Senate Bill 797 Would Help Protect Oregon’s Women and Children by Closing the “Boyfriend Loophole” and Keeping Guns Out of the Hands of Convicted Stalkers
Legislative Package Would Also Strengthen Oregon’s Background Check System by Closing the “Charleston Loophole” and Alerting Law Enforcement When Dangerous People Try to Buy Guns and Fail Background Checks
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Oregon chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and members of the Everytown Survivor Network, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety, along with the Oregon Alliance for Gun Safety today applauded Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson, Senator Floyd Prozanski and Governor Kate Brown for championing the 2017 Gun Violence Prevention Legislation Package. The legislative package, known as Senate Bill 797, contains four different gun safety policies that would help protect Oregonians from gun violence.
If passed and signed into law, SB 797 would address the following loopholes in Oregon’s state gun laws:
- Protecting women and children by prohibiting convicted stalkers and abusive dating partners from having guns;
- Requiring state officials to alert law enforcement when an individual prohibited from purchasing a firearm attempts to do so illegally and fails a background check. This provision would provide law enforcement with the information to stop dangerous people before they can obtain a gun through other routes; and
- Closing the “Charleston Loophole,” which allows a gun sale to proceed after three business days, even if the background check is incomplete.
STATEMENT FROM ZICRA LUKIN, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH THE OREGON CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Oregon Moms Demand Action volunteers are proud of our leaders in the legislature for taking this step toward closing dangerous loopholes in our state gun laws and giving our law enforcement officers the tools they need to keep us safe. Oregon has long been a leader in the gun violence prevention movement, but there is still work to be done, and this is an important step toward creating a safer community for our families. This legislative session, we’ll contact our elected leaders, talk to our neighbors and testify at the statehouse about why SB 797 will help save lives. Lives are on the line and we’ll make our voices heard about why our legislators need to vote ‘yes’ on this important gun safety bill.”
STATEMENT FROM PAUL KEMP, A MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK WHOSE BROTHER-IN-LAW WAS SHOT AND KILLED DURING THE CLACKAMAS TOWN CENTER SHOOTING:
“Since my brother-in-law Steve Forsyth was shot and killed more than four years ago, I’ve made gun safety a top priority. As a gun owner and avid hunter, I’m proud to see our elected leaders taking up legislation like SB 797 that will not only protect Oregonians by keeping guns out of dangerous hands, but also respect the rights of fellow gun owners. I look forward to our leaders in the statehouse passing this bill as it is an important and effective step in making our communities safer.”
STATEMENT FROM JEN LYNCH, PRESIDENT OF THE OREGON ALLIANCE FOR GUN SAFETY:
“We commend our gun violence prevention champions in the Oregon Legislature for bringing forward these important proposals to strengthen our background check system and make our communities safer. Oregonians of all political stripes and backgrounds stand united when it comes to reducing gun violence. Our coalition includes law enforcement, public health professionals, veterans, gun owners, educators, and faith leaders from across the state. We look forward to making our case in the upcoming legislative session for adopting these gun violence prevention policies.”
In 2015, Oregon Moms Demand Action and survivors, along with a coalition of gun safety advocates, led the campaign advocating for Oregon’s background check bill signed into law by Governor Kate Brown. Oregon is one of 19 states that have acted to close the background check loophole.
Senate Bill 797 has already received widespread support from other gun safety groups in the state, such as the Oregon Alliance for Gun Safety.