In the Oregon Senate, Senator Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene) and Senator James Manning Jr. (D-Eugene) are chief sponsors for SB 396, a bill which "punishes manufacturing, importing, offering for sale or transferring undetectable firearm." If passed, this bill will decimate the part of the firearm industry that manufactures and sells undocumented receivers and lowers -- the basic working parts of firearms -- in the state of Oregon. Gun enthusiasts, hobbyists, and people who want to keep their anonymity, use these parts to assemble firearms that do not have serial numbers, therefore the state or federal government has no way of knowing these products exist. The term for these unlisted firearms is “ghost guns.”

Many American citizens want to maintain their privacy and personal business from the intrusive and sometimes abusive eye of authority. From the British Arms Embargo of 1775 to the Brady Bill of 1993, or the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994, Americans have a reason to be fearful of government and its ability to deny citizens their rights. SB 396 defines “undetectable firearms,” “untraceable firearms,” and “unfinished frames or receivers,” then it imposes new punishments and fines for owning, producing, selling, or transferring these types of products.

If enacted, anyone who manufactures, imports, sells, or transfers an “undetectable firearm” could receive a maximum of 10 years in prison or a $250,000 fine or both. Anyone in possession of an “undetectable firearm” could receive 364 days in prison, a fine of $6, 250, or both. Anyone who manufactures, imports, possesses, sells, or transfers an “untraceable firearm” could receive a maximum of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

SB 396 requires a gun dealer to conduct a criminal background check before the transfer of an “unfinished frame or receiver.” Anyone importing, selling, or transferring an “unfinished receiver” could receive a maximum of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

There are even some special exceptions in the bill so that anyone who possesses an unserialized unfinished frame or receiver could receive a maximum of five years in prison, a fine of $125,000, or both. It provides that anyone in the possession of an unfinished frame or receiver who commits a crime could receive a maximum of 364 days in prison, a fine of $6,250, or both. It would also prohibit them from the Right of possessing firearms. These are pretty stiff penalties for not having a serial number registered with the government.

Information is power and those who defend the right to own an untraceable firearm contend that a government database or registry of firearms would be used as a powerful weapon against citizens, were the government ever to want to confiscate firearms -- something that has happened several times in history -- leading to loss of freedom. This bill is just the latest skirmish in the battle for Second Amendment rights.


--Rob Taylor

Post Date: 2021-01-31 11:04:08

Last Update: 2021-01-31 11:32:54