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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 Firefighting near Crater Lake closes park's north entrance ... Barbershop-style singers help local schools ... Water plant upgrade to increase water bills ... Firefighting near Crater Lake closes park's north entrance ... Barbershop-style singers help local schools ... Water plant upgrade to increase water bills ... OUR VIEW Our View: Gun background check bill is worth passing Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Apr. 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Expanding Oregon law to require background checks on private gun sales won't stop all criminals from getting their hands on guns. But that doesn't mean it isn't worth doing. The Senate voted 17-13 on Tuesday to approve a measure requiring most private sellers to run a background check on purchasers before selling a gun. The measure includes exceptions to allow extended family members to exchange guns without a check. Violating the law would be a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony thereafter.  The measure is aimed at preventing those with violent criminal records and people with documented mental illness from obtaining firearms. Oregonians who don't fall into either category have no reason to fear this bill, because it won't prevent them from buying a gun if they wish to do so. Their Second Amendment rights would remain intact. Opponents — meaning all Republicans in the Senate plus Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose — argued the measure would inconvenience lawful gun owners for no reason, because criminals would simply disregard the law, or would steal guns rather than buying them. It's certainly true that requiring more background checks won't block all undesirable gun transfers. But if it blocks even a few, as it is likely to do, it could save lives, which makes it worth the trouble.  Senate Minority Leader Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, argued the measure is a thinly veiled attempt to create gun registration, because records of gun sales can be kept for five years by state police and 20 years by federally licensed gun dealers. But that ignores the fact that federal law already requires gun dealers to run background checks, and Oregon law requires checks at gun shows as well. Government officials haven't tried seizing anyone's lawfully held guns yet, and there's no reason to think this bill will change that. More troubling than any concerns about this bill is the statement from Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel that he will not enforce the law if it is enacted. He asserts the measure conflicts with the county charter, and he doesn't have the staff to enforce misdemeanors. It's understandable that Daniels might see it as a low priority given his department's severe budget problems, but it's not his job to pick and choose which laws he enforces.   MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 16, 2015 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 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