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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2017)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2017 Governor renews push for more gun control Brown wants lawmakers to act next year By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE Capital Bureau SALEM — Gov. Kate Brown has renewed a push to tighten state laws restricting gun ownership . Days after a deadly shoot- ing in Las Vegas that took 58 lives and injured hundreds, Brown on Friday called on Oregon lawmakers to “put pol- itics aside” and pass two pro- posals that failed in this year’s legislative session. But it’s not apparent what will change lawmakers’ minds in the upcoming 35-day legis- lative session, which is due to begin in February . One proposal would pre- vent a person from purchasing a fi rearm until Oregon State Police verify they are eligible to do so. As it stands, people in Oregon can still purchase a gun without a background check if OSP doesn’t verify them in 72 hours. This is often called the “Charleston loop- hole,” after the shooter in the Charleston church killings was able to purchase his gun in this manner. Another proposal would expand the types of relation- ships that qualify for gun dis- possession after a domestic violence conviction, which would close what is often called the “boyfriend” or “dat- ing partner” loophole. The governor’s proposal would also prohibit people convicted of misdemeanor stalking from buying fi rearms. “I look forward to work- ing with the Legislature to fi n- ish what we started last ses- sion and close the Charleston and boyfriend loopholes for good,” Brown said in a writ- ten statement . “These poli- cies will keep guns out of the wrong hands and help keep our promise to families across the state to keep our communi- ties safe.” Brown, a Democrat, is run- ning for reelection in 2018. State House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson, D-Portland, indicated her sup- port for the governor’s propos- als Friday. “For the safety of every Oregonian, it is vital that we ensure guns do not end up in the hands of individuals who would do harm to themselves or others,” Williamson said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Gov. Brown in the coming months to close Pamplin Media Group Gov. Kate Brown on Friday renewed calls for the Leg- islature to pass gun control measures . the Charleston and boyfriend loopholes.” A spokesman for William- son said she was unavailable to comment Friday on the via- bility of the legislation in the upcoming short session, or why it failed this year . A spokesman for Sen- ate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, did not respond to requests seeking comment about why the legislation did not pass this year . State Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, a leading advocate for gun control, was unavail- able for comment Friday after- noon, a spokesman said. Burdick told Oregon Pub- lic Broadcasting on Friday that “we should be aiming for bills that have broad bipartisan support,” but that she would vote for the proposals if they reached the Senate fl oor. Penny Okamoto, execu- tive director of Ceasefi re Ore- gon, a group that advocates for stricter standards for gun own- ership and gun safety, said it wasn’t clear to her why the legislation did not pass this year . “I could not tell you why a Democratic governor’s pri- ority could not get through a Democratic House and a Dem- ocratic Senate,” Okamoto said Friday. Democrats hold the majority in both chambers. In this year’s session, which concluded in July, law- makers passed a bill that cre- ated a process for temporar- ily taking fi rearms away from people who were at risk of committing suicide. Despite passing both chambers, it was not without objection. Two Republican lawmak- ers sought to refer the leg- islation to the ballot, but announced Thursday they had not gathered suffi cient signa- tures in time for the deadline. Brown’s main challenger, s tate Rep. Knute Buehler, R-Bend, was quoted in The Bulletin last week saying that “deranged madmen won’t be deterred by another new law no matter how well-intended.” The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Tensions ramped up in Gearhart over vacation rental vote ton and Trump election there were all kinds of signs taken. Do you know how I handle it? I tell them, ‘Sorry, you got your political signs stolen, just go get another sign and put it up.’” Accusations of sign stealing By R.J. MARX The Daily Astorian GEARHART — When she went to bed at midnight, Betty Smith said a campaign sign on her lawn opposing the repeal of a vacation rental ordinance was in place. By Saturday morning, it was gone, along with about 15 other signs from homes on Cottage and Marion avenues. The signs advocated a “no” vote to Measure 4-188, which asks for a repeal and replace- ment of Gearhart’s short-term rental ordinance. The missing signs were fi rst reported Saturday after- noon, Police Chief Jeff Bow- man said. “It’s theft of property, no matter how you want to slice it,” said Smith, a former adver- tising director for The Daily Astorian, who lives on Cottage Avenue . “This was on our pri- vate property. … These signs cost money.” She said the thefts took place “probably between mid- night and 6 a.m.” “It’s not the fi rst time,” Smith said. “When you lose 10 in one night, there’s clearly something going on.” “We had the owner’s per- mission for every location,” Cottage Avenue resident Jeanne Mark said . “We were painstaking about that.” Along with seeking return of the signs, Mark, Smith and others said they also plan to fi le reports with Gearhart Police. “These signs cost money and theft is a serious charge,” Mayor Matt Brown said . Sign stealing is a familiar accusation in political cam- paigns — from the presiden- tial election down to the City Council — and culprits are rarely caught. Bowman said residents may not have much recourse. The city does not take crime reports the short-term rental regula- tion debate may incite anger or retribution. “I walked down the Ridge Path and saw signs that said ‘Save Gearhart, vote no,’” res- ident Shannon Smith said at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. “There are business folks in town who have spoken up in favor of this and they have been retaliated against — the big ‘R’ word — or they’ve been called names like ‘selfi sh and greedy,’” she said. “I don’t think anyone who wants their rights is selfi sh. We have to fi nd a way to talk about it and make our community come together again.” Retribution feared Submitted P hoto Campaign signs vanished from homes along Cottage and Marion avenues in Gearhart this weekend. on stolen or vandalized cam- paign signs. “That’s just the way it is throughout the county,” Bow- man said. “During the Clin- While Gearhart has been dotted with signs opposed to the ballot measure, signs in support are absent. “We’re not putting up signs,” measure advocate David Townsend said last week. Some proponents of the m easure fear the heightened political tensions surrounding W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 ASTOR STREET OPRY COMPANY presents THE BIRDS with special permission from Dramatist Play Service DIRECTED BY SHEILA SHAFFER WRITTEN BY Conor McPherson n issio m d A eral Gen $25 d s an r o i Sen ry ilita M ive Act $20 Show star ts at 7 p.m . 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