SB 978 : Omnibus Gun Violence Prevention Bill 2019

Position: Support Status: July 1, 2019: End of session, bill was not passed

SB 978 along with a vaccine bill were traded away by Governor Kate Brown to appease Senate Republicans when they ran away from their jobs. The Republican walkout deprived the Oregon Senate of a quorum and therefore the ability to pass bills. After the bills were killed, the Republican senators returned, promising to behave. They did not. They ran away again in 2019 and again in 2020.

Here's what was traded away in return for ???:
SB 978 stops hate groups and terrorists from printing guns that are undetectable and untraceable.

SB 978 gives public schools and major airports the right to make security decisions about prohibiting loaded, hidden guns in classrooms and terminals.

SB 978 stops the pipeline of unsecured guns to criminals by requiring gun owners to secure their firearms when not in use.

SB 978-5 is an omnibus bill that will regulate undetectable, untraceable, and downloadable guns (often referred to as "ghost guns"); hold strictly liable gun owners who do not secure firearms; require reporting of lost or stolen guns to crack down on gun traffickers; and allow cities, counties, school districts, airports, and other public buildings to not permit concealed handgun license holders to carry firearms into those buildings or areas.

Update

Traded away by Governor Kate Brown to appease Senate Republicans. April 17, 2019: Senate President Peter Courtney sent this bill to Senate Rules Committee April 8, 2019: The Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB 978-5 out of committee.

Oregon legislators have introduced a powerful bill, SB 978-5, that addresses serious issues of gun violence.

SB 978, an omnibus gun violence prevention bill, was successfully voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee but has been sent to the Senate Rules Committee rather than to the Senate floor for a vote.

To move SB 978 to the Senate floor for a vote, please contact the Democratic Senators on the House Rules Committee and tell them to vote YES on SB 978:

Senator Arnie Roblan: 503-986-1705 or send an email

Senator Ginny Burdick: 503-986-1700 or send an email

Senator Michael Dembrow: 503-986-1723 or send an email

Here are the FACTS about SB 978:

  • SB 978 stops the pipeline of stolen guns to criminals by requiring gun owners to secure their firearms when not in use.
  • SB 978 gives public schools and major airports the right to make security decisions about prohibiting loaded, hidden guns in classrooms or airport terminals.
  • SB 978 continues Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s work to prevent hate groups and terrorists from printing guns that are undetectable and untraceable.
  • Provides sheriffs much needed funds by increasing fees for concealed handgun licenses.
    • Harney County Sheriff Ward just resigned due to budget shortfall.
  • Allows gun dealers to set policy to sell guns only to people at least 21 years of age.
    • The Parkland Florida shooter was 19 when he bought his gun to massacre 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.
    • The teen who bought a gun this month and threatened a mass shooting on the 20th anniversary of Columbine High School massacre was just 18.
  • Requires gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms. 
    • Reporting lost or stolen guns stops gun traffickers from hiding behind the excuse of a “lost or stolen” gun when a crime gun is traced back to the trafficker.

Let’s set the record straight on SB 978:

  • Yes, safe firearm storage laws are constitutional. In 2015, the US Supreme Court upheld a law requiring gun owners to safely store their guns. That ruling still stands. [S.F. Police Code § 4512(a), (c)(2)]
  • Yes, concealed carry license holders still can responsibly carry their guns in the parking lots of public schools and airports.
    • “Excludes parking lots or drop off areas of airports, schools, and other public buildings from area subject to public ordinances restricting ability to carry a concealed weapon.” Staff Summary
  • Yes, school districts, colleges, and universities are responsible for the students, personnel, and public in buildings they own or control. School districts, colleges, and universities, therefore, should be allowed to set policy regarding those buildings.
  • Yes, SB 978 “provides exceptions for transfers to a minor for unsupervised hunting-related activities by youth with appropriate licensure and permission from a parent or guardian.”
  • Yes, antique firearms are clearly and specifically excluded from serial number requirements, from minimum age of purchase, and for unfinished frames or receivers designed or intended for antique guns. (See sections 1, 14, 17, and 18 of the bill.)
  • Pepper spray and mace are not considered firearms.

Ceasefire Oregon provides you with the facts and sets the record straight.

Parts of the bill include:
-gun sellers have the right to not sell guns to people under 21;
-requiring safe storage of firearms to reduce gun crime;SB 978 Calls for safe gun storage
-reporting lost and stolen firearms to crack down on gun traffickers;
-banning firearms that are undetectable, untraceable, or downloaded;
-requires reporting firearm injury data to Oregon Health Authority for research into firearm injury prevention;
-increase concealed handgun license fees;
-provides local authority to regulates guns in public buildings (public schools can now ban concealed handguns in schools)

Senate Judiciary Committee Votes on April 8:

Senator Bentz: Nay
Senator Fagan: Aye
Senator Gelser: Aye
Senator Linthicum: Nay
Senator Manning Jr: Aye
Senator Prozanski: Aye
Senator Thatcher: Nay