The leader of the Lane County NAACP is protesting the recent proclamation by the County Board of Commissioners refusing to enforce a state law expanding gun background checks.
Eric Richardson says the timing and spirit of the proclamation that passed 4 to 1 this week is offensive, especially for those who've been affected by gun violence.
Richardson: "And in the midst of all this reporting about 'black lives matter' and just about gun violence in the last couple years that we've seen these mass shootings, I'm looking it as why would our county government stand against a public safety issue such as this?"
Richardson says as leader of the local NAACP, he understands African Americans are four times more likely to be killed by gun violence than their white counterparts. The symbolic county proclamation this week comes after the state strengthened background check requirements for gun purchases. The County Board resolutionsaid the law is an "unfunded mandate" that goes against the 2nd amendment right to keep and bear arms.
