Latest news with #Measure114
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon lawmakers consider gun control bills amid legal battle over Measure 114
Guns are shown at Caso's Gun-A-Rama in Jersey City, New Jersey, which has been open since 1967. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Monitor) As legal challenges to a voter-approved gun control law continue, Oregon lawmakers are considering a set of additional restrictions on gun purchases that are among the most controversial measures of the legislative session. The three bills, each of which advanced from committees on party-line votes, would increase maximum fees to apply for gun permits, codify Measure 114's ban on magazines with 10 or more rounds, mandate dealers be licensed by the Oregon Department of Justice, install a 72-hour waiting period to avoid impulsive purchases and ban devices that allow faster firing of guns. Advocates and legislative Democrats who back the bills say they're crucial for public safety as gun deaths continue to rise. The overall gun death rate in Oregon increased 31% from 2013 to 2022 and firearms were the fifth leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-17, according to federal data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Oregon's firearm death rate is near the national average and higher than California and Washington, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But Republicans including Rep. Rick Lewis, R-Silverton, argue the Legislature has already done too much to regulate guns. In recent years, Oregon has passed laws banning untraceable 3-D printed guns, requiring secure storage of guns and allowing courts to temporarily remove firearms from people at risk of harming themselves or others. 'Every session since I've been here we've had at least one gun bill and it never seems to be enough for this body,' Lewis said before voting against one bill. 'I've received probably well over a thousand emails from people in opposition to this.' Voters narrowly passed Measure 114 in 2022 to ban magazines with 10 or more rounds and end a loophole that allows firearm dealers to sell guns without a background check if it's not completed within three business days. It also mandated that anyone who buys a gun in Oregon obtain firearms safety training and a permit to purchase a firearm. Less than a month after it passed, Harney County Judge Robert Raschio blocked the measure on the basis that it infringed on the Oregon constitution's Article 1, Section 27, which says 'people shall have the right to bear arms for the (defense) of themselves.' The Oregon Court of Appeals overturned Raschio's decision last month, but the law remains on hold after gun owners appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court last week. House Bill 3075, sponsored by Rep. Jason Kropf, D-Bend, would codify Measure 114's ban on magazines with 10 or more rounds, provide a 180-day grace period for owners to dispose of their high-capacity magazines and increase maximum permit fees from $65 to $150 and maximum renewal fees from $50 to $110. It would also increase the maximum time authorities have to make a decision from 30 to 60 days from the date of the permit request. The bill, like Measure 114, would also close the 'Charleston loophole,' named after a 2015 shooting at a Black church in Charleston, South Carolina. The shooter, a self-admitted white supremacist, was ineligible to purchase a gun because of a drug charge but was allowed to buy one anyway because authorities took more than three business days to conduct a background check. If the bill is adopted or Measure 114 takes effect, background checks would have to be completed before authorities grant any permits. A completed background check is necessary to make sure only people who are safe with firearms can possess them, Kropf said ahead of an April 8 committee vote on the bill. 'A lot of the work that we are doing on these bills mirror what I learned as a kid: how to be safe with a firearm and how to make sure that safe people have firearms,' he said. Under House Bill 3075, gun owners must have also completed gun safety courses in the 5 years previous to applying for a permit. Opponents including the Oregon Hunters Association argue that would burden longtime gun owners. 'Many of our members obtained these licenses many years ago, completed hunter education (including firearm safety), and have responsibly used firearms throughout their lives,' Oregon Hunters Association representative Paul Donheffner said in written testimony. The House Judiciary Committee advanced the bill on a 5-3 vote along party lines. Because legislative fiscal analysts estimate it would cost about $14.6 million to implement during the next two-year-budget cycle, the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee has to approve it before the House can vote on it. House Bill 3076, also sponsored by Kropf and other Democrats, would establish a state-level licensing system for gun dealers. They currently have to be licensed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a process that involves fingerprinting, background checks and an interview, according to the ATF website. If the bill passes, Oregon would join 16 other states that require dealers to obtain an additional state-level license to sell firearms. 'When gun dealers follow best practices, they are one of our first lines of defense against gun trafficking, gun homicides and failed domestic violence,' Kropf said. 'This (bill) allows us to set those best practices and standards for safety and security with our licensed firearms dealers.' A 2024 study from the Alliance for a Safe Oregon found that most guns used for crimes in Oregon came from legal gun dealers, and the average gun dealer in the state is inspected by ATF only once every ten years. 'The gun industry will tell you that (dealers) are heavily regulated … that's wildly untrue,' alliance executive director Jess Marks said. House Republicans oppose House Bills 3075 and 3076. 