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18 Wednesday, March 3, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon The Nugget Newspaper Crossword Bill allowing gun ban in public buildings advances By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service By Andrew Selsky Associated Press SALEM (AP) 4 Democrats in an Oregon Senate committee on Thursday, February 25, unanimously approved a bill that would allow jurisdic- tions to decide whether peo- ple with concealed handgun license can bring guns into a public building. Over the opposition of Republicans and numerous gun owners, the Judiciary Committee recommended the bill be passed by the full Senate with amendments. If it passes there, it would then go to the House. Under current Oregon law, a person with a con- cealed handgun license can possesses a firearm or other weapon while in a public building. The bill authorizes any city, county, commercial airport, school district, col- lege or university to limit or preclude a concealed hand- gun licensee from possessing firearms in public buildings. The issue is even more important in the aftermath of the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, said Sen. Ginny Burdick, a Portland Democrat. In a virtual public hearing Monday on the bill, she cited a U.S. Department of Homeland Security bul- letin on January 27 that warned extremists may be emboldened by the breach of the U.S. Capitol to target elected officials and govern- ment facilities. <More than 300,000 Oregonians have concealed handgun licenses. Right now, all of these people have access to public buildings. As a person who works in the Capitol and has watched the armed protests at our Capitol and around the country, the protections offered by Senate Bill 554 cannot come soon enough,= Burdick said. Sen. Fred Girod, the Senate Republican leader, testified that he9d feel defenseless without a gun. He and his wife both have concealed handgun permits, he said. <This building, I hate to tell you, is not safe,= Girod said, testifying by video from his Capitol office. <I9ll be darned if I9m going to be a sitting duck for someone that comes in here and wants to start shooting. That9s just not right.= Sen. Kim Thatcher, a Republican and vice chair of the committee, said 2,000 pieces of written testimony have come in. It underscores the passion people feel in support of, and opposition to, gun control. Many residents objected to the measure. <Airports and schools will become an even more attrac- tive target for criminals who don9t have to worry about a law-abiding citizen conceal- ing the means to fight back,= wrote Anthony Fields of Milwaukie. Proponents noted that jurisdictions would be able to decide how to proceed. For now, the law gives them no say in the matter. <School districts are pow- erless to keep parents from bringing guns to parent- teacher conferences or to sporting events; city councils and county commissions can- not keep audience members from bringing firearms to contentious debate,= Burdick said. <In the Oregon Capitol we cannot keep angry pro- testers from bringing loaded AR-15s into the building. And yes, that has actually happened.= — Last Week’s Puzzle Solved — This Week’s Crossword Sponsors Greg Wieland L.Ac. Practicing since 1989 352 E. Hood Ave., Ste. E FIRE DISTRICT: Staff and volunteers working to support vaccine effort Continued from page 4 the Fire District added five additional phone lines to the three currently used. Even with eight available phone lines, and a cadre of volun- teers staffing the lines, many people were unable to sched- ule an appointment. <We had about 65 voice- mails on the COVID line by the time the appointment slots had been filled,= said Bialous. <The overwhelm- ing response when some- one made it through and got scheduled was sincere gratitude and excitement to get their vaccine,= said Spor. <It is very important for the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District to be a part- ner in providing healthcare to Sisters Country resi- dents,= said Roger Johnson, fire chief for the District. <We are happy to assist Deschutes County Public Health in their efforts to provide COVID-19 vaccina- tions to our most vulnerable citizens.= More information will be shared about future vaccine clinics when it is available. For information on the safety, and other frequently asked questions about the vaccine, visit www.covid vaccine.oregon.gov. Sisters Acupuncture Center CCB#220624 D ESIGNERS & B UILDERS of D ISTINCTION 541-549-1523 Residential Remodels New Construction Water & Fire Damage Repairs Commercial Tenant Improvements Handyman Services www.laredoconstruction.com • 541-549-1575