SB 975 : Unnecessary Firearm Background Check Exemption

Position: Oppose Status: Senate Judiciary Committee

Exempts a transferee who is a certified participant in the Address Confidentiality Program, or who has a driver license with a continuous traveler address, from the private firearm transfer criminal background check requirement.

Update

February 21, 2025

2-4 (S) Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk. 2-4 (S) Referred to Judiciary. Chief Sponsor: Senator Thatcher

Oregon OLIS information on SB 975 is here.

This bill is unnecessary and can set a bad precedent. According to the Address Confidentiality Program website, a substitute address is used to protect domestic violence victims. SB 975 stipulates an exemption from background checks which isn’t needed if a substitute address can be used. One may assume that Senator Thatcher wishes to protect domestic violence victims. A solution is to add the background check system to the Address Confidentiality Program list. This bill could set a precedent for exempting people from other forms of background checks including checking history of driving records for those who wish to obtain a drivers license. Senator Thatcher has attempted to pass similar bills in 2017 (SB 546, SB 854, and HB 2974), 2021 (SB 502, 2023 SB 739) all of which failed because the bill is unnecessary.