'These bills force additional, expensive regulations on law-abiding citizens that many of them cannot afford,' said Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner. 'Writing a blank check to the Department of Justice to enforce what's already codified in federal law is bad policy.' The House Judiciary Committee advanced the bill on a 5-3 vote along party lines on April 8. The Joint Committee on Ways and Means must approve it before the full House can vote because establishing the licensing program would cost an estimated $5.8 million. Senate Bill 243 would introduce a mandatory 72-hour minimum waiting period from when a permit is requested to when it can be granted. It is meant to discourage impulsive purchases, which have been linked to higher rates of gun suicides and several mass shooting incidents including the 2022 shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Currently 10 states, including California and Washington, have waiting periods of up to 10 days before gun purchases. The bill would also ban rapid fire activators, devices that turn semi-automatic rifles into fully automatic rifles, making them deadlier, such as the one used by the shooter of the 2017 Las Vegas, Nevada massacre, which claimed the lives of 60 people and injured more than 400. Early versions of the bill also raised the minimum age to own a firearm from 18 to 21 but that provision has been eliminated. The bill would prevent many deaths because of how lethal firearms are, Marks said. Oregon has a high firearm suicide rate compared to other states, 'and a significant portion of those deaths are impulsive,' she said. Marks supports finding a balance between Second Amendment rights and regulations meant to protect potential victims of gun violence. 'We should respect Oregon firearm owners while putting first the safety of our kids and communities,' she said. Most gun rights groups in Oregon oppose the bill. The 72-hour waiting period constitutes an 'unnecessary delay for law-abiding citizens who wish to exercise their right to bear arms' and could 'create logistical challenges for gun dealers and buyers, leading to potential economic impacts on small businesses,' according to Rick Coufal, a firearms instructor and member of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action who submitted written testimony against the bill. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill on a 4-2 vote along party lines on Wednesday, April 9, and the bill is awaiting a Senate vote. Gun control legislation in Oregon and other states comes as President Donald Trump's administration begins to roll back Biden-era gun control measures, including a policy that removes federal licenses of firearms dealers found to have repeatedly violated federal regulations. Republican lawmakers have also introduced legislation to make obtaining firearms easier, including a joint resolution to enshrine the right to carry concealed firearms into the Oregon constitution. A group of bipartisan legislators has also introduced a bill to allow them and their staff to carry concealed firearms in the Capitol building. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Brickbat: Gunned Down
The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that Measure 114, a gun control law approved by voters in November 2022, does not violate the state constitution, overturning a lower court's decision that had blocked it. This law aims to reduce gun violence by requiring permits to buy guns and banning magazines holding more than 10 rounds. The appeals court said it fits with Oregon's history of reasonable gun rules. Plaintiffs vowed to appeal the decision to the Oregon Supreme Court. In a separate federal case, a judge also upheld the law, saying it does not violate the Second Amendment. The plaintiffs in that case also plan to appeal. The post Brickbat: Gunned Down appeared first on
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
‘Dr. Cold Fingers': Oregon Youth Authority staffer accused of sexually abusing boys in custody
Editor's Note: This story shares details of child sex abuse that may be disturbing for readers. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Youth Authority is set to face a major lawsuit regarding the sexual abuse of at least 10 boys in juvenile detention, according to attorneys. The victims, now men, claim they were sexually abused as children while they were in custody of the State of Oregon at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility. Their representatives claim the children — between the ages of 12 and 16 — were treated as 'throwaway kids.' Tigard Tesla dealership shot for second time in a week Attorneys Peter Janci of Crew Janci LLP and Paul Galm of Galm Law say the case involves a specific OYA staffer known as Dr. Edwards 'Gary' Edwards. 'His abuse of boys at MacLaren was so prolific that he was known amongst boys and staff as Dr. Cold Fingers,' Janci said. Edwards served as the primary medical provider at Maclaren from 1977 until at least 2008, and attorneys say he had private access to thousands of children during this time. 'This doctor was in charge of intake exams at MacLaren, which means that he had a reason to be alone with every single child that came through MacLaren during those 40+ years of service,' Janci said. 'And at nearly 300 youth housed there at any given time, by 40 years, that means this doctor had an opportunity to abuse more than 10,000 children in Oregon custody.' According to the lawsuit, victims had reported their concerns about Edwards to other staffers and through the OYA abuse hotline. However, victims claim the staffers who had received those reports allegedly ignored them. 