Opposition to Oregon
Senate Bill 838
lf SB
838
is passed into law, it will put a complete end to
suction dredge gold mining in the entire State of
Oregon!
This bill is not based upon any
science or rational justification. It is being
pushed by anti-mining activists that want to
eliminate the last remaining productive economic
activity on America’s public lands. The bill has
been introduced as an emergency measure “for
the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health and safety.” Emergency
bills move through the legislative process on fast
track and become law as soon as they are passed.
Therefore, we do not have much time to voice our
opposition.
Here are some talking points that you
can copy over to emails or letters to the Oregon
lawmakers in the Senate:
Oregon Senate Bill 838
-
Prohibits any and all suction
dredging for gold in the state of Oregon
-
Will take away jobs and
small-business for thousands of people in
Oregon.
-
A maximum of one year in prison
and a $6,250 fine or both.
-
SB 838 is a takings of our mining
rights.
-
SB 838 is preempted by the
Federal Mining Law.
-
SB 838 will cause state-wide
takings litigation by miners against the state
of Oregon.
-
The enormous cost to the state
defending SB 838 will be prohibitive.
-
SB 838 is not supported
by real environmental science or rational
thinking. It is being pushed by anti-mining
extremists who are trying to get working
Americans off the public lands.
-
We are fed up with government
officials taking away property and the ability
of everyday Americans to make a living! Enough
is enough! This nonsense has got to stop here
and now!
Here is
a list of the 30 Oregon Senators. Since we want to
voice a
lot of opposition, we
encourage you to direct your opposition of this bill
to all of the senators.
Here is our challenge:
Even if all of the republican senators vote the bill
down, we must also get
at least two democratic senators to vote our way in
order to kill this very destructive bill. This is
why we placed the list of democratic senators at the
top of the
list. According
to our sources, the four senators at the top of the
list (names in red) may be receptive to reasonable
opposition to this bill. At the very least, please
make contact with those four senators!
We must flood the Oregon senate with
very vocal opposition right now!
Calling their offices with firm opposition would be very productive!
Here are some important points:
1) The subject line in your
emails should say, Opposition
to Senate Bill 838!
2) Written opposition will not
even be considered unless you include your name and
address.
3) Be polite and courteous, even
if you are expressing anger. Do
not make any threats!
4) While there is no problem
copying over the talking points above, the written
communication should be from you. Tell these
lawmakers we are sick and tired of the government
taking away our property and our opportunities to
make a living! “These
destructive shenanigans have to end now!”
Just at the time when we have figured
out how to do some underwater
suction mining in
California, this
is not the time for us to lose all of Oregon!
If we do not all pull together and kill this bill
right now, we will find ourselves devoting years
trying to overcome it through expensive
litigation! Please
help!
