June 9, The Washington Times reported, via AP, a petition by gun control adversaries has been filed to recall the recent bill signed in Oregon requiring background checks for private gun sales. The petition specifically is a recall against Democratic Sen. Floyd Prozanski of Eugene, the background check’s chief sponsor. Three additional Democratic lawmakers who support the background check legislation have also been targeted. The three others, named in The Oregonian on April 16, are first term Sen. Chuck Riley, D-Hillsboro and Rep. Susan McLain, D-Forest Grove as well as House Majority Leader Val Hoyle, D-Eugene.
Background check bills are being put into place to protect the population against criminals who want to own firearms. People who have correctly followed the laws of the government still have the second amendment right to bear arms. “While the uses of a background check may vary, the ultimate goal is to uncover basic information about an individual in order to make a decision” as stated in a PeopleFinders article. In other words if one has no history of criminal behavior then one should not be concerned over a background check taking away their right to bear arms.
The bill in question is the Senate Bill 941 “Relating to firearms; declaring an emergency” stating, as printed in The Oregonian, “Requires private person to complete transfer of firearm by appearing with transferee before gun dealer to request criminal background check or shipping or delivering firearm to gun dealer in certain circumstances.” Gun support groups have been acting in full force to recall the recently signed bill, most prominently the NRA fearing that the bill goes against their second amendment right “the right to keep and bear arms.”
As reported by the Statesman Journal, on May 11 Oregon Gov. Kate Brown made history for her state. By signing a bill that makes it a requirement to pass a background check for those purchasing firearms in private party sales, Oregon has become the eighth state to necessitate gun sale screening. The other states requiring background checks to purchase guns are Delaware, Connecticut, New York, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts and Washington.
With serious situations involving gun violence against the innocent such as Sandy Hook in Newton and in malls and on college campuses among other places, it is evident that background checks can only serve to help protect the innocent. In the wake of many states making new laws requiring background checks, other states backed by gun right organizations are allowing guns everywhere. Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence lists the 12 states specifically expanding laws permitting that guns can be carried in public on school campuses, places of worship as well as in restaurants and bars, with Georgia stating airports as well.
The more that new gun legislation is passed to protect against gun violence, the louder the gun activists shout to expand their agenda for the right to own and carry guns in the guise that they are protecting themselves and their family. The countries gun laws have become a strong political issue splitting the US along party lines that will most certainly hold a position in the upcoming presidential campaigns.
