Lift Every Voice Oregon: Promoting policies prohibiting the Sale of Assault Weapons and Large-Capacity Magazines

Lift Every Voice Oregon (LEVO) is a coalition of faith-based communities: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and other people of good will. Our grassroots organization, run primarily by volunteers, is advocating for safer schools, houses of worship and communities. We now number in the thousands from all over the state in our shared commitment to challenge the status quo as we work towards this important goal. Our voice has been heard by people throughout the state as we push to reduce gun violence in Oregon and the nation.

APRIL 2020 UPDATE

Initiative Petitions for the 2020 General Election

GOOD NEWS - SUPREME COURT APPROVED CERTIFIED BALLOT TITLES

April 10, 2020 – The Oregon Supreme Court approved the Certified Ballot Title for all three Initiative Petitions: 60, 61 and 62.

We appreciate the speed at which the Court issued these decisions. More importantly, we also appreciate the result. The ballot titles clearly and accurately describe the changes LEVO is seeking in this initiative process to make this state safer from dangerous firearms, equipped with magazines of 20, 50 or even 100 rounds of ammunition.

The Ballot Title for Initiative Petition 60 provides:

BALLOT TITLE Adds restrictions on certain semiautomatic firearm purchases/transfers; prohibits ammunition magazines over ten rounds; exceptions Result of “Yes” vote: “Yes” vote requires completed background check, safety training, waiting period, age 21 to purchase/transfer certain semiautomatic firearms; prohibits ammunition magazines over ten rounds; exceptions. Result of “No” vote: “No” vote retains current law: minimum age 18 (some handgun purchases 21); background check request, safety course, waiting period not required; no magazine restrictions. Summary: Oregon law currently requires minimum age 18 for firearm purchase/transfer (federal law requires age 21 for some handgun purchases), seller/transferor to request criminal background check. No safety course or waiting period required; no limits on capacity of ammunition magazines. Measure adds purchase/transfer restrictions on certain semiautomatic firearms (some covered firearms identified by model, others by design features). Measure requires all purchases/transfers of semiautomatic firearms to occur through a “gun dealer” (defined); purchaser/transferee minimum age 21; completed approved safety training; completed criminal background check; 5-business-day waiting period. Measure prohibits magazines that can contain more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Exceptions for law enforcement, armed forces, and magazines owned on or before measure’s effective date. Other provisions.

(Click HERE for the complete IP 60 text)

MORE GOOD NEWS : SIGNATURE SHEETS HAVE BEEN APPROVED

April 28, 2020: The Secretary of State approved the signature sheets and they are ready to circulate!

NOT SO GOOD NEWS : THE COVID-19 VIRUS MAKES IT UNSAFE TO COLLECT SIGNATURES

It is very disappointing - we are ready to go - but after careful consideration and review of all options, LEVO’s Core Leadership Team has determined that attempting to collect signatures is not safe. For the sake of public health, including the health of our volunteers, and to model ethical and responsible leadership, the LEVO Team has decided that we must put everything on hold. We have been meeting weekly through Zoom and are assessing the reality before us and the health and well-being of all.

GOOD NEWS - STAY TUNED!

To be clear, we are going to get this vital work done together, whether it be now or more likely in the coming two years. Lift Every Voice Oregon is not going anywhere but forward, keeping our eyes on the prize of ending gun violence here and throughout the nation. We knew when we began that we were in a marathon. Even now our high school leaders are working on a Gun Violence Youth Leadership Academy for this June, to continue to equip teens to lead the way to a new day when school lock-downs and drills are no longer the norm. Even now our volunteer base is expanding and our planning continues. Even now we are seeking additional partners and county coordinators around the state.

So, stay tuned for announcements of our next steps!!

And please consider a donation to keep our efforts moving forward. Thanks.

——————— PAST EVENTS ———————

On Monday, December 9, 2019, LEVO filed Initiative Petitions IP#60, IP#61 and IP#62 for the ballot in November 2020.

Click HERE for a good media report.

The Initiative Petitions, when passed, would bring about two major changes:

FIRST: Regulate Semiautomatic Assault Firearms (SAFs)

A purchaser must complete the following before receiving the semiautomatic assault firearm:

1. Complete a safety course including content required for a CHL (concealed handgun license) and additional content related to SAFs;

2. Pass criminal background check with a final approval from the State Police Department;

3. Complete a waiting period (5 days), unless the background check is not complete.

4. Reached age 21 by time of application for purchase.

SECOND: Restrict/Prohibit manufacture, sale, purchase of ammunition magazines over 10 rounds, known as large-capacity magazines (LCMs).

1. Manufacturers may produce and dealers may sell LCMs solely for military and law enforcement purposes and dealers may sell to

2. Persons who own LCMs on the effective date may:

A. Retain them for personal use;

B. Sell/transfer them to a licensed dealer

The full language of the Initiative Petitions is available here: IP#60, IP#61, IP#62

Stay tuned!

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Citywide Interfaith Vigil of Prayer & Action to End Gun Violence & Overcome Hate & White Supremacy

LEVO hosted a Vigil on August 6 for the public to mourn and also to inspire action leading to the reduction of the senseless violence that is caused by mass shootings such as those in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. The venue, Augustana Lutheran Church in Portland, was overflowing and powerful speakers representing scores of gun safety and community organizations spoke out. They decried the tragic shootings and vowed to continue the movement to end such violence.

LEVO is engaged in intense research and planning for an initiative in 2020 related to assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.

Click HERE for a link to media coverage of the Vigil.

Click HERE for the full video of the Vigil.