A movement to pass substantial gun control legislation in Oregon, accelerated by the February school shooting in Parkland, Florida, has been stymied by the biggest player in pro-gun politics: the National Rifle Association (NRA). Although 67 percent of Americans support an assault weapons ban, the NRA, along with the Oregon Firearms Federation (OFF) and the Oregon Hunters Association (OHA), has derailed two voter-led efforts to get gun control legislation on the state’s November ballot.
Gun control advocates are pushing two major initiatives this fall. The first, currently named Initiative Petition (IP) 43, would ban the sale of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines in Oregon. The second, IP 44, would hold Oregon gun owners liable if an unsupervised minor uses their firearm, would mandate that gun owners lock up their firearm when it’s not in use, and fine gun owners who fail to report a stolen or missing firearm.
Gun rights advocates dislike IP 43 and 44 for an unsurprising reason: They believe the initiatives violate the Second Amendment.