'Worse than that, we allege in this lawsuit that at times, the MacLaren staff weaponized Dr. Edwards' abuse of youth, and by that we mean when one of our client's behavior wasn't to the staff's liking, they would threaten them that, 'Hey if you don't get in line, we're going to send you to see Dr. Cold Fingers,'' Janci said. Attorneys also shared that the victims would seek treatment from Dr. Edwards and instead be sexually abused. One example shared by Janci involved a victim going to the staffer for a sore throat. 'For his sore throat, he had his genitals fondled by Dr. Edwards for minutes with ungloved hands,' Janci said, adding that other victims reported similar experiences along with instances of ungloved masturbation and anal penetration with fingers. Oregon gun reform advocates 'rejoicing' but not slowing down after Measure 114 ruling The lawsuit claims that these children have grown up to avoid the doctor's office, refuse to see a doctor who isn't female, and put off treatment. Galm shares that these responses come from a long-term trauma of sexual abuse while being in a correctional facility where they are stripped of their rights and do not have an authority figure to turn to. 'The worst part of it, too, is these kids are abused by staff and then they think to themselves that they can't really tell anybody, because nobody is going to believe them,' Galm said. Both attorneys believe Edwards, who died in February 2025, may have had other victims during his time at MacLaren. In a press release, OYA shared that it has made recent improvements to its Professional Standards Office to 'ensure youth reporting and investigation processes remain accessible, transparent, and thorough.' The improvements follow a review made in January 2025 that identified concerns about how investigations within OYA have been conducted as well as the number of cases that are open or suspended. According to OYA, the Professional Standards Office reported the following numbers as of March 2025: 534 reports from 2018 to October 2024 require a deeper review ('open' or 'suspended') 165 reports since October 2024 also remain 'open' or 'suspended' 4,105 cases were closed by investigators between 2018 and the end of 2024. These cases then undergo a final review and sign-off by our chief investigator, and they have signed off on 724 since Jan. 21, 2025. 'Oregonians need OYA to have grievance and investigation processes that are accessible, transparent, and thorough,' Acting Director Jana McLellan said. 'These elements are necessary to ensure youth and staff safety. We have work ahead of us, but I'm confident we're doing what we need to do to ensure trust in our systems.' Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tigard Tesla dealership shot for second time in a week
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Just a week after a similar incident, shots were fired for the second time at a Tigard Tesla dealership, damaging windows and cars, authorities said. According to Tigard police, the shooting happened Thursday morning at the dealership on Southwest Cascade Avenue. Officials said that around 4:15 a.m., 10-15 shots were fired at the building. One security guard was there at the time, but they weren't harmed. Oregon gun reform advocates 'rejoicing' but not slowing down after Measure 114 ruling The shooting came ahead of a planned protest at the dealership today. On March 6, the dealership was also shot at, shattering windows and damaging three cars. Stay with KOIN 6 as we bring you more on this developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon gun reform advocates ‘rejoicing' but not slowing down after Measure 114 ruling
PORTLAND, Ore. () — A controversial gun control measure — approved by voters more than two years ago — is now back in play, as the Oregon State Court of Appeals rules it is constitutional. But even as opponents are planning their next appeal, advocates for gun reform aren't slowing down either. The court's ruling means a hold on gun safety requirements could soon be lifted throughout the state. Body found at pond prompts homicide investigation Voters passed Measure 114 in November 2022. It requires people to undergo a background check and safety courses to receive a gun permit. It also limits the legal magazine capacity to less than 10 rounds — with exceptions for police and military. Supporters of Measure 114 are ecstatic and they said it's a move in the right direction. 'It's a day to give rejoicing in a country that's living with a lot of fear right now,' said Rev. Dr. W.J. Mark Knutson, the chair of , the advocacy group that helped push for Measure 114. Knutson held a press conference on Wednesday at his Augustana Lutheran Church in Northeast Portland. He said efforts are continuing to push for gun reform issues in Salem, including , which would require federally licensed firearms dealers to also be licensed in Oregon. 'There's some important bills in the state legislature, we'll be coming alongside others to help move through. There are social programs that are [for] young people that we'll be working on with other organizations that are not here today but would like to have been. So how do we weave that community? And that's never going to be complete. So, we'll continue on,' said Knutson said. Wyden decries pause on student loan repayment programs Advocates argue that laws like Measure 114, the proposed HB 3076 and others could have prevented tragic incidents like the back in 2015 and the several in Portland. 'If you eliminate that, you eliminate a great portion of people that are killed even by stray bullets,' said Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes. Though Measure 114 has been ruled constitutional, that doesn't necessarily mean it's going into effect, at least not yet. Those opposing the measure in this case have the next 35 days to appeal this ruling. Tony Aiello, Jr., a senior associate with Tyler Smith & Associates, has already indicated he by bringing it to a higher court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
