Oregon governor cites Florida shooting in local gun control

SALEM – Oregon’s governor, backing gun-control legislation before a panel of state senators, said anguished voices in the wake of the school shooting in Florida that claimed 17 lives must be heard.

“They call on us to take action,” Gov. Kate Brown said. She appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to support a bill that would expand a ban on the purchase or possession of firearms by people convicted of stalking and domestic violence or with restraining orders.

The proposal would ban anyone who had been convicted of domestic violence against a “family or household member” from owning a gun or ammunition.

Opponents say it would violate Second Amendment protections on the right to bear arms.