Oregon Senate Omnibus Bill Aims to Curtail Violent Deaths and Crimes with Stricter Gun Control Reforms

Yesterday, the Oregon legislature considered a Senate Omnibus Bill to promote public safety and responsible gun ownership. The bill follows the controversial gun control Measure 114, which has faced innumerable legal challenges since it was approved in 2020.

The Omnibus SB 243 includes four amendments to prevent gun violence in a state where 50.8% of households have firearms and a total of 97,474 residents are registered gun owners, according to a World Population Review.

Firearms Kill 625 Young People in Oregon Every Year

Firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Oregon, killing 34 on average every year, according to the review. The total fatality rate of death by gunshot in Oregon is 625, with 719 wounded. Firearm violence also costs the state a staggering $8.1 billion annually.

The four amendments to Measure 114 contained in the omnibus include banning the sale and possession of rapid-fire devices that alter firearms into fully automatic guns.

Raising the Age of Eligibility to Buy Firearms

Raising the age of eligibility to purchase firearms from 18 to 21 (apart from hunting and recreation).

Handguns can only be bought from federally licensed dealers at age 21, but state law allows the sale of semi-automatic rifles and assault weapons from the age of 18. Lawmakers heard that research shows 18-to-20-year-olds use guns to commit homicides at a rate nearly three times than adults aged 21 and older.

Waiting a Mandatory 72 Hours to Take Ownership of a Firearm

A mandatory 72-hour wait period for the purchase of a firearm from a federally registered gun dealer, following a criminal background check.

Legislators heard that lives could be saved, as Oregon has the dubious reputation as one of the country’s highest suicide rates by firearms, recorded as 77% of all gun deaths.

Prohibiting Weapons in Municipal and Government Properties

Legislation to allow local governments to prohibit carrying concealed weapons on municipal properties and government buildings, such as courthouses, which are often targets for politically motivated crimes.

Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Rules heard public testimony for and against the amendments, and tomorrow (Wednesday), the committee will consider written testimony from more than 200 people.