HB 4147 Would Strengthen Oregon’s Background Check System by Closing the “Charleston Loophole” and Alerting Law Enforcement When Dangerous People Try to Buy a Gun and Fail a Background Check
Last Week, Nearly 100 Oregon Moms and Gun Violence Survivors Rallied at the State Capitol in Support of HB 4147
SALEM, 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, today applauded the Oregon House for passing House Bill 4147. The bill now heads to the Senate for a vote. If passed and signed into law, HB 4147 would close the “Charleston Loophole” and also require state officials to alert law enforcement when an individual prohibited from purchasing a firearm attempts to do so illegally and fails a background check. Closing the “Charleston Loophole” would provide law enforcement with the time it needs to complete background checks on the small number of purchasers with complex criminal histories that require investigation. The latter provision would provide law enforcement with the information to arrest dangerous people before they can get a gun through other routes.
Last week, after a press conference in support of HB 4147, nearly 100 Oregon moms and gun violence survivors held an advocacy day at the State Capitol to meet with legislators to discuss why they should support the bill. Earlier this month, along with Oregon moms, gun violence survivors Sharon Risher and Paul Kemp testified in support of the bill. Sharon Risher’s mother, Ethel Lance, and cousins, Susie Jackson and Tywanza Sanders, were killed in Charleston, South Carolina at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church this past June. Paul Kemp’s brother-in-law, Steve Forsyth, was killed at the Clackamas Town Center shooting in December 2012.
STATEMENT FROM ANNELIESE DAVIS, A VOLUNTEER WITH THE OREGON CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Moms in Oregon applaud our legislators in the House for voting ‘yes’ on HB 4147. Now we urge our senators to do the same and send the bill to Governor Brown’s desk. Just like we did around the background check bill, moms in Oregon have been showing up at the statehouse, emailing and calling their legislators directly. We’re sharing our voices for improvements in our gun laws that will make our communities safer. HB 4147 will continue to make Oregon a leader in the country when it comes to gun safety laws and we urge our leaders in the Senate to vote ‘yes’ on House Bill 4147.”
STATEMENT FROM PAUL KEMP, A MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK WHOSE BROTHER-IN-LAW, STEVE FORSYTH, WAS SHOT AND KILLED DURING THE DECEMBER 2012 CLACKAMAS TOWN CENTER SHOOTING:
“I started advocating for safer gun laws after my brother-in-law, Steve Forsyth, was shot and killed. Since then, I’ve done all that I can to try and prevent other families from experiencing the tragedy that my family has endured. Our elected leaders have the ability to make Oregon safer for all of us and they took a step in that direction today. I applaud our leaders in the House for voting yes on HB 4147 and hope our state senators will do the right thing by following the House’s lead. As a gun owner and hunter, I know that passing HB 4147 respects the rights of gun owners while working to help keep Oregonians safe.”
STATEMENT FROM JENNA YUILLE, A MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK WHOSE MOTHER, CINDY YUILLE, WAS SHOT AND KILLED DURING THE DECEMBER 2012 CLACKAMAS TOWN CENTER SHOOTING:
“I stood with Governor Brown this past fall when she signed the background check bill into law after our legislators stepped up to the plate and stood on the side of public safety. House Bill 4147 will improve enforcement of the laws on the books and strengthen our life-saving background check system even more. I urge the Senate to once again stand on the side of Oregonians and vote ‘yes’ on this gun safety bill.”