The Pacific Northwest is in the midst of what could easily be called a “Gunfight On the Columbia River”—which may sound like the title of a 1950s Audie Murphy “B” western but is painfully accurate for gun rights activists—with a final order on Measure 114 in Oregon and a continuing stream of extremist gun control bills in Washington.
Harney County Circuit Judge Robert Raschio has signed his “final order” striking down Measure 114 as unconstitutional. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is already promising to appeal. The measure passed narrowly by voters in November 2022 would require completion of a guns safety course in order to obtain a permit to purchase a firearm in the Beaver State. The measure also bans so-called “large capacity magazines.”
As noted by the Salem Statesman Journal, the measure “has been tied up in state and federal court since it was approved by voters.” Two of the four federal lawsuits challenging the measure were filed by the Second Amendment Foundation and assorted partners.
With the Oregon Legislature ready to convene next month in Salem, the “prevailing wisdom” among gun rights activists is that the Democrat majority will try several ways to get around Judge Raschio’s ruling, even while Rosenblum is appealing.
Meanwhile, north of the Columbia, Democrats in the Washington Legislature are dishing out all kinds of gun control proposals, including a new measure to tax ammunition and add more restrictions on firearms dealers.
House Bill 2238 is sponsored by “the usual suspects.” It would add a new section to state law, creating an 11 percent tax on the sale of ammunition in addition to existing federal, state and local taxes. The bill language says this new revenue will be “appropriated to agencies and programs that are focused on gun violence prevention, including domestic violence prevention and suicide prevention programs.
The first question that must be asked is why honest gun owners should be expected to pay for such programs in the first place.
Critics have serious arguments, including this one posted online at the Facebook page of the Washington Legislative Action Group:
“This bill is another disingenuous attempt by the Democrats in Olympia to try to place further barriers to law abiding gun owners. Their gun-grabbing efforts are being thwarted by the judicial system, so in absent a complete disarming of the citizens, they do the next best thing, make it difficult to exercise their right. This bill is wrapped around the issue of veteran suicide, who could be against working to reduce that?? Unwrap the package and get the surprise inside!!”
Here are the bill’s sponsors, and by clicking on each name, readers can find contact information: Representatives Jessica Bateman, Liz Berry, Lauren Davis, Beth Doglio, Davina Duerr, Mary Fosse, Roger Goodman, Shelley Kloba, Nicole Macri, Gerry Pollet, Alex Ramel, Julia Reed, Kristine Reeves, Sharon Tomiko Santos, and My-Linh Thai.
The second gun control bill under heavy criticism is House Bill 2118. Many of the same people are sponsoring this measure, which would establish “additional requirements for the business operations of licensed firearms dealers.” This bill includes requirements for gun store security, right down to securing firearms during business hours and while the shop is closed, everything from security cameras to bars on the windows.
Critics are calling on gun owners to “flood” the legislature with messages of opposition. One man wrote, “Can’t buy guns in WA if there’s no one that can afford to be open.”
Another man posted this message on the Washington Legislative group’s Facebook page:
“In no way will this help reduce gun violence. Criminals intent on causing harm will do so regardless of any law. The government is not able to protect individuals, therefore it’s the right of the individual to protect themselves. Read the Constitution.”
Ammoland News has already covered other gun control legislation and the wish list of the Seattle-based gun prohibition lobby.
MEANWHILE: There is plenty of drama unfolding in a New York Courtroom, where the trial has just started this week involving serious allegations of misuse of member funds by National Rifle Association officials. The trial could go six weeks or more, and is being covered daily by veteran reporter Jim Shepherd, editor at The Outdoor Wire.
Soon-to-be-retired NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre has been in the courtroom; he announced his resignation last Friday, effective Jan. 31. Coverage is heavy, and a story in the Washington Post has garnered the kind of hateful comments about the organization that are predictable from typical WaPo readers.
RELATED:
- Washington Democrats File Permit-to-Purchase Bill; Training, Live Fire Required
- Washington Gun Prohibition Lobby Reveals Its 2024 Legislative Agenda
- Oregon Judge: Anti-Gun Measure 114 Unconstitutional, Permanently Enjoined
About Dave Workman
Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.
Here I thought that each state is supposed to follow the national constitution. To willfully go against the constitution which you swore to uphold, defend and ensure is treason is it not? Do we live in russia or communist china or north korea or do we live in America? Didn’t king george try this before — on us? Anybody know what happened when he did that? Maybe a good reading of the declaration of independence should be done in each and every state legislature, this MIGHT save some tar, feathers. rope, ball and powder.
Arm up and carry on
Ellen and all politicians needs a course in the Untied states constitution and to be certified in the facts that they understand and abide by it before they can be certified for office after being elected. These clowns want people to take a firearm safety course to be certified as a gun owner and I want them to take a course on constitutional law before they can take office .
All these arguments are little more than an amusing waste of time. Anti gun zealots are not interested in logic, law, history, statistics, common sense or the Constitution. They have their holy catechism, and WILL follow it. Hoping the courts rescue a state from bad gun laws is like hoping they will rescue bad schools- maybe, but it a big maybe. As long as these same sort of people are elected, you will keep getting what you are getting. Local town councils and county sheriffs with balls are the best hope.
Any lawyer who’s law degree did not come out of a Cracker Jack(r) box will take one look at HB2238 and say “Uh, no. The Supreme Court in the Minneapolis Star Tribune case already ruled against special taxes on supplies pertaining to constitutional rights. You can’t have a special tax on paper and ink. You won’t succeed with a special tax on ammunition.” But maybe the pro-tyranny group doesn’t care, knowing their legal defense funds are from bottomless State treasuries and billionaire’s couch change while our funds are limited.
In all their zeal to pretend to want to stop so called “gun crime” these dumbasses seem to have forgotten to actually punish the ones that are committing the crimes.
Leave us alone until you address your own shortcomings.
The worst 2 things a community can have is a prosecutor with no balls, and a court system that won’t set bail that actually matches the crime committed.
“Coverage is heavy, and a story in the Washington Post has garnered the kind of hateful comments about the organization that are predictable from typical WaPo readers.”
Well, Mr Powell who was in charge of the charitable wing of the NRA, signed a document stipulating to the facts and agreed to testify against LaPierre and the NRA.
I have hateful comments also.. but, my money is being spent properly at GOA. (life member)
Does Measure 114 really matter when HB2005 was passed by sentate and house and signed by Tina KoteX According to Bing AI Yes, HB 2005 became law in Oregon. The bill was signed by Governor Tina Kotek on July 13, 2023, and became effective on the same day 1. The bill regulates unfinished frames and receivers and unserialized firearms in the state, authorizing violators to receive up to a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine 2. The bill defines personally made guns and unserialized firearms as an “undetectable firearm” under state law 2. The bill’s tenets will become effective in 2024 2. I haven’t seen where this… Read more »