Taxpayers Assoc: Yes on SB 473. Protect officials from violence

Taxpayers Association of Oregon urges Vote Yes on SB 473
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

The Taxpayers Association of Oregon submitted this testimony in the Senate Judiciary hearing today in favor of SB 473 which helps protect public officials from threats:

Here is our SB 473 testimony:

The Taxpayers Association of Oregon supports laws that protect against violent threats to public officials with SB 473.

During a three-year period of the Portland violent protests, the Taxpayers Association of Oregon documented many examples of violent threats placed up on local officials — including State lawmakers. These threats were sometimes placed on public buildings or accompanied by arson and vandalism. Three Portland elected officials had arson events outside their homes.

Some places like Portland face reduced police presence which invites a more escalated threat levels. Many prosecutors and judges are willing to drop or treat lightly threats of violence which only escalate people’s threat level and the feeling that they can get away with it.

For this reason, we support SB 473.

At top are images the Taxpayers Association of Oregon took from a single day of rioting in Portland in 2022.

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SB 473 reads: “The Act creates a new crime of threatening a public official. The Act goes into effect when the Governor signs it. Creates the crime of threatening a public official. Punishes by a maximum of 364 days’ imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both, for the first offense, and a maximum of five years’ imprisonment, $125,000 fine, or both, for subsequent offenses. Declares an emergency, effective on passage. “

SB 473 Sponsored by Senator PROZANSKI; Representative FRAGALA (at the request of City of Eugene)

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