$576,000 in taxpayer money restores gun rights to 3 people in Oregon (thanks, NRA!)

[Robb]

Oregon is one of 21 states with a federal gun relief program.

In 2009, lawmakers crafted a way to help the estimated 29,000 people whose mental health histories disqualify them under federal law from buying firearms in Oregon: a formal mechanism to ask for their gun rights back.

Four years later, with a two-year budget of $576,184 and a staff of three, the Oregon Gun Relief Program has held three hearings.

(snip)

Congress responded by offering states grant money to ensure names of such individuals reach the FBI. The dollars came with a catch, the result of lobbying by the National Rifle Association: States had to use some of the money to start up gun relief programs.

"The NRA insisted on this relief mechanism," said Kristen Rand, legislative director of the Violence Policy Center, a national gun control group that opposed the legislation mainly because of the gun relief provision. "They weren't going to support it without the inclusion of the relief mechanism. They are 100 percent responsible for it being there."

Read More: http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/mental_health_and_guns_oregon.html

[fredamae]

1. It is the lawMakers

who "bowed"--can't blame other's when an entire body of legislators Could have said "NO".

[Robb]

2. In which case the fault lies with us.

We are responsible for holding lawmakers accountable for their actions and inactions.

[fredamae]

3. You'll get no argument

from me on that point!

[hack89]

4. So cut the budget and staff

find a cheaper way to do this.