Oregon’s Gun Control Measure 114 Battle Intensifies as New Bills Tighten Restrictions Amid Fierce Opposition

Oregon’s contentious gun control Measure 114 continues to be hotly debated by pro-and-antagonists as legal challenges reduce its progress through legislative committees to a snail’s pace.

Now, further restrictions on gun purchases are under consideration by lawmakers.

Stricter Measures are Needed to Curb Death Rates

Protagonists argue that tighter gun control measures are essential to curb associated death rates that increased in the state by 31% between 2013 and 2022.

According to statistics, the rate of death by firearms is greater in Oregon than in neighboring California and Washington and the fifth leading cause of death among those aged 1 to 17 years.

Antagonists believe that there are sufficient gun laws in Oregon, pointing to recent legislation that allows courts to temporarily remove firearms from people who are at risk of harming others and themselves.

Oregon has also recently passed legislation banning untraceable 3-D printed guns and calling for firearms to be securely stored.

Although passed in 2022 by a narrow public vote margin, Measure 114 continues to face an onslaught of opposition.

Its proposed legislation includes banning magazines carrying 10 or more rounds, and mandating firearms training and obtaining a permit after a criminal background check for purchasers of guns.

Three new House Bills Have Been Introduced

House Bill 3075 codifies the ban on magazines holding 10 or more rounds by providing a 180-day period of grace for gun owners to dispose of high-capacity magazines. Background checks must be completed before permits are granted.

The bill also increases the permit fee from $65 to $150, with an increase for renewals from $50 to $110. The waiting period for a permit is increased from 30 to 60 days.

House Bill 3076 establishes a state-level licensing system for gun dealers, requiring them to obtain an additional state-level license to sell firearms.

According to Alliance for a Safe Oregon, most of the firearms that are used in crimes in Oregon originate from legal gun dealers who are, however, on average inspected once a decade by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Senate Bill 243 introduces a mandatory 72-hour waiting period for a permit to be granted. The bill is intended to discourage impulsive gun purchases. It also bans rapid-fire activators that transform semi-automatic rifles into full-automatic firearms.

Oregon’s tighter gun control measures coincide with the Trump administration’s call to reverse former President Joe Biden’s gun control measures.

His call is supported by Republican lawmakers who want the right to carry firearms enshrined in the Oregon Constitution. Some legislators have also introduced a bill allowing them and their staff to carry concealed weapons inside the Capitol building.