Fox News is reporting that Oregon residents are “flocking to gun stores” as the Dec. 8 enactment of Measure 114 looms, and State Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has asked the court to delay implementation of the purchase permit requirement for a month.
At least four federal lawsuits have been filed against Measure 114 including two involving the Second Amendment Foundation. The National Shooting Sports Foundation filed a third challenge, which is supported by the National Rifle Association, and the Oregon Firearms Federation filed one. All contend the measure is unconstitutional, a position that could be easier to prove in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Bruen ruling in June.
In a bristling reaction to Rosenblum’s request, OFF called Measure 114 “an overturned outhouse dimed in the laps of law enforcement.” This is because Oregon lawmen and women have announced they cannot be up and running to issue permits by this Thursday’s implementation date.
The group is predicting gun sales in the state will literally shut down Thursday, without court action. The legal actions are all hopeful the federal court will enjoin the state from enforcing the new law and issue a temporary restraining order until the constitutionality of the law can be determined.
As Fox News acknowledged, “There is much confusion over what will happen when the law takes effect Dec. 8. Gun store owners and local police have said the permit system will not be ready in time.”
A message last Friday from the Oregon State Police on Facebook said “transactions that are not completed with an approval number by midnight on December 7, 2022, will require the purchaser to initiate their permit application to obtain a Permit-to-Purchase before their FICS transaction can resume. This means your FICS transaction will not be canceled on December 8th. Once the purchaser has an approved permit, the FICS transaction will resume.”
The narrowly-approved citizen initiative (50.7-49.3%) was supported by Willamette valley liberals while conservatives and gun owners from the rest of the state opposed it.
US District Judge Karin Immergut is aware the permit process will not be up and running by Thursday. As noted by KOIN news, the Attorney General’s letter to Immergut “acknowledged that ‘leaders of the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association and the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police” submitted sworn statements that no one in the state would be able to complete the in-person firearm safety training on December 8 that Measure 114 requires.’”
