HB 4149 : The Myth of Guns in Public Bill

Position: Oppose Status: House Desk Awaiting First Reading

Provides that person or public body that establishes gun-free zone is liable for damages resulting from certain crimes committed in gun-free zone, if reasonable person would believe that possession of firearm could have helped individual defend against crime. A similar bill, HB 2173, failed in 2017.

Update

2-1 (H) First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk. Chief Sponsors: Representative Morgan, Senator Hansell, Thatcher, Representative Levy, Reschke, Scharf, Smith G, Senator Heard Regular Sponsors: Representative Boshart Davis, Cate, Goodwin, Smith DB, (Presession filed.)

The gun business is hoping to sell more guns by attempting to force private businesses into permitting guns on the premises. Ceasefire Oregon recommends an amendment to the bill allowing anyone harmed during a criminal act in a location where civilian guns are permitted to bring legal and civil action against the business for damages.

Economist John Lott’s erroneously claimed that 16.5% of CHL holders stop active shooters. According to GVPedia, Lott’s false claim about the FBI’s report, “A Study of Active Shooter Incidents in the United States Between 2000 and 2013,” stems from a fundamental mistake: the report studies active-shooting incidents while Lott discusses mass shootings and mass murders.

Lott claims that the FBI intentionally omits mass shooting incidents from earlier in the study period and includes too many incidents near the end of the study period to make mass shootings appear to have increased. However, Lott’s critique completely misses the entire point of the study: The FBI report examined active-shooting incidents, while Lott discusses mass shootings.
The FBI study’s authors wrote a rebuttal in Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Today (ACJS) stating “Lott’s essential argument is a straw man; he accuses us of saying something that we did not and then attempts to show this is wrong.”