Oregon Senate Narrowly Passes Sweeping Gun Control Bill Amidst Fierce Debate

Oregon’s contentious gun control bill was passed with a slender majority of five votes in the Senate on Thursday and now heads to the House despite Republican opposition.

The Bill Overturns Outcries about the Right to Bear Arms

One of the most contentious issues – the right to bear arms – was overturned by lawmakers when Senate Bill 243 grants cities, counties, and governing bodies the authority to bar people from carrying firearms in designated public buildings. This will include holders of concealed gun licenses.

Some Republicans have voiced concerns that smaller communities have insufficient manpower to police people entering public buildings.

This issue was recently taken up by two Harney County gun owners who petitioned the Oregon Supreme Court, questioning whether conditions in Measure 114 conformed to the state constitution.

Their appeal was supported by the Gun Owners of America Inc. but was overturned. Measure 114 was approved by public vote in 2022 and has faced continuous legal challenges ever since.

SB 243 also bans rapid-fire devices, including switches and bump stocks that convert guns from semi-automatic to fully automatic weapons.

Lawmakers Ease Some Restrictive Measures

The Senate Rules Committee removed some of the restrictive provisions in the bill at a meeting earlier this month – a 72-hour wait period to buy a gun and increasing the eligible age for gun ownership from 18 to 21, excluding certain shotguns and hunting rifles.

Also removed was a provision that would have allowed local governments to ban guns on grounds adjacent to public buildings.

House Bill 3075-2 was passed by the House Judiciary Committee and is under consideration by the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

The bill relates to firearms and permits and makes minor modifications to Measure 114. It clarifies language regarding the affirmative defense for turning in large-capacity magazines to police.

The bill also immediately implements the ban on large-capacity magazines and removes language prohibiting individuals convicted of violent misdemeanors from being granted permits.