Pro-Gun Rights Economist Disinvited From Committee Hearing by Oregon Senate Democrats

John Lott, an economist and a gun rights advocate, was not allowed to testify as an expert witness in an Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee hearing due to criticism against him by anti-gun online publications. Lott had been invited by Republican State Sen. John Linthicum to testify in an April 6 hearing on SB 348, which would increase the requirements of Ballot Measure 114 approved by voters in November 2022 but is now tied up in court. However, Democratic State Sen. Floyd Prozanski disallowed Lott, saying he didn’t have the credentials to be an expert, after reading about him on Media Matters.

Lott, who has extensive experience studying the impact of gun control laws on society, was surprised by the decision. Prozanski, instead, called a witness from the National Shooting Sports Foundation to testify for the Republicans. Lott said he has never had this happen to him before and believes the Democratic committee decided who their experts would be for the Republicans.

Lott disagreed with Prozanski’s decision and pointed out that Media Matters has criticized all pro-gun organizations, including the NRA and the National Shooting Sports Foundation. He also said the decision was a missed opportunity for both sides of the debate. During the public comments portion of the hearing, Lott was allowed to speak for a little over two minutes, but he was not permitted to answer questions or speak longer.