Portland City Council to Consider New Concealed Carry Restrictions Tomorrow

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland City Council could use authority granted under state law to restrict concealed weapons in a move to protect officials, city employees, and members of the public from acts of political violence.

Councilors will consider passing an ordinance to bar people from carrying concealed firearms into three city-owned and managed buildings at a meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).

If adopted, the ordinance would use a 2025 state law to remove an exception that currently allows individuals with concealed carry licenses to bring firearms into certain government buildings within Portland.

The Motivation Behind the Ordinance

Supporters point to the increase in political violence across the U.S., which constitutes a serious threat to the safety of officials, employees, and the public who attend meetings in these buildings.

The councilors believe the ordinance will help safeguard the welfare of everyone visiting a building owned or controlled by the City of Portland.

What the Portland Ordinance Would Change

An enforcement process will be introduced to ensure that transgressors have an opportunity to comply with the ordinance before a violation is referred to law enforcement.

Clear and visible signage will be posted at the entrances to the three buildings, which will be identified on the City’s website.

Lawmakers sanctioned local governments to make their own decisions about concealed weapons in public buildings when they passed Senate Bill 243. Firearms, whether loaded or unloaded, are already barred in certain Portland buildings controlled or owned by the city.