In 2022, Oregon voters passed citizens initiative Measure 114 which establishes in State law a permit to purchase firearms system and bans future sales of high capacity magazines over 10 rounds. The new law was blocked by a Harney County judge ruling it violates the Oregon Constitution. The Oregon Attorney General has now filed an appeal of that decision with the Oregon Court of Appeals. The State argues that the law meets the test of the Oregon Constitution because it establishes reasonable measures to help prevent gun violence and protect public safety but does not prevent gun ownership for the purpose of self defense. GOFRO has joined a number of gun violence prevention organizations in support of the State’s brief.
GOFRO Submits Comments To ATF Supporting Proposed Rule - Definitions of who is considered a firearms dealer and must conduct background checks
We at Gun Owners for Responsible Ownership (GOFRO) are gun owners, outdoor enthusiasts, and veterans who believe that responsible ownership and sensible gun laws can save lives. We support practical, common-sense solutions to reduce gun violence. We write today in support of ATF 2022R–17, the rule recently proposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) that would clarify who is considered a licensed firearms dealer and must conduct background checks.
Effective background checks are fundamental to all our efforts to reduce gun violence in our communities by keeping firearms out of the hands of those who would harm themselves or the public. Here in Oregon, where we are based, we have recognized this need and require background checks on all sales including private sales to non-family members. This ensures that as a buyer we know the firearm was legally obtained and as a seller we know that we are not selling to a dangerous person.
However, under current federal law, no background check is required for firearm sales at gun shows, through online markets, or when a gun is sold by an unlicensed individual. This has created a loophole for criminals and dangerous persons to buy a firearm in an adjacent state and bring it into our local communities.
Fortunately, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) provided an opportunity for the ATF to issue a rule that would help to clarify the law, narrow the background check loophole, and more broadly protect public safety.
The proposed rule states that a gun seller must obtain a federal license if they meet certain conditions that constitute dealing in firearms—such as repeatedly selling firearms within a 30-day period or repeatedly reselling firearms in their original packaging—as well as criteria for determining whether a person intends to “predominantly earn a profit.”
ATF’s regulation provides clear guidance on how the BSCA changed the definition of who is “engaged in the business” of selling firearms in a practical way that can be implemented. The proposed rule offers clarity to buyers and sellers and ensures that the intentions of Congress are being implemented in daily practice.
We at GOFRO believe that with rights come responsibilities. As responsible gun owners, we fully support background checks. A background check is not an infringement on the Second Amendment. Common-sense gun safety laws will help keep our communities safe while not restricting the rights of gun owners and dealers.
We strongly support ATF 2022R–17 and urge its timely adoption.
Sincerely,
Gun Owners for Responsible Ownership
Clackamas Town Center shootings 10 years ago today
GOFRO PRESIDENT PAUL KEMP SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON THE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE SHOOTINGS AT THE CLACKAMAS TOWN CENTER THAT LED TO THE DEATHS OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
By Letters to the editor | The Oregonian
In 2012, I received a call that has become far too common in our country – an active shooter had fatally shot a loved one. It was a time of hopelessness and despair.
But in the decade since the Clackamas Town Center shooting that injured multiple people and killed two – Cindy Yuille and my brother-in-law Steve Forsyth – we have made terrific progress in the fight against gun violence. However, as we recently saw in Colorado, Texas and every day around our nation, tremendous work still needs to be done.
Just this year, Oregon has taken vital steps to prevent another tragedy. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, called for investing millions more for violence intervention programs. State lawmakers passed legislation funding violence intervention programs and directed the state to seek federal approval for Medicaid to cover some intervention services. And voters sent a message with their approval of Measure 114, requiring a permit for all gun purchases and prohibiting sales of high-capacity magazines.
Oregon has been leading the fight against gun violence by expanding background checks and passing secure storage laws. However, there’s more to do. Our lawmakers need to pass measures that regulate ghost guns to ensure that firearms cannot be sold without serial numbers and a background check. We should be using our common-sense majority to prevent incidents like the ones that took two precious lives in Clackamas.
