The Oregon Court of Appeals has affirmed the constitutionality of Measure 114, a narrowly passed 2022 ballot measure that makes an outlaw out of me and thousands of other law-abiding gun owners. Not because we did anything wrong, but because our pistol or rifle magazine holds more than 10 rounds. We are also required to acquire a permit to purchase, which requires a training course — which there is no provision to provide.
Not to mention the fact that I have already received a concealed carry permit, and have invested thousands of hours in training.
The Court of Appeals decision is wrong on its face, but no surprise — the court is a 100-percent wholly owned political arm of the handful of west side population centers that drive the state’s “progressive” agenda.
I would much rather devote my time to historical work on FP, but here we are — again.
This is my testimony against HB 3075, which has a hearing today. The bill modifies and implements provisions of Measure 114. The cynicism of the project is evident in the provision of 3075 that requires that any appeal be heard only in Marion County — one of a handful of counties where Measure 114 passed. Not only does the state seek to abridge the rights of legal firearms owners, it is also effectively eliminating any authentic opportunity for redress of grievance.
As a lifelong law-abiding, safe and responsible firearms owner, I experienced the passage of Measure 114 as a profound betrayal of values. I once believed — naively, I suppose — that people like us could and should engage in a good-faith effort to craft “gun safety” measures to “keep the drunks away from the car keys,” to apply a reasonable analogy. Good faith efforts cannot be undertaken with bad faith actors.The measures currently undertaken in this state have nothing to with public safety. They are a calculated effort to criminalize law-abiding citizens, and to drive firearms-related enterprises out of business. The permit-to-purchase system of 114 is built to fail, imposing an unfunded administrative burden on law enforcement that will cost local departments significantly, and take resources away from actual public safety work. HB 3075 offers no improvement and makes the process more restrictive by increasing fees and waiting periods.It leaves legitimate, law-abiding gun purchasers high and dry, mandating training that it makes no provision to provide or even to make accessible, creating a redundant system of background checks. It could take months or years to obtain a permit.The magazine restrictions are arbitrary, and criminalizing possession of lawfully purchased property is simply wrong. Modifications are inadequate to protect law-abiding firearms owners from potential prosecution under arbitrary standards and powers.Treating thousands of law-abiding and upstanding citizens as potential criminals is corrosive to the values of the state of Oregon, fosters deep distrust of government, exacerbates a deep and painful urban/rural divide, and does nothing at all to address the fundamental social issues that underpin violent crime.It is highly probable that these measures will find themselves before the the U.S. Supreme Court, and we can expect our rights to be vindicated — but it will take precious years, and the damage to our rights and our way of life will have already been done.
Matthew says
I’m not a gun guy, but I was always confused by gun control. It’s like they don’t know that person can murder another with a knife or a rock or even bare hands. If a person is committed to killing a person they will find a way. The only thing gun control might do is stop mass shootings and while those certainly happen and are horrible and I am not even sure of that. Not that you can tell people that. Of course, like many “progressive” policies, its supporters are more concerned with feeling good about themselves than the actual consequences of the policies.
Hammer says
Very well said. As a long-time resident of a neighboring state (Idaho) it is really frustrating to see the drift that has happened in Oregon politics. This is not only absurd over-reach, it is fundamentally illegal, by virtue of the Constitution.
Increasingly, I have come to believe that they only remedy is going to be an Administration – and just as importantly, a Congress that actually has a spine, declaring that states that pass laws that are a clear violation of the Constitution will have all of their federal funding withheld until they comply with the most fundamental laws of the land.
In the meantime, you are always welcome in Idaho, compadre.
JimC says
Alternative abodes are definitely on the horizon.
Wayne says
I have a 15 shot clip for my Ruger 10 .22, so I guess I could be in the cell next to you despite the fact that I was a hunter safety educator with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission a for years.
Chuck says
When we recently left AZ I truly wanted to consider Oregon, but was concerned about the gun laws set by Salem & Portland. We chose Idaho instead and are very, very happy here.
I was planning on getting an OR CCW, but may reconsider. This will make driving to Cour D’Alene more challenging.
Perhaps this will feed the Greater Idaho movement?
JimC says
It certainly will, but the movement doesn’t want Deschutes County.
Quixotic Mainer says
“Good faith efforts cannot be undertaken with bad faith actors”.
Very fine words aptly describing a very poor situation, and applicable to so many societal endeavors! Here’s hoping heavier gavels in higher points of legal elevation will stand it off. We just jettisoned an arbitrary 72 hour waiting period in that fashion, so there’s hope!
JimC says
That’s good to hear.
Paul McNamee says
Here on Evacuation Day, I’m feeling like the British at Yorktown- World Turned Upside-down. Barely know where to start with all the political ratholes currently in process.
Ugly Hombre says
We all know that the Democrat bull chit stories “Common sense gun Laws” and “If it only saves one life” we just that- gaslit bull chit stories. If it was their true sentiments and they wanted public safety- they would not have opened the border and imported 20 million + illegal alien criminals into the country who unleashed a reign of terror and death on American citizens.
The late great is a gawd awful mess twenty years of one party rule- they just tried to pass a law that basically stated that if savages invade your house and shoot your dog you need to run out the back door or get charged with murder. Much to my surprise it got shot down, but it will be back sure as chit.
Choose wisely when you cast your ballot. so you can keep your bullets..
36 ways best is to get out- recommend people do that while they are still spry. Its good to try to stop the deluge fight back and reason with the left- but when you are massively out manned odds are not good.
a slim hope in the late great as it has gotten so bat chit crazy and the lies and bull chit have got so deep that some are waking up..
Probly its to late.
deuce says
“Choose wisely when you cast your ballot. so you can keep your bullets..”
Indeed.
“Probly its too late.”
For the Northwest, perhaps.
deuce says
3d printers (mostly) make real “gun control” unfeasible. That rarely gets addressed.
Very sorry to hear this (utterly predictable) news, Jim. Democracy! Are you ready to join ‘Greater Idaho’ yet?
Just talked to an ol’ boy yesterday who moved here with his wife from s-e Washington a few years ago. He said he was tired of waiting for eastern Washington to become part of Idaho. Said he couldn’t be happier here. Just sayin’, Jim.
Ugly Hombre says
The population of the R.P was disarmed in the 70’s etc when I lived there. Found out real fast I would not want to be a citizen in such a place.
A.) You need to register your weapons B.) We know who you are, what you have, and what you own. C.) Turn them in or we will turn you in.
It was great for the crooks, robbers, killers and the political class. it was not worth a damn for the honest Pinoy trying to live right and make a decent living for his family.
The platform of the Democrat party is disarmament of citizens- they blow smoke, lie, jive and obfuscate but its a fact. E.G Obama shooting skeet or Tampo Tim- loading his shotgun. lol
No thanks….
Joe says
Couldn’t agree more with your testimony. The permit system sounds like a mess. And don’t get me started on arbitrary magazine caps. I admit my ignorance when it comes to Oregon’s rural-urban rift, culture, and politics, but it seems like these measures are just pouring fuel on an already blazing fire, forcing law-abiding folks into a bureaucratic nightmare while ignoring the real drivers of crime.
JimC says
Yep. It’s extremely alienating, and we don’t need more of that.