skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump targets DEI and civil service protections, striking fear in some federal workers; WA bill would expand automatic voter registration; Iowa farmers on board with corn-based jet fuel; New wildfire near Los Angeles explodes to 8,000 acres, forces evacuations; ND back on familiar ground in debating ballot-question threshold.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump's pardons of January 6th participants spark mixed reactions, federal DEI suspensions raise equity concerns, diversity in medicine faces challenges post-affirmative action and Citizens United continues to amplify big money in politics.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Winter blues? Alaskans cure theirs at the Cordova Iceworm Festival, Trump's energy plans will impact rural folks, legislation in Virginia aims to ensure rural communities get adequate EV charging stations, and a retreat for BIPOC women earns rave reviews.

Report: Lax oversight of OR gun dealers fuels shootings, homicides

play audio
Play

Tuesday, December 3, 2024   

Nearly 40% of guns used in Oregon homicides are illegally trafficked through legal gun dealers and another 30% are stolen from them, according to new research.

The report by the Alliance for a Safe Oregon highlights gaps in security, training and inspections among the state's 2,100 gun dealers. The report showed employees often lack training to detect "straw purchases," when someone buys a gun for another person who cannot legally own one.

Jess Marks, executive director of the alliance, said increasing state inspections, which now happen only every 10 years, could help reduce illegal gun trafficking.

"When we compare that to every other industry -- hair salons, nails, taco trucks, the cannabis industry -- that are inspected every six months, every two years," Marks pointed out. "We have got to be doing better."

The report said training employees to recognize straw gun sales, as well as upgrading gun dealers' storage and security measures, go a long way. Marks argued states with such policies in place, like New Jersey, have a 35% lower homicide rate.

The report found straw purchases and stolen firearms have fueled a significant rise in Oregon homicides, which have surged by 172% in the past decade. Marks emphasized most gun dealers are unaware when fraudulent purchases occur and stressed more regulations would protect ethical dealers.

"The vast majority, who are good dealers, they don't want other dealers allowing firearms going into, and showing up in, crimes," Marks pointed out.

The report blamed lax oversight, which allows Oregon gun dealers with repeated safety and security violations to operate without repercussions. Marks contended the solutions are common sense policies most people support.

"If we want to bring down our homicide rate, lower shootings, we've got to deal with the problem of illegal guns in our communities," Marks concluded.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., showed several constituents the Capitol rotunda, which held Trump's inauguration. (Trimmel Gomes)

Social Issues

play sound

In an effort to make up for President Donald Trump moving his inauguration indoors to the Capitol Rotunda, leaving many ticket holders to watch from …


Social Issues

play sound

A new report examines how Connecticut should regulate artificial intelligence. The Connecticut Voices for Children report finds AI use is embedded in …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Advocates said the kids aren't all right and want to tackle the youth mental health crisis head on in schools. A study of Maryland's youth mental …


In Peoria, Ill., 42% of the population has a credential beyond high school, although almost 65% of the jobs available in the area require a post-high school credential. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

By Laura Aka for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Illinois News Connection reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Servic…

Social Issues

play sound

University of North Texas students are participating in the national Inside Out Prison Exchange program. In its third year at the college, the …

Enbridge's Line 5 can transport 540,000 barrels per day of petroleum liquids. (Dean Pennala/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

ADDITION: Comments by Enbridge, received after deadline, have been added. (10:10 a.m. MST, Jan. 22, 2025) A new report says Enbridge's plan to build …

Social Issues

play sound

More than half of all renters in Oregon and a third of homeowners experience a housing cost burden, according to new research. Housing advocates say …

Health and Wellness

play sound

While New Jersey has made gains in K-through-12 mental health support, advocates said the state needs to do more. In recent years New Jersey has …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021