Gun control pastor faces gun law violation in unusual twist to an unusual protest
By Faith News Note,
The Lake Oswego pastor who spent $3,000 of church funds to buy a gun at a raffle in order to destroy it — now may be facing criminal charges regarding violating Oregon’s new gun transfer law.
Pastor Jeremy Lucas, of the Christ Church Episcopal in Lake Oswego bought 150 tickets at a local softball fundraiser. His intent was to handily win the top prize of an AR-15 rifle in order to destroy it so it could never be used in a crime.
Upon winning the rifle, Lucas gave the rifle to fellow church member to store in his home inside his gun safe. In transferring the rifle, he violated Oregon’s newly adopted Oregon Firearms Safety Act of 2015 which creates a crime of transferring a firearm to a person without conducting a criminal background check. It is a Class A misdemeanor that holds up to a $6,250 fine and possible jail time up to a year.
The Lake Oswego Police Chief stated, “I have discussed the matter with the Oregon State Police and am coordinating follow-up with that agency. Neither the Lake Oswego Police Department nor the Oregon State Police can comment on ongoing queries of this nature.”
Rev. Lucas told the Lake Oswego Review, “I will cooperate with any investigation that the Oregon State Police wants to have. Anything that furthers the conversation about our gun laws in the state of Oregon, I’m happy that that would happen.”
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