Yesterday, arm in arm with members of a national anti-gun group, Governor Tina Kotek and Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced their efforts to further erode Second Amendment rights in Oregon, among them restricting home-built firearms, discriminating against young adults, and increasing areas where law-abiding citizens are left defenseless. Gov. Kotek has also requested a $750,000 appropriation towards prosecutors for just firearm related offenses, with no mention of whether that will be focused on violent offenders using firearms in commission of their crimes or for otherwise law-abiding gun owners caught up in victimless crimes. These three bills are now before the House Judiciary Committee. Please contact your state lawmakers and ask them to OPPOSE House Bills 2005, 2006, and 2007.
House Bill 2005 goes above and beyond existing federal laws and regulations in restricting private individuals from making their own firearms for personal use. It prohibits private individuals from possessing certain unregulated components commonly used by hobbyists to make their own firearms. This confiscatory bill also bans possession of existing, legal, home-built firearms unless owners take them to Federal Firearms Licensees to have them serialized and recorded. For centuries, Americans have been lawfully assembling their own firearms.
House Bill 2006 denies Second Amendment rights to young adults aged 18-20 by prohibiting them from possessing semi-automatic firearms, with exceptions for police and military personnel. Adults aged 18-20 are old enough to vote, enter into contracts, join the military without parental permission, and get married.
House Bill 2007 further weakens Oregon’s preemption law in order to allow localities to prohibit concealed carry in public buildings and on their grounds. Preemption is meant to prevent localities from passing their own anti-gun ordinances and creating a confusing patchwork of gun laws where citizens across the state do not have the same rights. This bill will result in vast expansions of ineffective gun-free zones, that invite crime.
Again, please contact your state lawmakers and ask them to OPPOSE House Bills 2005, 2006, and 2007.
