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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Elk hunters look to expand on last year's improved season ... K-Falls man poisoned woman with Visine eyedrops ... Umpqua Hot Springs shut down by E. coli ... Elk hunters look to expand on last year's improved season ... K-Falls man poisoned woman with Visine eyedrops ... Umpqua Hot Springs shut down by E. coli ... OREGON LEGISLATURE Oregon House Committee takes up gun control proposal Comment By Sheila V. Kumar The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Sheila V. Kumar The Associated Press Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 7:14 PM By Sheila V. Kumar The Associated Press Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 7:14 PM » Social News SALEM — Oregon House legislators held a rare marathon public hearing Wednesday on a bill expanding background checks to encompass nearly all private gun transfers. The proposal that has sped through the Legislature in the wake of an election that helped Democrats up their majorities in both chambers. Gun control supporters have unsuccessfully pushed legislators for years to expand background checks to nearly all gun sales and transfers, but similar bills have narrowly failed twice before. Last year's election, partly funded by a gun-control group that poured money into key legislative races, helped Democrats gain two seats in the Senate, a key battleground. The House Committee on Rules heard several hours of testimony on a bill requiring all gun sales to take place in front of a licensed gun dealer, exempting exchanges between family members, including domestic partners. The dealer would, for a fee, have to conduct a background check before a gun transfer could be completed. Aside from expanding the background-check system, the proposal also allows courts to determine whether or not a person ordered into outpatient mental health treatment should have possession of a firearm during treatment. The bill has already made it through the Senate, where lawmakers passed it 17-13 on a mostly party-line vote. Democrat Sen. Betsy Johnson of Scappoose crossed party lines over to vote against it. The House committee is scheduled to vote on the measure today. Opponents argued the measures infringes on their 2nd Amendment rights while disproportionately burdening law-abiding citizens. Supporters say the legislation would make it harder for felons and others prohibited from having a gun to get their hands on one. Several sheriffs across the state, including from Clatsop, Grant and Jackson counties, have also come out in opposition to the measure, with some saying they won't enforce the measure if it passes. Among the bill's proponents were family members of victims killed during the Clackamas mall shooting in 2012 who said the bill closes a loophole that allows people to purchase firearms online without having to go through a background check. If it passes, The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence says Oregon would be the eighth state to require background checks on private gun sales and the fifth since the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. By Sheila V. Kumar The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Sheila V. Kumar The Associated Press Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 7:14 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... 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 MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked 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 2015 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. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501