Majority Democrats in Salem are pushing hard to move legislation which would enact provisions of anti-gun Measure 114, reportedly with “some modifications,” which include increases in the cost of gun permits in Oregon.
Oregon Live is reporting that opponents of House Bill 3075-2 contend the language will hurt law-abiding gun owners and still wind up being challenged in court.
The Oregon Firearms Federation contends HB 3075 and House Bill 3076 are both passed, it will “make it virtually impossible to purchase firearms in Oregon.” This has been the contention of Measure 114 opponents since the initiative was first announced three years ago. The measure, which passed by a razor-thin 50.7 percent of the vote in November 2022 has been tied up in legal challenges in both state and federal courts. Democrats want it to take effect and have introduced the new legislation to essentially dance around the court delays to implement its provisions.
“These bills are the most extreme bills Oregon has ever considered and have one purpose, to end lawful firearms transfers in the state,” OFF said on its website. “If the Republicans allow these bills to pass gun rights in Oregon will be close to non-existent. The ball is in their court.”
According to OregonLive, state Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-Salem) is one of the opponents of the gun control measures. He reportedly argued the state should concentrate on prosecuting criminals who misuse firearms in crimes, instead of focusing on inconveniencing and penalizing honest citizens.
Tenets of the new legislation appear designed to discourage Beaver State residents from buying firearms. The bill will increase the permit fee from $65 to $150, a price hike of more than 100 percent. License renewals would be $110, which is still prohibitively expensive for many people. The cost set down in Measure 114 was $65.
OFF is also reporting that Senate Bill 243, which creates a waiting period. OFF is calling SB 243 “another in the series of hate based attacks on Oregon’s most law abiding citizens.”
“The bill also attacks CHL holders by creating vast new (but badly defined) areas where they will become criminals just by being close to them,” OFF maintains. The group accuses Democrats of legislating “based on their personal neuroses and irrational delusions.”
