Important Town Hall for Second Amendment Supporters
Finally, on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2015, it became official. The Coos County Clerk gave authorization to circulate the Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance petition to place the initiative on the ballot.
The announcement was the perfect follow-up to the meeting held in Bandon on March 14, 2015 by The Committee to Preserve the Second Amendment. Over 40 people showed up to support the initiative and learn the finer points of gathering signatures. The meeting ended with a unanimous vote to start the process of recall for both commissioners Cribbins and Sweet. Since recall cannot occur until they have served six months in office, the group will reconvene near the end of June to ascertain the amount of public support there is in the community to undertake this type of political endeavor.
On March 21, the owners of Empire Firearms graciously sponsored a Second Amendment Saturday to launch the petition. Over 200 people showed up to sign their name and lend their support. Many of them left with copies of the petition vowing to fill every space. The group needs the signatures of 1436 active registered voters to make the ballot. Commissioner Bob Main was one of the first signers, because he understands, that if enacted, the ordinance demands the legal protections to the right of the people to bear arms. He was one of the first to arrive to the event and one of the last to leave, which went well beyond the call of duty.
The reason for going through with an initiative is the inevitable threat of Oregon legislators passing a bill that would expand background checks to cover all gun transfers, which would lead to universal gun registration.
State Rep Caddy McKeown and Senator Arnie Roblan are having a Town Hall in Coos Bay this Saturday, March 28, 2015 at the Coos Historical & Maritime Museum on Hwy 101. The best way to prevent a bad gun law is to convince congressional representatives not to vote for it. The event starts at 3:30 pm. The Committee to Preserve the Second Amendment is encouraging supporters to show up early to help gather signatures and sign up to participate in the public comment section of the meeting.
The petition has a shelf life of two years and elapses by March 17, 2017, but the committee has set June 1, 2015 as the return date for all completed signature sheets. The return address of the Chief Petitioner is on the back of the petition. Anyone who is currently a registered voter in Coos County can go to Empire Firearms on Newmark Ave in Empire, Industrial Resources on Rosa Road in Bandon, or The Sentinel on First Street in Coquille to sign a copy of the Second Amendment Preservation petition. Those who cannot make it to any of these locations, but have access to a computer, can download an individual electronic signature sheet from the internet at www.CoosCountyWatchdog.com. Print it, sign it, and send it in. Then be sure to sign up for the E-newsletter for the latest information.
Sincerely, Rob Taylor