HB 2251 VOTE:NO – Died In Committee
Status (overview) of bill:https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019R1/Measures/Overview/HB2251
This bill defines ‘assault rifle,’ prohibits persons under 21 from purchasing ‘assault rifles,’ increases time a purchaser must wait in case of ‘delayed’ (inconclusive) background check to 30 days, prohibits persons subject to certain court protective orders from possessing firearms if the person had opportunity to be heard on the order and failed to request a hearing, requires court to order relinquishment of firearms when a person is convicted of certain domestic violence offenses or subject to certain court orders, requires person to relinquish firearms within 24 hours of the court order and to file an affidavit within 48 hours of the court order, requires hospitals to submit data concerning patients with injuries caused by firearms to electronic emergency medical services data system managed by the Oregon Health Authority, creates the crime of endangering a minor by allowing access to a firearm, prohibits possession of firearms by a person convicted of endangering a minor by allowing access to a firearm for a five-year period after conviction, creates a process for obtaining relief from that prohibition, requires permission of minor’s parent or guardian for temporary transfer of a firearm to the minor, requires gun dealers to post notice concerning the obligation to prevent minors from accessing firearms without consent of minor’s parent or guardian.
Personal Choice and Responsibility
Limiting legal firearm purchases to 21 and over infringes on the rights of thousands of responsible Oregon adults 18-20 on the mistaken notion that the tiny number of 18-20 year olds using firearms to commit crime will be stopped by this, and is akin to only issuing drivers licenses to 21 and over because some 16-20 year olds have intentionally hit people with a car. Ridiculous, offensive and ineffective. A 30-day wait on an inconclusive background check (99.8% of which turn out to be false positives) is an unconstitutional infringement on the right of an individual to purchase and therefore possess, a firearm. Any wait is technically, but gun rights people have been reasonable on this in allowing for a 3 day delay. If we allow 30 days, the government will now take 30 days on all and will still not have a conclusive answer and the delay will need to be extended ad infinitum. 3 days is sufficient in this technological age. Could go on but this bill falls like a top heavy tree. Why on Earth put so many subjects/actions in one bill?
Fiscal Responsibility
the apparatus to enforce the relinquishment requirement – judges, court clerks, law enforcement, is not fiscally responsible as it cannot ever be effective unless it could be known where all the weapons are which an individual has access to, which cannot be known or controlled. All of the resources spent are for naught as they will always still have access to a weapon – their car, if nothing else. The INDIVIDUAL must be addressed, not all the items they might possibly possess.
Limited Government
Again, the apparatus to enforce the relinquishment requirement, as well as the requirement on hospitals and the requirement on gun dealers, is an ineffective growth of government.
Free Markets
The requirement on dealers to inform customers of laws relating to the product they are purchasing is an undue burden. It is the responsibility of the customer to be aware of the law.
Another bill designed to infringe on the rights of citizens to possess firearms. The writers of these bills do not take the Bill of Rights seriously and should be recalled. This particular bill is being put forth at the request of Governor Kate Brown. You can share your opinion of this bill with her at this link -> https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/share-your-opinion.aspx