By Hannah Hoffman
The Statesman Journal
SALEM, Ore. — Correctional officers will now be allowed to store guns in their cars in prison parking lots during the work day, assuming Gov. John Kitzhaber signs the bill passed in the Senate on Thursday.
House Bill 4035 would allow officers who work for the Department of Corrections to keep guns in lock boxes in their cars, which has previously not been allowed because the Department of Administrative Services has a policy prohibiting firearms on any state property.
The bill passed on a 29-1 vote, with Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Tigard, casting the only opposition vote. Burdick has been a long-time vocal supporter of tighter gun control laws.
Corrections employees have told the Oregon Legislature that they want to carry guns to and from work because many work in Eastern Oregon, where commutes are long and often run along isolated stretches of highway. An officer in Eastern Oregon was stabbed and killed during his commute in 2011, and employees said they want to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Full story: Bill passes to allow corrections officers to keep guns in cars