ARS Applauds Defeat of Reckless Efforts in Oregon to Recall Legislators Who Backed Expanded Background Checks
July 14, 2015– Americans for Responsible Solutions (ARS), the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and retired NASA astronaut Capt. Mark Kelly, today announced that the fringe efforts to recall leaders in the Oregon Senate and House who supported legislation to close loopholes in the state’s background check system had failed to gather the required number of signatures on the recall petitions by today’s deadline.
“Elections matter, and these fringe efforts were an abuse of the recall process – a process that should be used when an elected official has committed a crime or major ethical lapse, not when you disagree with how they voted. Why would Oregonians want to recall leaders fairly elected less than a year ago for voting for a policy that the vast majority of Oregonians support? So it’s no surprise to see that Oregonians aren’t interested in recalling legislators for voting to close the loopholes that had allowed dangerous people buy guns without a background check,” said Americans for Responsible Solutions Executive Director Hayley Zachary. “But make no mistake: We were prepared to help defend these leaders who voted to make Oregon a safer place to live.”
The efforts had targeted three legislators who had voted for a bill to close the loophole in Oregon law that had allowed people to purchase guns without a background check:
- House Majority Leader Val Hoyle (District 14 – Junction City and West Eugene);
- Senator Chuck Riley (District 15 – Hillsboro); and,
- Representative Susan McClain (District 29 – Hillsboro).
After filing the recall petitions in April, supporters needed to gather 15% of the previous turnout in the gubernatorial election within 90 days to place the leaders on the ballot in a recall election. The deadline for submitting the signatures was today.
Earlier this year, Americans for Responsible Solutions ran a statewide digital campaign to educate Oregonians on gaps in current Oregon gun laws and build support for commonsense changes that can make their communities safer. The campaign targeted more than 700,000 people in the state and ran for the duration of the legislative session. Read more here.
The bill signed into law by Governor Kate Brown in May addresses the gap in Oregon law that lets unlicensed sellers transfer a firearm to another person, including through online sales, without a background check. Previously in Oregon, individuals had to pass a background check before they bought a gun from a licensed firearm dealer and at gun shows. While individuals could request a state background check before selling a gun to another person, Oregon previously did not require unlicensed sellers to conduct a background check when transferring a gun.
A recent survey of registered Oregon voters conducted on behalf of Americans for Responsible Solutions found that a broad majority of Oregonians – including gun owners – support expanded background checks for gun sales. Among the survey’s findings: 87 percent of Oregon voters support expanded background checks on gun sales, with 70 percent saying they strongly support them; and 83 percent of Oregon gun owners support expanded background checks on gun sales.
ARS PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: BACKGROUND CHECKS LEGISLATION IN OREGON
ARS has had an active advocacy program in Oregon. Highlights of the organization’s work to support the passage of background checks include:
Targeted Digital Education Campaign: Americans for Responsible Solutions engaged in a statewide digital campaign to educate Oregonians on gaps in current Oregon gun laws and highlight commonsense changes that can make their communities safer. The campaign, which targets more than 700,000 people in the state and ran for the duration of the legislative session, encouraged Oregonians to contact their legislator and urge them to support legislation that will help reduce gun violence. Read more here.
Grassroots Organizing: O ver 100 Oregon medical professionals who are Americans for Responsible Solutions supporters – including doctors, nurses, and public health specialists – signed a letter that was delivered to state lawmakers urging them to take action to reduce gun violence, including passing SB 941, which would close the current loophole that allows people in Oregon to buy a gun without a background check. Read more here.
Mobilizing Key Constituencies: Americans for Responsible Solutions also helped organize key constituents to testify before the Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee in favor of SB 941. Earlier this month, Dr. Jim Scott of Portland and retired United States Army intelligence officer Jeff Julum of Salem testified in support of SB 941. Both Mr. Julum and Dr. Scott are supporters of Americans for Responsible Solutions. Read more here.