Anti-gun SB 941 hearing Weds in House Committee on Rules

By In the news
In: 2nd Amendment, Gun Control, OR 78th Legislative Session, Oregon House
Tuesday April 21, 2015

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Oregon House Republican Office

Oregonians Will Have Opportunity To Testify From 3:00 pm To 10:00 pm On Wednesday, April 22

Salem, OR – It was announced Monday that Senate Bill 941, legislation to expand background checks to the private sales of firearms, has been scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, April 22, in the House Committee on Rules. An Informational Meeting with invited testimony on the bill will occur from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, followed by an open Public Hearing from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Oregonians wishing to testify either for or against the bill are invited to share their testimony beginning at 3:00 pm.

“The Senate’s decision to hold just one two-hour public hearing on SB 941 left many Oregonians, including those who traveled long distances, without an opportunity to testify on this significant piece of legislation,” said House Republican Leader Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte), who is a member of the House Committee on Rules. “I invite those Oregonians to come back this week to testify, and I encourage all Oregonians to attend Wednesday’s public hearing and participate in this important discussion going on in our Legislature.”

The public hearing for SB 941 in the Senate Judiciary Committee drew enough Oregonians to the Capitol to fill several overflow rooms. Dozens of Oregonians that registered to testify on the bill were denied the opportunity to do so in front of the committee due to the strict time limits put in place by Senate Judiciary Chair Floyd Prozanski. The public hearing lasted for just two hours and individual testimony was limited to two minutes.

The decision to hold an evening public hearing for SB 941 follows the Legislature’s decisions to hold public evening hearings for legislation relating to paid sick leave and minimum wage.

Chief sponsored by Senator Prozanski, Senator Ginny Burdick, and Representatives Jennifer Williamson and Val Hoyle, all Democrats, SB 941 would require a private person to complete a transfer of a firearm by appearing with the transferee before a gun dealer to request a criminal background check.

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