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SALEM Gun background-check bill clears Oregon House, heads to Senate Comment By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press Posted Feb. 22, 2016 at 1:41 PM Updated Feb 22, 2016 at 5:35 PM By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press Posted Feb. 22, 2016 at 1:41 PM Updated Feb 22, 2016 at 5:35 PM » Social News SALEM — A contentious proposal to extend the waiting period on gun purchases from three to 10 days to allow more time for background checks to clear has passed its first major hurdle in the Oregon Legislature. The controversy playing out in Oregon over House Bill 4147, which now heads to the Senate after passing the House on Monday, speaks to the broader debate about gun control among policymakers in the wake of numerous mass shootings across the nation in recent years. Initially, Oregon lawmakers sought to use HB 4147 as a vehicle for closing the so-called "Charleston loophole." The phrase refers to a man accused of shooting people in a South Carolina church in 2015 who was able to purchase a weapon after the three-day waiting period while his background check was pending. The vast majority of background checks are completed right away, allowing many gun purchases to clear on the same day. Under current Oregon law, in those more rare instances where background checks take longer than three days, it's up to the sellers' discretion to sell the gun. Oregon lawmakers aimed to close that loophole by requiring background checks to clear before guns can be purchased, regardless of the length of time. But after weeks of heated debate and testimony from gun rights advocates, HB 4147 was scaled back to simply extend the waiting period to 10 business days, following similar wait times in Hawaii, California and Washington, D.C. "It doesn't close the loophole, but it makes it tight enough to catch a few more people who might exploit it ... It changes little for lawful purchasers, but it makes it a little harder for an unlawful purchaser to obtain a weapon," Rep. Lew Frederick, a Democrat from Portland, said before casting his 'yes' vote Monday. "Our thoughts and prayers are cold comfort when innocent lives are taken by someone with no business having access to a weapon. Our communities need help preventing the next tragedy." The House was supposed to cast that vote Friday — when former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head in a 2011 shooting in Tucson, Arizona, visited Portland to launch an anti-gun violence coalition. However, the vote was delayed amid concerns the bill didn't have support from Democrats, who control the chamber. When the decision came down Monday, HB 4147 squeaked by on a 31-28 vote, a narrow approval for the majority party after three Democrats sided with the Republican minority in opposing the bill. "Everyone wants to stop violence," said Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, a Republican from Scio and a former sheriff's deputy. "Sometimes in the process and gut-wrenching drive to solve a terrible, terrible things, we want to bring another law ... just because we pass a law doesn't mean we're going to get the desired result." The bill now heads to the Senate, where the lively debate will likely continue. By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press Posted Feb. 22, 2016 at 1:41 PM Updated Feb 22, 2016 at 5:35 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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