As of Thursday, Gun Lobby Fails to Gather Sufficient Signatures Required to Put SB 719 Referendum on 2018 Ballot
SB 719 Allows Courts to Temporarily Prohibit a Person from Having a Gun if Law Enforcement or Immediate Family Members Show That He or She Poses a Danger to Self or Others
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today celebrated that SB 719, the state’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law, will remain in place. This important law allows courts to temporarily prohibit a person from having a gun if law enforcement or immediate family members show that he or she poses a danger to self or others. Governor Kate Brown signed SB 719 into law in August.
The gun lobby’s effort to repeal SB 719, led by NRA-backed Representatives Mike Nearman and Bill Post, failed to gather the minimum number of signatures from Oregonians required to qualify for the ballot in 2018. The campaign to repeal SB 719 had 90 days from the conclusion of the 2017 legislative session to secure the required number signatures.
According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, in nearly half of mass shootings in the U.S. from 2009 to 2016, the shooter exhibited warning signs prior to the shooting indicating that they posed a danger to themselves or others. These red flags included acts, attempted acts or threats of violence towards oneself or others; violations of protective orders; or evidence of ongoing substance abuse.
STATEMENT FROM ANDREA PLATT, VOLUNTEER WITH THE OREGON CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION:
“The gun lobby’s effort to repeal Oregon’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law was yet another failed attempt to undermine public safety in our state. SB 719 is a commonsense policy that empowers families and law enforcement officers to act to potentially prevent tragedies. After the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, Oregonians have once again rejected the gun lobby narrative that these tragedies are inevitable. The referendum’s failure is further evidence that Oregonians stand on the side of commonsense gun violence prevention laws.”