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The Associated Press State & Local Wire
February 19, 2003, Wednesday, BC cycle
4:28 PM Eastern Time
SECTION: State and Regional
LENGTH: 572 words
HEADLINE: Gun control issue returns to Legislature
BYLINE: By PETER PRENGAMAN, Associated Press Writer
DATELINE: SALEM, Ore.
BODY:
Facing uphill odds, the Legislature's leading gun-control advocate is proposing legislation to make gun owners responsible if their children use the weapons, outlaw handguns on school property and force law enforcement agencies to create a policy on gun storage.
A leading gun control group, meanwhile, is focusing on narrower legislation that's intended to get guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.
Sen. Ginny Burdick said she believes Oregonians support her broader measures. But she said a Republican-controlled House and a state budget in turmoil probably means the proposals won't go far. "Realistically I don't have much hope they'll be considered," Burdick said. "But it's important to keep the issue before the public. Gun violence is a huge problem in Oregon and in our country."
Debates about gun control are not new to the Legislature. But in a state where more than half the people own guns, bills introduced in recent sessions have gotten quick burials.
Burdick insists that's because of a strong gun lobby, not because Oregonians don't want the restrictions. She points to a gun show law that over 60 percent of voters passed in 2000. That law, promoted by Burdick, requires gun sellers at firearm shows to do a background check on gun buyers.
Citing the difficulty of getting anti-gun legislation through the Legislature, Cease Fire Oregon is concentrating on just one anti-gun proposal in this legislative session.
The measure, HB2508, is intended to close a loophole in Oregon law that interferes with a federal law requiring domestic violence abusers who have a restraining order against them to relinquish their guns.
Sybil Hebb, an attorney with the Oregon Law Center, said at a Wednesday news conference that the federal protection for abuse victims doesn't apply unless there's a hearing. Oregon law only allows the target of a restraining order to request the hearing, she said.
A Portland woman who said she was shot in the head three times by a former boyfriend in 2001 endorsed the bill as a way to reduce gun violence in domestic fights.
"Please protect the innocent and get guns out of the hands of batterers," said Lonnie Feather, who said it was a "miracle" that she survived.
She didn't have a restraining order against the man, who she said is in prison on attempted murder and kidnap convictions.
Burdick said her gun storage bill, which would parents responsible for anything their children do with guns, would put the blame for accidents on the parents.
For example, last month a 13-year-old Vancouver, Wash., boy shot and killed his 10-year-old sister with a pistol that belonged to his father, a sheriff's sergeant.
Under Washington law, the boy has been charged with manslaughter and could spend three years in a correctional facility.
"If my bill had been law that guy (the officer) would be convicted of a felony," said Burdick. "It was his gun, his responsibility."
Groups representing gun owners said Oregon already has enough gun laws. They said Burdick's attempt to regulate gun storage was unnecessary.
"My dad gave me my first gun when I was three years old," said John Nichols, executive director of Oregon Gun Owners. "I never thought about shooting somebody or taking it out to play with."
February 19, 2003, Wednesday, BC cycle
4:28 PM Eastern Time
SECTION: State and Regional
LENGTH: 572 words
HEADLINE: Gun control issue returns to Legislature
BYLINE: By PETER PRENGAMAN, Associated Press Writer
DATELINE: SALEM, Ore.
BODY:
Facing uphill odds, the Legislature's leading gun-control advocate is proposing legislation to make gun owners responsible if their children use the weapons, outlaw handguns on school property and force law enforcement agencies to create a policy on gun storage.
A leading gun control group, meanwhile, is focusing on narrower legislation that's intended to get guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.
Sen. Ginny Burdick said she believes Oregonians support her broader measures. But she said a Republican-controlled House and a state budget in turmoil probably means the proposals won't go far. "Realistically I don't have much hope they'll be considered," Burdick said. "But it's important to keep the issue before the public. Gun violence is a huge problem in Oregon and in our country."
Debates about gun control are not new to the Legislature. But in a state where more than half the people own guns, bills introduced in recent sessions have gotten quick burials.
Burdick insists that's because of a strong gun lobby, not because Oregonians don't want the restrictions. She points to a gun show law that over 60 percent of voters passed in 2000. That law, promoted by Burdick, requires gun sellers at firearm shows to do a background check on gun buyers.
Citing the difficulty of getting anti-gun legislation through the Legislature, Cease Fire Oregon is concentrating on just one anti-gun proposal in this legislative session.
The measure, HB2508, is intended to close a loophole in Oregon law that interferes with a federal law requiring domestic violence abusers who have a restraining order against them to relinquish their guns.
Sybil Hebb, an attorney with the Oregon Law Center, said at a Wednesday news conference that the federal protection for abuse victims doesn't apply unless there's a hearing. Oregon law only allows the target of a restraining order to request the hearing, she said.
A Portland woman who said she was shot in the head three times by a former boyfriend in 2001 endorsed the bill as a way to reduce gun violence in domestic fights.
"Please protect the innocent and get guns out of the hands of batterers," said Lonnie Feather, who said it was a "miracle" that she survived.
She didn't have a restraining order against the man, who she said is in prison on attempted murder and kidnap convictions.
Burdick said her gun storage bill, which would parents responsible for anything their children do with guns, would put the blame for accidents on the parents.
For example, last month a 13-year-old Vancouver, Wash., boy shot and killed his 10-year-old sister with a pistol that belonged to his father, a sheriff's sergeant.
Under Washington law, the boy has been charged with manslaughter and could spend three years in a correctional facility.
"If my bill had been law that guy (the officer) would be convicted of a felony," said Burdick. "It was his gun, his responsibility."
Groups representing gun owners said Oregon already has enough gun laws. They said Burdick's attempt to regulate gun storage was unnecessary.
"My dad gave me my first gun when I was three years old," said John Nichols, executive director of Oregon Gun Owners. "I never thought about shooting somebody or taking it out to play with."
