SALEM, OR -- The full Senate will soon vote on whether to require background checks to include private gun sales in the state.  The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the legislation Monday and sent it on to the full Senate.  The vote was along party lines, with the three Democrats voting for it and the two Republicans voting against it.

The carrier of the bill, Eugene Democrat Senator Floyd Prozanski was relieved a Republican lawmaker decided not to add an amendment that would require the DMV to mark the licenses of felons. "It does appear that background checks have worked for 25 years in this state and they work very well and it's much more efficient.  So as I said, they've worked well, we just needed to close the loophole."

Democratic leaders in the Senate are confident the bill will pass in the full Senate, unlike measures in 2013 and 2014. Republican lawmakers say they may seek to pass a substitute bill on the floor.