Oregon: Statewide pit bull ban proposed
March 1, 2009 10 Comments
Edit 3/3/09: This bill has been dropped. The new BSL bill in Oregon is HB 2852, which would require pit bull owners to obtain $1M in liability insurance.
The Oregon Senate website does not show that this bill has been filed yet. Once the bill author files it, it will receive a number, go through first reading (not a vote!), and be sent to a Senate committee. The committee will schedule a public hearing and then decide whether or not to send the bill to the Senate for a full vote. The best place to tackle this bill will be in the committee, before and during the hearing. I will update as soon as the bill is filed and/or sent to a committee.
Contact information for the bill author, Senator Bruce Starr:
Senator Bruce Starr
Party: R District: 15
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-411, Salem, OR, 97302
Email: sen.brucestarr@state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/starrb
Join the Portlanders Against Breed Bans meetup group: www.meetup.com/portlanders-against-breed-bans
You may contact all state Senators at this time if you wish; however, keep in mind that it is early in the session and the Senators will not even see this bill unless it passes the Senate committee. If you are short on time and energy, please save that energy until the bill reaches a committee–we will need lots of calm, rational, educational communication with committee members at that time.
http://www.katu.com/news/40466167.html
Radical new bill talks of banning pit bulls in Ore., euthanizing them
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Story Updated: Feb 28, 2009 at 1:12 PM PST
By Meghan Kalkstein KATU News and KATU.com StaffPORTLAND, Ore. – A new bill on pit bulls that hasn’t even hit the Senate floor yet is already getting a lot of heat from folks on both sides of the issue.
Under a bill from Sen. Bruce Starr’s office, owning a pit bull would be illegal in Oregon and the state would punish those who own one by euthanizing the dog, slapping the owner with thousands of dollars in fines and perhaps even throwing them in jail. And if your pit bull killed someone? Then you could be fined $125,000, spend five years in jail or both.
Those who already own a pit bull would be grandfathered in, so to speak. They would have to obtain a permit to keep the pit bull (for a fee) and provide a certificate from a veterinarian showing that the dog had been sterilized.
Here is the summary that is laid out in the draft of the bill:
Prohibits keeping of pit bull. Creates exception for pit bulls currently in state upon meeting certain conditions. Declares pit bull dangerous dog and makes keeping of pit bull punishable by euthanization of dog and by maximum of $6,250 fine, one year’s imprisonment, or both. If dog kills person, punishes by maximum of $125,000 fine, five years’ imprisonment, or both.
The bill has not had a first reading on the Senate floor yet. That is expected in a week or two.
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Oregon is becoming the most unfree state in the union.
This bill assumes my staffordshire terrier (pit bull) is a loaded weapon. Mine would never harm, let alone kill, another human, and in the event it did I would hope that my negligence results in a severe punishment. That said, I would hope that ANYONE owning ANY PET should be severely punished if their pet is to harm and / or kill another person. It seems highly unconstitutional to discriminate against one breed. The money spent confiscating and punishing responsible and loving pit bull owners needlessly would be better spent on services / inspections to ensure that ALL PETS find responsible and safe homes, which is the root of 99% of pet-related problems not limited to pit bulls.
::sigh::This bill is such garbage.
I agree this bill is Garbage!!! I was very sad to see this because my fiance and I were planning on moving to Oregon this year. Since we have two pitbulls there is no way I would consider moving to a state that is this ignorant in the understanding of animals and especially pitbulls. There are many more things we should be concerned about such as rapists and pedofiles or all the murders that happen on a daily basis. I don’t know what this world is coming too but it makes me sick to know that our governmental agencies are this ignorant and quick to waste our tax dollars on something this dumb!!!
i don’t see the point you ban pitbulls now, then what every breed that looks like a pit. after they are all dead the maybe we can move on to poodles and rottweilers and eventually we will not have any dogs in this world. Are you serious? why dont you do something worth while, something that will actually help people in this state. our economy is at an all time low and your actually waisting time and money on trying to ban an amazing breed of dog. Why because people are ignorant and irresponsible. Educate your selves and others. lets step up and come down on all those irresponsible pet breeders and owners. thats how we can help.
This bill is complete BS. My pitt is the most loving dog I have ever owned. And well trained, because as a dog owner I understand my responsibility. How dare Sen. Bruce Starr’s office’s decide that simply because I own my dog, I should pay a fine?!?!? This is ridiculous, and I hope it ends up in the garbage where it belongs.
I wrote a letter to Sen. Wyden about this one. I support huge fines and repercussions but not bannings. Besides that – have you read the bill? Its a big mess of bad grammar and spelling. Maybe its all a hoax.
Maybe we can just kick the
By KATU.com Staff SALEM, Ore. – Proposed pit bull legislation that drew a passionate response from people on both sides of the issue will not be pushed any further, according to the Senator who introduced the bill.
“From the outpouring of interest I have received over the past few days, I have learned that pit bulls are beloved pets, friends and family members,” Sen. Bruce Starr (R-Hillsboro) said in a statement released on Monday. “Most pit bulls and their owners are caring and responsible. I have no intention of pushing legislation that would threaten pit bulls or the rights of their owners.”
Breed specific legislation is completely terrible and wrong. People need to be educated to be good dog owners. There are no bad breeds only bad owners. I’ve owned all types of dogs and currently own a pitbull. She is one of the best dogs I’ve ever had. Sure, she has a ton of energy but she doesn’t have a mean or violent bone in her body. She is smart, obedient and loyal. She’s devoted to me and my girlfriend and a part of my family. She loves people and other animals and would never hurt anyone or anything. She’s a good dog because we are good dog owners. Of course bad owners should be punished if their dog hurts someone or another persons animal. If your dog kills someone then they should be put down. Bad owners need to be held accountable for the actions of their pets whether it’s a fine, jail time or both, but banning an entire breed is absolutely wrong and punishes the wrong people and innocent animals who need good homes and loving families.
shame, shame, shame! in aust there is a bill that gives councils the licens to kill american pit bull terriers. instead of getting rid of the old rediculous legislation they are now bringing out a nother grossly unjust bill. there should never be a legislation that applies to a entire breed instead the legislation should focus the actual actions of a particular dog and severe punishment for those who abuse, misstreat, and breed for aggression. i have personally seen happy, healthy, young and social!! pit bulls been sent to be killed at shelters solely based on the way they look this inhuman treament that is happening to hundreds of pit bulls in victoria and thousands all over the world where breed spceific legislation appies.