Oregonians Organize Against Harsh Gun Control Bills

Gun owners in Oregon are up in arms about current governor Kate Brown’s purported “anti-self-defense” legislation.

And indeed, there appears to be some very disconcerting laws up for decision in Oregon. One of perhaps the most damaging to Oregonians is Senate Bill 501 sponsored by Senator Wagner.

SB 501, and House Bill 2251 (introduced at the request of the governor) require that Oregon residents:

  1. Must apply for a permit in order to purchase a firearm.
  2. May only apply for one long gun and one handgun purchasing permit per month (30 days).
  3. Cannot purchase more than 20 rounds of ammunition per month (30 days) and must have a background check performed.
  4. May not purchase or own any magazines over a 5-round capacity. Anyone who owns a higher capacity magazine must get rid of it or spend a year in jail and pay a fine of $6,250.
  5. Harsher penalties for not keeping your weapons locked up, and an additional 30 day waiting period for the State Police background check is also proposed.
  6. Must be older then 21 years of age in order to purchase an “assault rifle.”

The obvious issues with the proposed bills are numerous. Not the least of which being a 20-round ammunition limit per month. Anyone who shoots even a little knows this is not nearly enough training ammunition for armed defenders to practice with.

This puts the law-abiding citizen at a severe disadvantage and only serves to increase the odds in favor of criminals, while doing nothing to prevent actual crime.

But Oregonians are taking the fight to the Capitol with the Defend the 2nd Rally set for the 23rd of March. Leading the charge are two Oregon based AR15 manufacturers, Radian Weapons and Noveske Rifleworks.

“We are fighting back against Gov. Kate Brown’s anti-self-defense legislation because it endangers every Oregonian. Disarming law-abiding citizens flies in the face of individual liberty and is unconstitutional,” Raidian Weapon’s director of operations, Josiah Underwood, said of the proposed bills on Facebook.

A limited 500 unit supply of a special addition Raptor/Talon Combo charging handles are for sale to raise funds for the rally. According to Raidian, all of the $199.95 cost of the charging handle goes towards the $100,000 goal set by the companies to fund the rally.

DEFEND THE 2ND RAPTOR-SL / TALON L/S COMBO $199.95

A Go Fund Me page has also been set up for the rally and has raised a total of $11,890 out of the $150,000 goal.

Raidian’s Facebook page asks the following if you want to show your support at the rally:

“We ask that if you’re able to attend the event, you only bring signs of support for the 2nd Amendment. The only flag we should feel the need to rally around are the Stars and Stripes. We anticipate this will be a publicized event. Hatred of any kind, violence, or destruction of public or private property is forbidden.”

When it was asked if this was an open carry event, Radian commented:

“You can do what is legal, you should do what is most advantageous to our cause. I.e conceal carry.”

Senate Bill 501

  • Requires person to secure permit before purchasing or otherwise receiving firearm. Specifies qualifications for permit and manner of applying for permit. Creates procedures for appealing denial of permit. Punishes receipt of firearm without valid permit by maximum of 364 days’ imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both.
  • Requires person who owns or possesses firearm to secure firearm with trigger or cable lock or in locked container. Punishes failure to secure firearm by maximum of 30 days’ imprisonment, $1,250 fine, or both.
  • Requires person who owns or possesses firearm to report to law enforcement agency loss or theft of firearm within 24 hours. Punishes failure to report loss or theft by maximum of 30 days’ imprisonment, $1,250 fine, or both.
  • Prohibits possession of magazine with capacity to hold more than five rounds of ammunition.
  • Provides that person in possession of such magazine must sell or otherwise dispose of magazine within 180 days of effective date of Act. Punishes unlawful possession of magazine capable of holding more than five rounds by maximum of 364 days’ imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both.
  • Requires criminal background check before transfer of ammunition. Restricts ammunition receipt to 20 rounds within 30-day period.
  • Prohibits transfer of firearm by gun dealer or private party until latter of 14 days or Department of State Police has determined that recipient is qualified to receive firearm.

House Bill 2251

Introduced at the request of Oregon’s governor Kate Brown, this bill looks to make it illegal for a person under the age of 21 to purchase a handgun or “assault rifle” and defines an assault rifle as:

“A selective-fire rifle capable of fully automatic, semiautomatic or burst fire at the

option of the user…”

The bill also provides a detailed list of the firearms which match the criteria of the definition, “assault rifle.”

HB 2251 Summary

  • Defines “assault rifle.” Prohibits transfer of handgun or assault rifle to person under 21 years of age. Punishes violation by maximum of 364 days’ imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both.
  • Restricts transfer of firearm by gun dealer or private party if Department of State Police is unable to determine whether recipient is qualified to receive firearm. Authorizes transfer after 30 days as long as gun dealer or transferor does not know or have reason to believe recipient is disqualified from completing transfer.
  • Provides that person subject to certain court protective orders is prohibited from possessing firearms if person had opportunity to be heard on order and failed to request hearing. Punishes violation of prohibition by maximum of 364 days’ imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both.
  • Requires court to order relinquishment of firearms when person is convicted of certain domestic violence offenses or subject to certain court orders. Requires person to transfer firearms within 24 hours of court order and to file affidavit within 48 hours of court order.
  • Requires hospitals to submit data concerning patients with injuries caused by firearms to
  • Oregon Health Authority and to electronic emergency medical services data system managed by authority.
  • Creates crime of endangering a minor by allowing access to a firearm. Punishes by maximum of 364 days’ imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both.
  • Prohibits possession of firearm by person convicted of endangering a minor by allowing access to a firearm for five-year period after conviction.
  • Creates process for obtaining relief from prohibition.
  • Provides that minor may lawfully possess firearm only with permission of parent or guardian.
  • Prohibits transfer of firearm to person convicted of endangering a minor by allowing access to a firearm for five-year period after conviction. Requires permission of minor’s parent or guardian for temporary transfer of firearm to minor.
  • Requires gun dealer to post notice concerning obligation to prevent minors from accessing firearm without consent of minor’s parent or guardian.

Read here for quotes about the 2nd Amendment by our founding fathers.

How do you feel about these proposed changes to the gun laws in Oregon? Leave a comment below to let me know.

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