As I look at the younger members of my family, I see kids afraid to go back to school, a generation scared by active shooter drills and grief for a family member tragically taken away. A decade after losing Steven, I hope we don’t sit around until the next tragedy strikes before acting; instead, let’s act proactively to ensure the safety of Oregonians in every corner of our great state.
Paul Kemp, Happy Valley
Buffalo and Uvalde - GOFRO Calls for Common Sense Actions to Reduce Gun Violence
GUN OWNERS FOR RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP CALL FOR COMMON-SENSE ACTIONS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2022
Contact: Info@responsibleownership.org
We once again mourn the senseless loss of innocent lives from gun violence - this time in Buffalo and Uvalde.
We call for action.
We can break this vicious cycle.
We are gun owners who believe with rights come responsibilities.
We believe that gun owners can help lead the way to promote sensible laws and regulations
to reduce gun violence.
We believe in and support the following specific measures at the federal and state levels to help reduce gun violence:
1. Require background checks on all firearm sales including gun shows and private sales.
2. Increase the age requirement to 21 for all long gun sales to match existing
requirements for handgun sales.
3. Strictly regulate military-style weapons and high-capacity magazines under the National
Firearms Act (NFA) as machine guns are currently regulated.
4. Require safe and secure storage of firearms when not in use to help prevent child access
and reduce suicides.
5. Adopt, educate and enforce red flag laws/extreme risk protection orders to give family
members and law enforcement the tools to obtain a court order to remove firearms
when a family member is in crisis.
6. Remove immunity from liability for gun manufacturers.
7. Create and fund local community-based violence prevention programs.
8. Fund research into the causes and ways to reduce gun violence.
“We can only break this vicious cycle of gun violence if responsible gun owners step forward and help demand change” said GOFRO President and co-founder Paul Kemp. “If we don’t, we leave the field to the extremists and unscrupulous manufacturers who will only increase their marketing of weapons of war to troubled youth.”
“The actions we have listed here are supported by the vast majority of the American public including many gun owners.” said Tom O’Connor, GOFRO co-founder. “It won’t be easy to get Congress to act, but as parents and grandparents, how can we look at the pictures of those innocent children and not keep trying.”
Gun Owners for Responsible Ownership (GOFRO) was born in the aftermath of another mass shooting in December 2012 at the Clackamas Town Center in suburban Portland, Oregon. Two people were killed and a third wounded. Shoppers and employees fled in terror. All were strangers to the shooter, but to us they were family, friends, and neighbors.
Justice Department announces new rule to help ensure safe and secure storage devices are made available to firearm purchasers
“The Department of Justice has announced a new rule to help enable the safe and secure storage of firearms and published a Best Practices Guide for federal firearms licensees (FFLs). This new rule implements the existing Gun Control Act requirement that federal firearms licensees that sell firearms to the general public (non-licensees) must certify that they have available secure gun storage or safety devices. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Best Practices Guide for FFLs is an important resource and reference about federal laws and regulations.”
The new rule will take effect February 3. Since firearms and storage devices vary, the rule clarifies that FFLs must have secure storage devices available to customers that are compatible with the firearms they are selling.
ABC News Interview: Gun Owners offer ways to end gun violence
GOFRO’s Paul Kemp and Shannon Flores from Giffords Gun Owners for Safety are interviewed by ABC News about potential solutions to increasing gun violence in America.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/firearm-owners-solve-gun-violence-america/story?id=80172154
Oxford, Michigan shooting brings personal memories and a renewed call to act to end gun violence
In about every school shooting, follow up investigations uncover warning signs, red flags, or statements made by the shooter that no one took seriously or were not brought to the attention of adults who could have intervened. My brother-in-law was killed by a gunman who knew his friend didn't lock up his guns, all those guns were left loaded too. The mall shooter planned the shooting too, as he bought 120 rounds of ammunition and 4 more 30 round magazines in the days preceding the shooting. The mall shooter used the unsecured Stag-15 to kill Steve and Cindy and wound a teenager. It has taken 9 years, but Oregon finally passed a safe storage firearm law. There are many states with safe storage gun laws.
