a 43 page "fix" for a problem that may
not exist.
Unfortunately, this is an election year and politicians are
making decisions based on how things will play out in the media.
Many legislators are afraid that if they oppose SB 1008, their
challengers will claim that they want to hand out guns to felons.
But everyone on both sides of the aisle voted in favor of the
bill which some now seek to overturn.
SB 1008 is, frankly, a mess. We recommend that you urge
your Senator to wait until the full regular session before making
a major reversal to a bill they all supported. You can
find your State Senator here.
He or she will be the second-to-last person listed.Or you can
use this
link to have your message sent directly to your own State
Senator, even if you don't know who he is.
If you use this link, be sure to check the box marked "State
Senate."
A sample message follows:
_________________________________________________________________
Dear Senator,
SB 1008 is a large, complicated and confusing "fix"
for a problem that may not exist.
Prior to January and the implementation of SB 603, a person
who had a felony conviction could petition the courts to have
his rights restored to purchase a firearm, but he still could
NOT OWN IT!.
SB 603 fixed that error. Now after less than two months in effect,
you are being asked to reverse SB 603, which passed without
a single "no" vote in either house, and replace it
with SB 1008
I strongly urge you not to reverse your position on the current
law and wait instead, until the full regular session where any
problems that may exist with the current law can be discussed
and fully understood. The "special" session is not
the time to make a major policy change on an area of law that
is so misunderstood.
Yours,
___________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
(Going to be in the Roseburg area
this weekend? Come and visit our table at the Roseburg Rod &
Gun Club Gun & Knife Show. Roseburg, OR.
Douglas County Fairgrounds 2110 SW Frear Street, Roseburg, OR)
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