Portland Mayor Sam Adams has introduced a five point plan to enhance current gun laws, curb gang violence, and reduce tragedies associated with firearms.
Mayor Adams is motivated in large part by the need to put a stop to gang-related shootings across Portland. Last week there were 10 gang-related shootings in the Portland Metro area, and over the weekend there was an additional deadly shooting which was not gang-related.
While many thoughtful and informed people in Portland support the mayor's ideas, others think he may be trying to overstep his authority as Mayor.
The Oregon Firearms Federation is expressing strong opposition to Adams’ five-point gun safety initiative. No doubt other gun rights groups will follow suit, using their political capital to misinform and frighten voters.
The following is a brief summary of the Mayor's proposals:
1. A curfew for juveniles convicted of gun-law violations.
2. A new city crime of failure to control kids’ access to guns.
3. A new city crime of failure to report loss or theft of guns.
4. Increase penalties for illegal possession of loaded firearms.
5. Excluding gun-law violators from neighborhoods with high rates of illegal firearm use.
In support of his gun safety initiative, Mayor Adams released the following statement:
“The illegal use of firearms is a long-standing community problem in the City of Portland. Changes to federal and state gun laws are needed. That is why I am a founding member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. At the state level, Ceasefire Oregon is advocating for common-sense gun safety laws. The Brady Campaign is working on gun education and lobbying on the national level.
But the enactment of state and federal gun safety laws is a slow and uncertain process. In the meantime, due to lax gun safety laws, cities like Portland get caught in the crossfire: literally and tragically."
Adams said he wants the public to be involved in designing and deciding on the new gun and anti-gang initiatives. There will be a two week public comment period before any of the initiatives are finalized.
While Adams’ gun safety initiative will generate opposition from gun-rights advocates, Adams says the city attorney’s office designed the proposals to be in line with state and federal law.
“If these do go to court,” Adams says, “we will defend them vigorously.”
What Adams is asking for is sensible and reasonable. He deserves praise for his efforts.
Let us hope the good residents of Portland stand up against a powerful and irrational gun lobby; Let us hope the good residents of Portland stand up for justice, common sense, and livability.
Email your support for the Mayor's gun safety initiative at mayorsam@portlandoregon.gov
Comments
this guy is a joke!just enforce the many laws on the books,and things would work out way better.
"The Brady Campaign is working on gun education"
That's kind of a joke right there.
This guy looks like he is a REAL teabagger!
The Brady Bunch teaching gun safety? Thats like Ted Bundy teaching how to treat women.
Waste of time Mr Adams! You don't have a clue how to fix this. Oh and go away, we really don't want you here!
Perhaps Mr. Adams would like re-read ORS 166.170 and then not waste taxpayer money defending these regulations in court.
What part of preemption does he NOT understand? Can he be arrested for attempting to break state preemption laws?
Of the 5, only #2 is unlawful due to the state preemption:
§ 166.170 State preemption
(1) Except as expressly authorized by state statute, the authority to regulate in any matter whatsoever the sale, acquisition, transfer, ownership, possession, storage, transportation or use of firearms or any element relating to firearms and components thereof, including ammunition, is vested solely in the Legislative Assembly.
While I have read horror stories of kids finding a gun in the house and someone getting injured or killed, I have also read many stories of kids using their parent's weapons to defend themselves and/or their family members. Parents need to train & instruct their kids in weapon safety and not just leave them laying around, but to lock the weapons down so tight that they are no use to anyone, including the parents, defeats the purpose of self-defense.
Of the other 4 the Mayor wants to pass, those don't try to control the guns, they just add more penalties onto existing laws or add additional punishments after the fact. These are bogus and would do nothing to help lower crime. Also, how can #1,3,5 be enforced, can you explain?
Sounds like "feel good" talk blowing so much hot air for the masses to look tough on crime.
The Portland libs and hippys are going to get gun control on themselves. They deserve the crime increse that it brings for voting him in.
dont make a criminal of a theft victim.if gun safety is an issue; implement a gun safety program in the schools; maybe along side ' safe sex' education. the NRA has the" eddie eagle" program; at no charge!
we have enough laws to handle guns now , just use them & leave law abiding people along
we have enough laws to handle guns now , just use them & leave law abiding people along
Michael Stone writes that state gun rights groups will be "...using their political capital to misinform and frighten voters." Excuse me? This piece couldn't be a more biased and insulting one to Americans even if the author tried. This goes to show that you can never trust those who side with restricting freedoms. Apparently the author would rather advocate for victim disarmament and jeopardize the lives of the everyday citizen than to do what's honorable. Such are the ideas from the minds of those who support. ideas of the far left. They do totalitarians of the past proud.
S. adams should stick to his bag ban, and quite trying to make law abiding citizens into crimenals. Why cant "t we use our curent laws to stop crime? So making more new laws makes up for all the other mistakesh he has made?
The little boy lover needs to keep in mind that he rose his right hand and swore allegance to uphold the constitution. By forcing draconian laws on the people is overstepping the constitution, and in my opinion is teasonous to the laws our founding fathers submitted in the faith of god. By tying the citizens hands will only increase crime. Criminals do not pay attention to the law. Thats why they are criminals. Here is an idea, why dont you put your efforts into going after the criminals instead.
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