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Don't let your guard down yet, but it's a start.
Oregon lawmakers drop attempt to ban the sale of assault weapons and of high-capacity gun clips | OregonLive.com
SALEM-Highly publicized bills that would ban the sale of high-capacity gun magazines as well as semi-automatic miltary-style rifles now appear to be off the table at the Oregon Legislature.
Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, said Wednesday that she is backing off an attempt to push through a bill on gun clips that she drafted following the December shootings at the Clackamas Mall.
House Judiciary Chairman Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, who is another key figure in the gun-control debate, said he doesn't plan to take up Burdick's legislation or another bill in the House that would bar the sale of semi-automatic military-style rifles often known as assault weapons.
"I personally think that the high-capacity magazines and semi-automatic weapon issues need to be done at the federal level," said Prozanski.
However, Burdick and Prozanski said they are adding another item to their gun-control agenda: a bill that would largely prohibit people from bringing guns into the Capitol.
Prozanski said concern grew about guns in the Capitol during a recent gun-rights rally across the street from the building. Several participants wore semi-automatic rifles slung across their back and some of them came inside the Capitol with their weapons.
Under current Oregon law, they are allowed to do that if they possess a concealed handgun license.
Prozanski said some groups canceled visits to the Capitol because they didn't want to be there at the same time as the gun-rights activists.
"This is a a place where everyone should be welcomed and have the right to come into the building and not fear for their safety," he said.
Prozanski and Burdick said they expected to move forward with four bills dealing with the gun issue. They would:
--Ban guns in the Capitol. Under the measure, Prozanski said, those with a concealed handgun license could still bring a gun into the building with the permission of the legislative administrator or law enforcement.
--Expand background checks to also cover private sales and transfers between individuals. There would be an exemption for sales or transfers between immediate family members.
--Ban concealed handgun licensees from carrying guns onto school grounds. However school districts would be able to opt out of the ban under the measure.
--Require live-fire training to obtain a concealed handgun license. Prozanski said most courses for the license already require this training.
Prozanski said he expected to begin committee work on the bills in about a month.
--Jeff Mapes
Oregon lawmakers drop attempt to ban the sale of assault weapons and of high-capacity gun clips | OregonLive.com
SALEM-Highly publicized bills that would ban the sale of high-capacity gun magazines as well as semi-automatic miltary-style rifles now appear to be off the table at the Oregon Legislature.
Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, said Wednesday that she is backing off an attempt to push through a bill on gun clips that she drafted following the December shootings at the Clackamas Mall.
House Judiciary Chairman Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, who is another key figure in the gun-control debate, said he doesn't plan to take up Burdick's legislation or another bill in the House that would bar the sale of semi-automatic military-style rifles often known as assault weapons.
"I personally think that the high-capacity magazines and semi-automatic weapon issues need to be done at the federal level," said Prozanski.
However, Burdick and Prozanski said they are adding another item to their gun-control agenda: a bill that would largely prohibit people from bringing guns into the Capitol.
Prozanski said concern grew about guns in the Capitol during a recent gun-rights rally across the street from the building. Several participants wore semi-automatic rifles slung across their back and some of them came inside the Capitol with their weapons.
Under current Oregon law, they are allowed to do that if they possess a concealed handgun license.
Prozanski said some groups canceled visits to the Capitol because they didn't want to be there at the same time as the gun-rights activists.
"This is a a place where everyone should be welcomed and have the right to come into the building and not fear for their safety," he said.
Prozanski and Burdick said they expected to move forward with four bills dealing with the gun issue. They would:
--Ban guns in the Capitol. Under the measure, Prozanski said, those with a concealed handgun license could still bring a gun into the building with the permission of the legislative administrator or law enforcement.
--Expand background checks to also cover private sales and transfers between individuals. There would be an exemption for sales or transfers between immediate family members.
--Ban concealed handgun licensees from carrying guns onto school grounds. However school districts would be able to opt out of the ban under the measure.
--Require live-fire training to obtain a concealed handgun license. Prozanski said most courses for the license already require this training.
Prozanski said he expected to begin committee work on the bills in about a month.
--Jeff Mapes