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0 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 Ticket availability ... As It Was: 'Infidel Hall' in Talent hosted 'Mental Library' ... Applications for marijuana dispensaries increase ... Ticket availability ... As It Was: 'Infidel Hall' in Talent hosted 'Mental Library' ... Applications for marijuana dispensaries increase ... LOCAL TAKE Should background checks apply to private gun sales? Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 5:11 PM Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 5:12 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 5:11 PM Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 5:12 PM » RELATED CONTENT What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter . • Do you go to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival shows? » Social News It’s unlikely the Founding Fathers could even faintly forsee how their Second Amendment, assuring an armed citizen militia, could be construed to mean unlimited automatic assault weapons hurling several thousand rounds a minute and available for purchase by just about anyone. But that’s the situation in the United States now, where spree shootings burst bloodily into the news seemingly every few days and family members nervously bite nails as they call kin living near such mayhem. Few contest the right to own guns for hunting, self-protection and use in the event of overcoming tyranny, but most want to keep guns out of the wrong hands.  After the unconscionable murders of 20 children and six school staff by a deranged gunman at Sandy Hook, in Connecticut, the nation expected some major changes, but proposals opposed by the powerful National Rifle Association and others failed to gain sufficient legislative support and no new restrictions on access to firearms came out of it. In Oregon, the main battleground today is background checks for guns sold between private parties, as regulated in Senate Bill 941. It was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on the usual party-line vote, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed. The bill does permit sales or lending of guns between family members, which looks hard to enforce. Private sales would have to be overseen by a licensed gun dealer, who would run a background check.  Oregon law forbids firearms owned by a felon, a person with a mental health commitment, someone convicted of a domestic abuse misdemeanor and for several other reasons. Determining such things is proving difficult and expensive.  We asked Ashlanders, “Should background checks be required when one individual sells another a gun?” Sue Fretwell — Absolutely. We need controls, just as we do on drivers of cars. These are lethal weapons and cars aren’t but we license cars. It is a nuisance for people buying and selling and it’s paperwork and red tape but so are taxes and buying a house. So are lots of other things in a civilized society. I don’t think they will be very effective, but if they stop one person from murder, then it’s good. I was involved in the “open carry” debate before the city council. People were so divided on it. I am open-minded and know there are reasons to have guns, but you don’t need one in downtown Ashland ... I was afraid to show up at the meeting at the police station (where many had open carry). All it takes is one unbalanced person.  Art Buck — The legislature should pass it because it will help keep guns from people who should not have them, felons and mentally disturbed people. People have to stand up to the NRA. Most Americans approve of background checks and don’t feel this interferes with conservative views of the Second Amendment. They can still get guns. Background checks are pretty mild. You’re not taking away people’s bazookas. Just stopping people who shouldn’t have them. Dirk Price — That’s probably the opinion of every sane person (to pass the bill). You should not be able to buy a gun without a background check on your sanity. That’s a win-win for everyone. Not having background checks is a lose-lose for everyone. People who think they have to own a bunch of assault weapons, their children are as much at risk as anyone else’s children.  Sarah Breckinridge — It seems like common sense that people want to be safe in their community by looking at the type of person who is carrying a gun. As more innocent people get killed, the NRA is going to have to bend. Their position is so extreme, it’s not going to be sustainable.  Matt Sheehan — I’m firmly in favor of background checks. If someone is thinking about committing a crime or hurting another person with a gun, research shows that a delay decreases the incidence of those crimes. Anyone who wants a gun for a legitimate reason will have just a minor inconvenience and it may reveal the dangerous ones. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected].   By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 9, 2015 at 5:11 PM Updated Apr 9, 2015 at 5:12 PM » 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... 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