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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2023

Brookings, Oregon

Democrats warn of lost opportunities as GOP walkout persists

BEN BOTKIN Oregon Capital Chronicle Pilot Guest Article

average Oregonians from urban Portland to rural eastern Oregon. Examples run the gamut: Bills held up by the walkout would reduce the risk of wildfires racing across rural Oregon, address the homelessness crisis as people camp in tents along city streets and keep health care coverage going for some of the 300,000 Oregonians estimated to lose their

Oregonians have much to lose if the legislative session ends by June 25 without a functioning Senate that can vote on bills, Democrats warned Tuesday, June 6. The GOP-led Senate walkout is preventing votes on bills intended to benefit

access to the Oregon Health Plan, as pandemice r a provisions that kept more people Tim enrolled end. Knopp The GOPled walkout started May 3, preventing the Senate from having its two-thirds quorum needed

to conduct business. For now, the question no one seems to know: How will the session end? Khanh B o t h Pham Democrats a n d Republicans blame each other for the impasse, and there are no visible signs of

progress. In a press conference on the state Capitol steps, Democratic lawmakers and advocates on Tuesday urged Republican senators to return to floor sessions and vote on bills. “Oregonians have had enough,” said Rep. Khanh Pham, D-Portland. “This Senate shutdown is a subversion of our democracy.”

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, told reporters that Democratic leaders in the Senate have failed to work in a bipartisan way that upholds the constitution. “Their ire is misplaced, and the Senate Democrats could have ended this weeks ago,” Knopp said. See WALKOUT, Page 7

Injured worker rescued

JEREMY C. RUARK Country Media, Inc.

heavily forested, steep, and rugged location. Dispatch was advised another contractor working in the same area went in and tried to locate Waters, but at the time, could not locate him. The Curry County Search and Rescue (SAR) was called to respond along with Cal Ore Life Flight Ambulance. SAR coordinator Sergeant Jared Gray responded and while enroute, was told that Waters had been located but it would take a large crew to pack him out of the rugged location. Gray requested air support by Reach Air 19 and the US Coast Guard. Search crews included the Curry County Sheriff’s

A local worker is recovering after a challenging rescue in a remote Curry County area. According to the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch received a call at about 7:22 a.m. May 31, regarding an emergency SPOT activation that was triggered by 25-year-old Brenan Waters, who is an employee with Hamer Environmental. Waters was working in the Grassy Knob area about seven miles east of Highway 101 just north of Port Orford. Waters had fallen and was injured in a

SAR team, a brush crew that was working in the area, the Sixes River Fire Department, and members of the U.S. Forest Service. A medic from Cal Ore Ambulance and a flight medic from Air Reach joined the search crews and made their way down through the rugged terrain to Waters and were able to stabilize him. The search crews had to pack Waters to a semi open area, several hundred yards away so the Coast Guard helicopter crew could lower a rescue swimmer down to Waters. After arriving on scene, the Coast Guard air ship had to leave to refuel. As See INJURED Page 5

Courtesy photo from the CCSO First responders prepare to take Brenan Waters to safety.

Oregon’s gun control measure being reviewed in federal court

BEN BOTKIN Oregon Capital Chronicle Pilot Guest Article

A federal judge is now reviewing a lawsuit that may determine the fate of a voter-passed law to regulate how Oregonians own firearms and ban ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds. In November, Oregon voters passed Measure 114, which is intended to help stem the scourge of gun violence and mass shootings and close gaps that allow bad actors to slip through. The measure would require people to get a permit to purchase a firearm, which would require a background check and a safety course. Gun rights advocates challenged it in federal court and in the Harney County Circuit Court, and it hasn’t yet taken effect. Every year, hundreds of lives are shattered in Oregon from gun violence, suicides or accidental shootings. In 2022, 803 Oregonians visited hospital emergency rooms with firearm-related injuries, according to Oregon Health Authority data. In 2021, 670 people in Oregon died from firearms, according to federal data. The measure also would ban large-capacity magazines and close what critics call the “Charleston loophole” because of a 2015 mass shooting at a church in Charleston,

Jeremy C. Ruark / Country Media, Inc. Oregon gun dealers reported a surge in gun purchases as the debate began over Measure 114. South Carolina. That’s a a gunman unsuccessfully federal law that allows tried to shoot and kill firearms dealers to sell a his father and missed. gun without a completed Broadman was 12 at the background check if they time. haven’t received the results Measure 114 on hold after more than three days. The ban on largeFor now, the measure is capacity magazines is intended to prevent on hold A Harney County shootings like the one in August at a Bend grocery District Court judge store, where a gunman with temporarily blocked the an AR-15-style rifle killed measure’s implementation two people before taking as a separate lawsuit proceeds. The Harney his own life. “Thank God we County case is set for trial didn’t lose more people in September. As a result, the five-day that night,” Bend City Councilor A n t h o n y federal trial before U.S. Broadman said during a District Judge Karin J. Thursday briefing with Immergut in Portland next reporters. “We carry week will not be the final shootings like ours word on Measure 114. Further appeals are likely forever.” Broadman also is from either side. The Oregon Firearms haunted by a boyhood memory from 1991, when Federation is the lead

INDEX

plaintiff in the federal lawsuit, along with firearms dealers and others. In court filings, they argued the measure is unconstitutional and infringes on people’s Second Amendment right to bear arms, such as by allowing indefinite delays when background checks aren’t processed in a timely way. The organization and its attorneys couldn’t be reached for comment. If they’re successful, they will get a court ruling that overturns Measure 114 and declares it unconstitutional. Because Measure 114 is a state law, the Oregon Department of Justice is defending it. The Oregon Alliance for Gun Safety, a nonprofit advocacy group, requested and received the federal court’s permission to intervene in the case, which allows the organization to aid in defending Measure 114. The group plans to argue that the ban on large-capacity magazines and the permit-topurchase requirements are constitutional. Large capacity magazines are accessories, not arms, said Zach Pekelis, an attorney with Seattle-based Pacifica Law Group, who is representing the alliance in court. “They’re not arms at all protected by the Second Amendment,” Pekelis said. “There’s a long history See GUNS, Page 11

Courtesy photo from Steven Conner A Pacific harbor seal and her pup rest near Depoe Bay.

Keep clear of resting seals, sea lions STAFF REPORT Country Media, Inc. It’s a busy time of year on the Oregon Coast with visitors sharing the beaches with seals and sea lions. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) asks beach goers to keep away from seals and sea lions resting on the beach or rocks. Pacific harbor seal pupping season is in full swing, A harbor seal mother often leaves her pup alone on shoreline rocks or the beach while she feeds in the ocean. This is an important time for her to refuel and later feed her pup, but she is unlikely to rejoin her pup if there is activity nearby. Other marine mammals seen on beaches in summer include California sea lions stopping to rest during their

journey south to breed. And elephant seals are molting now – while it isn’t pretty, these animals are not sick. All marine mammals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is a violation of federal and state laws to harass, touch, or feed marine mammals. The Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network is primarily a volunteer organization. It generally does not provide rehabilitation services to harbor seals, elephant seals, and California sea lions in accordance with ODFW’s policy on marine mammal rehabilitation. If a marine mammal is obviously injured, sick or being harassed, people can report to the Oregon State Police TIP line at 800-4527888.

Phone Number: 541-813-1717 • Address: 519 Chetco Ave, Ste 7, Brookings, 97415 • Email: Circulation@CountryMedia.net

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