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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Quilt project's vision: An America with fewer gun deaths ... Turning on the TAP: New Ashland coffee shop opens Monday ... Film festival seeks volunteers ... Quilt project's vision: An America with fewer gun deaths ... Turning on the TAP: New Ashland coffee shop opens Monday ... Film festival seeks volunteers ... OTHER VIEWS Other Views: No need for guns Comment By The (Bend) Bulletin DailyTidings.com By The (Bend) Bulletin Posted Jan. 4, 2016 at 12:01 AM By The (Bend) Bulletin Posted Jan. 4, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Oregon's liquor inspectors can have badges, batons, body armor, handcuffs and pepper spray. They also want guns. They want to form a union to give themselves a better platform to argue for guns. But a state administrative judge has ruled against a group called the Oregon Liquor Control Commission Peace Officers Association from forming its own union. Whether they have their own union or not, they need to prove they need guns. The OLCC doesn't see the need. We don't doubt inspectors can get involved in hostile situations and feel unsafe. The few examples they have offered don't warrant arming them. One inspector told the Portland Mercury he had a beer dumped on him. Another arrested a drunk who was carrying a concealed weapon. The group also argued because its members function like police, members should be subject to the same anti-strike provisions as police. Why would a group give up the right to strike? Public employers are basically compelled to keep raising salaries and benefits for employees who can't strike. That's to get employees across the state with below average salaries and benefits closer to the average. That just keeps moving the average up — regardless of what's going on in the economy. There is no doubt that Oregon's liquor inspectors play an important role in enforcing liquor laws. But they aren't so vital to society that they should never be allowed to go on strike. And they have failed to prove the OLCC needs to arm them. By The (Bend) Bulletin DailyTidings.com By The (Bend) Bulletin Posted Jan. 4, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501