The Oregon state legislature sent a bill to the governor’s desk last week that would impose strict penalties on gun owners who fail to secure their firearms and ban firearms from being carried in some public places, including the state capitol.
The bill, which passed the House and Senate by wide margins, requires gun owners to lock their firearms with a trigger or cable lock or keep them in a secured container or “gun room.”
The firearm does not count as “secured” if a key or combination to the trigger or cable lock or the container is “readily available” to a person the gun owner has not authorized, or if the firearm is a handgun, is left unattended in a vehicle, and is within view of persons outside the vehicle.
Gun owners can also be charged with negligence if their unsecured firearm is taken and used to injure a person or property within two years of the theft. Gun owners whose firearms are stolen must report the theft within 72 hours, according to another section of the bill.
SEE ALSO: Two Oregon Counties Order Their Police to Not Enforce Most Gun Laws
Unlike many safe storage laws, this legislation allows firearms to be kept in a “gun room.” The legislation defines such a room as an area within a building enclosed by walls, a floor and a ceiling, including a closet, that has all entrances secured by a tamper-resistant lock, and that is kept locked at all times when unoccupied.
The room must be used to store firearms, ammunition, components of firearms or ammunition, or equipment for firearm-related activities.
Those caught violating the new safe storage policy could face a maximum $500 fine and up to $2,000 if a minor obtains a firearm.
Gun dealers also face new requirements as part of the legislation. Dealers must now post a sign in block letters of at least one inch in height that reads, “The purchaser of a firearm has an obligation to store firearms in a safe manner and to prevent unsupervised access to a firearm by a minor. If a minor or unauthorized person obtains access to a firearm and the owner failed to store the firearm in a safe manner, the owner may be in violation of the law.”
SEE ALSO: Oregon Pastor Cited for Shooting at Tires of Robbery Suspect’s Vehicle
In addition, the omnibus firearms legislation bans guns in the state Capitol building and in the passenger terminals of airports with over one million passenger boardings per year. Public universities, community colleges, and district school boards can also ban firearms on school grounds under the new legislation.
Finally, adding insult to injury, the bill increases the cost to purchase a concealed carry license. Previously, licensees had to pay $65 for an initial handgun license and $50 for renewal. Now, initial licenses will cost $115 and renewals will cost $75.
The bill is awaiting the signature of Democratic Gov. Kate Brown, who will almost certainly sign it.
As that lassie stands there, safe between two cops, see how she makes a ‘fig’ with each fist…
We the people will get this on a ballot and overturn this stupid bill. This may be a blue state, but it’s a gun state and the people at the Capitol don’t listen to the people. With all that’s going on I have a feeling Oregon will go red.
If the chaos in Portland did not change the substance and character of the Oregon legislature, nothing will. All that is left is for the sane eastern counties to split off and join up with Idaho.
Ignore unconstitutional “laws.” You’re the boss of your rights, not a handful of commie wannabes.
The fact remains that until the Second Amendment is repealed it is the supreme law of the land, and every law, court ruling, executive order, bureaucratic regulation and foreign treaty that infringes upon the unalienable right of law-abiding American citizens to keep and bear arms is null and void. It is the duty of we the people to remove those from government who violate their oath of office. Violating the Second Amendment is a treasonous crime that demands swift punishment. Time for all “public servants” to know there are severe consequences for violating their oaths to the Constitution of the United States.
Another stupid law passed by stupid politicians in a stupidly run state. Glad I do not live there.
Until these vipers impose strict penalties for those animals that burn and loot, I don’t think I’ll give it a second thought.
Piece of Shiiite Dims love to pass freedom-hating unConstitutional gun laws…
Good ideas! Who wants these loonies walking around the capitol building fixated on “defending themselves?”
That’s great and all…..but how are they going to enforce it….????
So much for having a firearm at the ready to defend yourself. Glad I live in Ohio!
So, if your gun is holstered as you walk around your house/property, you might still need to “secure” it with a cable lock….🤣
They only need to be locked up when “the firearm is not carried by or under the control of the owner”. So if you are carrying them around the house or working on them then you do not need to lock it up.
I know this law is not great (and stupid in many ways) but also understand that this site will try and make everything seem as unreasonable as possible since it suits their agenda to do so.
Sad that you would even slightly defend this overreach. I get keeping my stuff secure. However this type of law would prohibit my son potential life saving access if I’m not standing right there. Stand together! we can’t give them an inch or they’ll take 100 miles.
This gets overturned in the federal courts. Mandated “safety” rules will effectively disarm the public. They know it, and we know it.
Yeah, I don’t see something that mandates how you store a gun in your own home standing up in federal court.
OH, BYE THE WAY FORCING LAW ABIDING PEOPLE TO KEEP GUNS IN A SAFE IS FINE UNDER ONE CIRCUMSTANCE AND THAT WOULD BE ONLY WORTHWHILE IF THE OWNERS ARE AWAY FROM THE RESEDENCE. THAT WOULD KEEP THE EQUIPMENT SAFE FROM BEING STOLEN OR FROM CHILDREN OR MENTALLY DISABLED PEOPLE. WHEN YOUR HOME THE EQUIPMENT NEEDS TO BE READILY AVAILABLE IN SPLIT SECOND IN CASE OF A JACKASS POLITICAL FOOL ATTEMPTING TO GUIDE YOU TO THE PROMISED LAND. STAY SAFE AND STAY READY. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT LAW ABIDING CITIZENS.
My thanks to the RINOs, Lynn Findley, Bill Hansell, Bill Kennemer, Christine Drazan, Bill Post, Fred Girod, DICK Anderson, for selling out their constituents. These feckless cowards were instrumental in making Oregonians criminals, for being victims of crime.