Following Tireless Advocacy by Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers and Despite Six Weeks of Gun-Lobby Backed Senators Walking Out on the Job, Oregon Senate Passes Gun Safety Measures 

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statement today after Senate lawmakers passed an amended version of HB 2005. The current version of the bill tackles gun violence in Oregon by prohibiting untraceable ghost guns. The Senate also passed a budget that will provide $10 million for community intervention programs to prevent gun violence. The measure was passed in the House in April and now returns to the chamber for final passage before heading to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s desk. 

“This is a crucial step in tackling gun violence in our state,” said Hilary Uhlig, a volunteer with the Oregon Chapter of Moms Demand Action. “After weeks of Republican lawmakers walking out it is good to see the Senate finally back to work on behalf of Oregon families. We thank our gun sense champions in the Senate for their leadership and passing this important measure, and remind Oregon voters that Republicans held this chamber hostage to gut this and other important measures. We look forward to continuing to partner with our gun sense champions in both chambers to make Oregon a leader in the fight against gun violence.”

Today’s vote puts an official end to a Republican-led walk-out that prevented the Senate from reaching a two-thirds quorum needed to pass legislation. During the walk-out, legislators blocked the passage of measures related to abortion, gender-affirming care, and HB 2005 which as originally drafted sought to increase the purchasing age to 21 for semi-automatic rifles.

In an average year, 587 people die by guns in Oregon. With a rate of 13.0 deaths per 100,000 people, the state has the 34th-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. Each year, gun violence costs Oregon $8.1 billion, of which $89.1 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in Oregon is available here. To speak to a local volunteer with Moms Demand Action, a volunteer with Students Demand Action, or a policy expert, please reach out to [email protected].