These safe storage firearm laws are not perfect, but at least there are consequences for reckless and irresponsible firearm handling and storage when others are injured and killed. We hold drunk drivers responsible for their actions, restaurants and servers can be held responsible for over serving someone who then kills or injures others while driving impaired. Parents can be held liable for providing alcohol to their underage children who then drive impaired resulting in injury or death of others.
The culture of gun ownership has changed dramatically over the last several decades. Letting the firearm industry, the gun lobby and gun rights extremists control the expectations of the incredible responsibility of gun ownership has gotten us to this level of gun violence in the country. Can we all agree this approach doesn't work! How many more must die and be injured every day in this country before we act? It's not as though we can't solve the problem. There is no overnight fix, nor is there one gun safety law to enact to reduce gun violence. It will take a holistic approach like we've done to reduce drunk driving deaths, smoking deaths, etc.
Our family has compassion and understanding for the families of Tate Myre, Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St Juliana, and Justin Shilling as those families of the injured. We’ve been down the same path as those four families. Every shooting since Steve and Cindy were killed brings back the trauma that our family experienced.
The auto industry, distillers, brewers, restaurant associations, law enforcement, highway designers and traffic control engineers have been stepped up to be part of the reduction in impaired driving deaths and injuries. Common laws for driving impaired were crafted across states too.
I quickly discovered after Steve’s death that Oregon had no safe storage gun law. Fortunately, that has changed, but it took 9 years. We still have hap hazard gun laws across our states despite the increasing numbers of gun violence deaths and injuries.
I grew up in Michigan, in fact the high school I went too was in the same league as Oxford High School. When I was in school back there, we practiced fire drills, tornado drills and duck and cover drills, not active shooter drills nor lock down drills. I doubt there are many areas of the country where students and teachers don't practice lockdown and active shooter drills. Why do we accept this as part of our children's lives? My daughter is a teacher who has practiced lock down and active shooter drills. My son had to practice lockdown drills in high school. We only live a few miles from the mall where Steve and Cindy were killed on 12/11/2012.
If you think you and your family are immune from gun violence, you are mistaken! You and I can’t write the laws we live by, but we can elect law makers who will enact gun safety laws and raise the bar to sell and own guns. Why do we accept these shootings as a normal part of American life? When will we demand change? When will we elect enough law makers with the backbone to address gun violence head on?
There are many gun violence prevention organizations across the country, join one in your area. Please take action if you are no longer willing to live with this level of gun violence. Gun violence anywhere impacts us all!
PS I am glad to hear the Oxford High School shooters parents are being held accountable for their reckless actions, it's about time!
Paul Kemp
GOFRO Co-founder
GOFRO Press Release: Oregon Governor signs secure storage legislation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2021
CONTACT: info@responsibleownership.org
Gun Owners for Responsible Ownership (GOFRO) hailed Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s signing of legislation today to require secure firearm storage.
Governor Brown hosted a virtual signing ceremony along with key legislative sponsors and advocates supporting the bill: “Today, I am signing SB 554 with the hope that we can take another step forward to help spare more Oregon families from the grief of losing a loved one to gun violence.”
SB 554 establishes the responsibility of gun owners to safely store a gun when it is not under their control and report when a firearm is stolen or lost. It establishes civil fines and liability caused by failure to observe the law.
GOFRO founding members Paul Kemp, Jenna Yuille Longenecker and Tom O’Connor joined the signing ceremony along with Carla Forsyth. SB 554 is named in honor of Cindy Yuille, Jenna’s mother, and Steve Forsyth, Carla’s husband and Paul’s brother-in-law who were murdered with an unsecured firearm at the Clackamas Town Center eight years ago.
With the signing of SB 554 into law, Oregon joins eleven other states and the District of Columbia with a safe firearm storage law. SB 554 requirements will help keep children from accessing a loaded, unlocked firearm. Studies have shown that states with safe storage firearm laws have seen reductions in in youth suicides and youth firearm injuries.
SB 554 also prohibits firearms in the Oregon Capitol and the Portland International Airport and authorizes local elected school boards and public universities and community colleges to decide whether to prohibit firearms in their public buildings.