House Bill 4145 Would Help Protect Oregon’s Women and Children by Closing the “Boyfriend Loophole” and Keeping Guns Out of the Hands of Convicted Stalkers
HB 4145 Would Help Enforce Existing Law by Alerting Law Enforcement When Someone Prohibited from Having a Gun Tries to Buy One
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded Senate passage of HB 4145, legislation that would close loopholes in the law to help protect women and children from gun violence. HB 4145 previously passed a full House vote with bipartisan support. The bill now moves to Governor Brown’s desk to be signed into law.
If signed into law, HB 4145 would address the following loopholes in Oregon’s gun laws:
- Closing the “Boyfriend Loophole” so that abusive dating partners are prevented from having guns, an important measure that would protect women and children;
- Prohibiting convicted stalkers from buying or possessing guns;
- Requiring state officials to alert local law enforcement when an individual who is prohibited from purchasing a firearm attempts to buy one illegally and fails a background check. Local law enforcement would get the information needed to intervene before a person with a dangerous history obtains a gun through other routes.
STATEMENT FROM ANDREA PLATT, A VOLUNTEER WITH THE OREGON CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Today is win for common sense – legislators from both chambers have agreed we need to make it harder for domestic abusers to obtain guns. This important legislation addresses glaring loopholes in Oregon law to better protect women and children from stalkers and abusers. The Oregon chapter of Mom Demand Action for Gun Sense in America has been advocating for these policies for years and we applaud the legislature for taking action. We are thrilled to stand by Governor Brown when she signs HB 4145 into law.”
Research proves that stronger gun laws can reduce domestic violence homicides. Research has also shown that American women are 16 times more likely to be shot and killed with a gun than women in other high-income countries and that the presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that a woman will be shot and killed.