A small step
I was just thinking the other day that I'd like to see our wise Democratic Party rulers in Salem start getting serious about gun control in this state. There are way too many guns, and a lot of them are in the wrong hands. The Portland streets are shooting galleries.
Yesterday I got an alert from a gun control advocacy group asking me to support a bill currently before the Legislature. It's HB 2543, which you can see here.
As I read it, it's pretty simple. Under current law, a gun dealer can release a gun to a buyer if the state police background check has not been completed by the end of the next business day after the dealer asks for it. The bill would require the dealer to wait until the background check is done, no matter how long it takes.
I support that change in the law. So what did I do?
I went to the House Judiciary Committee "testimony portal," which is here. I selected the February 18 hearing, and HB 2543, and left my message of support for the bill on that site, keeping in mind that my name, city, and message will appear as part of the public record of the hearing. (But they say my email address will not be publicized.)
If you want to join me, the deadline is tomorrow at 1:00. I'm sure there will be plenty of opposition to the bill, so don't think it's a slam dunk.
I get bad cognitive dissonance every time I consider that we require a license, (including a skills test, however superficial it may be), registration and insurance for vehicle owners and operators, but not for gun owners and users.
ReplyDeleteAnd insurance. Most important part. Anyone who imports, makes, sells, or buys a firearm should be required to post a financial responsibility bond or buy insurance to possess the weapon. Let the actuaries assess the risk and impose the premiums so that the people with the guns help pay for the costs rather than everyone in the state.
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