Oregon Senate Committee hearing on gun restrictions
Oregonian photo
A Friday morning Oregon Senate hearing appeared to be going like those in many other states as the country grapples with even just the concept of gun ownership. On one side, a desire to strengthen rules that restrict gun sales and where guns can be taken versus those who contend there are enough restrictions already on the books.
The story is in the Oregonian. Click here.
Share on Facebook
Newport Public Library
Nye @ W. Olive
Newport
A discussion on mental health, violence and firearms will be held on Friday, March 1 in the Newport Public Library from 3pm until 5pm.
Bill Hall, a Lincoln County Commissioner and advocate on public health and mental health issues, Barbara Turrill, the Behavioral Health Division Director of Lincoln County Health and Human Services, and Susan Graves the Safety Coordinator for the Lincoln County School District will speak to the problem of mental health and fire arms.
Questions from the public will be welcome. This discussion will be part of an ongoing search into answers to public safety and the second amendment which were discussed at a previous meeting of concerned citizens of Lincoln County a few weeks ago.
Oregonian photo
Oregon lawmakers have run into a buzzsaw of opposition over proposals to ban assault weapons and the big clips to go with them. What appears to be the only surviving elements of gun control fever is universal background checks and a ban on anyone carrying weapons within the state capitol buildng. The story is in the Oregonian. Click here.
Gun owners demonstration in Salem
At State Capitol
The Oregonian photo
A bill proposed by a Roseburg state representative that seeks to force Oregon to ignore any and all federal gun control laws, under the belief that the 2nd Amendment is absolute and not subject to state regulation, has been introduced in the Oregon House of Representatives. However, a spokesman for the Speaker of the House, who is part of the democratic majority, said the bill is not likely to go anywhere.
The story is in the Oregonian. Click here.
Oregonian photo
Several hundred gun owners rallied at the State Capitol today furthering their cause that the 2nd Amendment “means what it says.” They were there to show solidarity and express opposition to any effort to remove guns from the hands of law abiding citizens. The story is in the Oregonian.
Share on Facebook
Guns Rights Demonstration
State Capitol, Salem, Jan. 19
According to an Oregonian survey of just over 500 Oregon Adults, nearly 60% said assault weapons make society more dangerous, 27% said they make society safer, 14% said they didn’t know. But when it comes to putting tighter restrictions on gun ownership, respondents were split up the middle on whether they want their federal legislators to vote for further restrictions. Fully 20% said they were unsure. The survey also clearly revealed that those living in the urban areas of Portland were far more likely to favor tougher gun controls than across the rural rest of the state.
Here’s the Oregonian’s report. Click here.
Semi-automatic pistol
Wikipedia photo
A Portland area state senator says although it’ll be quite a challenge, she is working on a bill to be introduced in the upcoming legislature that would require any and all gun purchases to be subject to full background checks – even for private party sales.
The story is in the Oregonian. Click here.
Share on Facebook
Spotted in Lincoln City on the beach at Inn at Spanish Head
Saturday afternoon
A group of courageous Central Coast residents took on a volatile subject Thursday as they sat down to discuss and debate what to do about America’s rising rate of gun violence. According to national figures, over thirty thousand Americans are killed every year at the end of a gun, both from suicide (19,392) and homicide (11,078); 2009 figures. More than twice that number are injured. The Congressional Research Service says there are over three hundred million guns on the streets of the U.S., one for every man, woman and child in the country.
Of those attending the ‘Prevent Gun Violence’ gathering at Newport’s Visual Arts Center, about 80% were strong gun advocates wanting to make sure that everyone knew that the vast majority of gun owners are responsible and that they fully intend to protect their right to own firearms as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Some were very vocal about it. Others identified themselves as “progressives” seeking ways to curb gun violence.
Those who organized the meeting stated repeatedly that the goal is not about reversing that right – the moderator herself coming from a firearms family. The issue, she said, was what can be done to stop the slaughter of innocent human beings with semi-automatic weapons which are finding their way into the hands of deranged individuals.
From there the room was broken down into smaller sub-groups so that every individual could be clearly heard and that their opinions and observations are noted and honored. At the end, each group reported their findings and recommendations, not precisely as to who said what, but the fact that specific talking points were offered for further discussion.
Among the findings:
* The American people need to understand the full meaning of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution; a citizen’s right to own weapons, whether for protecting the country, protecting oneself, one’s family and home. And that a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling made that very clear.
* Weapons are too easily acquired because of registration and sales information loopholes at gun shows and other venues.
* People with serious mental health issues have easy access to weapons, AR-15 and AK-47 semi-automatic weapons included which have been recently used in shopping malls, movie theaters and schools, most recently at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT.
* The U.S. has seemingly abandoned comprehensive mental health care for individuals who desperately need it. Many participants in the discussion asked out loud, “What happened to mental health services?” One explanation was that, back in the 1980′s, mental health care was deemed best administered within communities rather than in consolidated state mental hospitals. Trouble is, community based mental health services are meager at best.
* Sale and possession of semi-automatic weapons, both handguns and rifles, should be illegal, however others said there are enough gun laws on the books already. “Enforce the ones we already have before enacting more,” one man said.
* Schools should have well armed guards and teachers in order to better protect children.
* Gun owners should be forced to have insurance on their weapons like drivers must have insurance on their cars and trucks.
* Gun owners should be required to undergo extensive training before buying a weapon.
* Children should be taught early the rights and rules of responsible gun ownership.
* The country needs a serious discussion about the growth and distribution of violent movies, TV shows and video games, especially those aimed at children and young adults.
* Penalties for using a gun in the commission of a crime should be made far more punitive. “No more plea bargains or slaps on the wrist” one gun owner said.
* A consensus was established that talking things out was very useful.
Another “Prevent Gun Violence” meeting is being scheduled. Plenty of advance notice of meeting day, time and location will be announced to the public, including here on News Lincoln County.
Share on Facebook
A number of Newport area residents are holding a community conversation January 17th at the Visual Arts Center in Nye Beach to help understand and prevent gun violence in America.
The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 17th at 3pm and may last until 5pm. Sponsors say it is the first in a series of community conversations about increasing gun violence in the country and what can be done about it from the local to the national level.
Share on Facebook