Oregon’s Gun Rights Under Fire: Legislature Advances Three Restrictive Bills
Keith Lusher 04.16.25
Oregon gun owners are facing a new wave of restrictions as three major gun control bills advance through the state legislature, threatening to further limit Second Amendment rights in a state already known for its strict firearm regulations.
Members of the House and Senate judiciary committees this week voted strictly along party lines to push these bills forward, with Democrats wielding their majority power to override Republican objections and concerns from law-abiding gun owners across the state.
Senate Bill 243: Imposing Waiting Periods and Restricting Local Rights
Senate Bill 243, an omnibus bill criticized by gun rights advocates, would force a mandatory 72-hour waiting period before any firearm purchase, effectively delaying citizens’ ability to exercise their constitutional rights. The bill would also ban rapid-fire devices and give local governments unprecedented authority to restrict concealed carry permit holders from entering public buildings.
The legislation would even allow the Metro regional government to prohibit concealed handgun license holders from possessing firearms at facilities like the Oregon Zoo, despite these individuals having undergone extensive background checks and training.
Republicans, including Sen. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, argue the legislation will do little to address the real issues behind gun deaths while placing unnecessary burdens on responsible gun owners. “I do not believe that this bill will achieve the goals of its sponsors and will instead negatively impact the rights of Oregonians to self-defense,” McLane stated during a hearing.
Adding to gun owners’ concerns, if Measure 114 is implemented, purchasers would first have to complete a firearms class, pass that class, wait for a background check that could take up to 90 days, and then endure an additional three-day waiting period under SB 243.
House Bill 3075: Implementing the Controversial Measure 114
House Bill 3075 creates a framework for implementing Ballot Measure 114, a divisive voter-approved law that has been challenged in courts since its passage in 2022. The measure would ban standard capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition and require a permit before exercising the right to purchase a firearm.
The bill extends the time authorities have to process permits and increases permit fees, creating additional financial barriers to gun ownership. While the Oregon Court of Appeals recently ruled that Measure 114 does not violate the state constitution, two Harney County gun owners plan to appeal the ruling to the Oregon Supreme Court, continuing the fight against what many see as an unconstitutional restriction.
House Bill 3076: Excessive Regulation of Gun Dealers
Perhaps most concerning for small business owners in the firearm industry, House Bill 3076 would subject gun dealers to an intrusive state licensing program administered by the Oregon Department of Justice beginning January 1, 2027. The program would impose licensing fees based on the number of firearms sold annually, ranging from $50 for smaller dealers to $1,500 for larger businesses.
The bill would require dealers to undergo annual on-site inspections and implement burdensome requirements, including mandatory training courses, employee background checks, and extensive security measures like surveillance systems with specific technical requirements.
“The idea that we would put in statute the size of the bars you have to have on the window and the pixels you have to have in your camera, I’m just dumbfounded by the whole idea,” said Rep. Kim Wallan, R-Medford, vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee.
Kerry Spurgin, president of the Oregon State Shooting Association, described the bill as “a direct attempt to deter and eliminate local businesses with redundant and excessive regulation and costs.”
Ongoing Concerns for Gun Rights
House Minority Leader Rep. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, voiced the concerns of many Oregonians when she stated, “These bills are an attack on the constitutional right to bear arms. The only thing these bills do is punish law-abiding gun owners and small businesses that are in full compliance with federal law.”
The Oregon Hunters Association has also submitted testimony opposing the dealer licensing bill, pointing out that firearm dealers are “already highly regulated” under federal law through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Rep. Wallan expressed serious concerns that the dealer licensing requirements would drastically reduce the number of licensed firearm dealers across the state, limiting options for gun owners “when they are in a difficult situation.”
Critics also note that while proponents claim these bills will reduce suicide rates, they do little to address the underlying mental health issues. Of the 3,125 people who died by firearms in Oregon between 2019 and 2023, 2,391 were suicides, compared to 622 homicides, indicating a need for better mental health services rather than firearm restrictions.
As Oregon considers joining states like Washington and California with these restrictive measures, gun owners and Second Amendment advocates face an uphill battle to protect their constitutional rights in a state increasingly hostile to firearm ownership.
