Brown signs omnibus gun control bill into law
(The Center Square) – Oregon gun owners will have to pay out of pocket to lock their weapons away and come unarmed to protests under a bill signed into law this week.
The omnibus gun control bill combined two bills which set statewide standards for gun storage and allowing local governments to set up “gun-free zones” guns in public places. Gov. Kate Brown signed it into law on Wednesday.
SB 2510 was intended to reduce suicides and domestic violence involving guns. It has gun owners to store their weapons in a locked container at all times with a padlock or trigger cable and gives them 72 hours to report thefts.
Supporters hailed SB 2510 as a common sense safety measure akin to wearing a seatbelt. Opponents have railed against it as a ‘backdoor tax‘ on gun owners that will hamper their right to self-defense.
SB 554 gives municipalities the power to ban guns in such places as public parks and buildings. It raises the cost of concealed handgun licenses and give shooting victims the right to sue for damages. Violating gun-free zone laws would count as a felony.
Gun control continues to be a hot button issue in Oregon and across the country as states endure a host of mass shootings. Guns have become a constant sight at far-right rallies around the state, especially in Salem where political protests have sparked street violence and pushback from law enforcement.
In Oregon, a religious coalition has announced plans to gather signatures to put two initiatives on the 2022 ballot. IP 18 would ban the sale of assault weapons. IP 17 would ban high-capacity magazines, requiring gun buyers to complete a background check and live-fire training in a classroom. Neither are mandatory in Oregon for open-carry.
The two initiatives need 140,000 signatures by July 8, 2022 to make the next step to being ballot-ready.
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