Big news for my fellow Oregonians: the fight over gun rights here in the pacific northwest is heating up again. As of March 12, 2025, Measure 114—the voter-backed gun control law from 2022—and a fresh legislative push, HB 3075, are here to attempt to further muddle the waters of Oregon’s ever-increasing firearms laws.
If you’re someone who cares about keeping your Second Amendment rights intact, here’s the rundown on what’s happening, why it’s a big deal, and what might come next for the Beaver State.
Measure 114: Court Chaos and a Temporary Win for Freedom
Let’s kick off with Measure 114, otherwise known as the Reduction of Gun Violence Act. I had only recently moved back to my home State of Oregon when it squeaked by with 50.7% of the vote in November 2022, aiming to tighten the screws on gun ownership.
The plan? Require a permit to buy any firearm—complete with background checks, safety training, and fingerprinting—plus a ban on magazines holding more than 10 rounds.
Sounds straightforward on paper but what no one seemed to think about was how anyone expected the already overworked and understaffed Oregon State Police to handle all of this in addition to the Oregon Firearms Instant Check System (FICS) we use.
On March 8, 2025, the Oregon Court of Appeals flipped the script, ruling Measure 114 constitutional under the state’s constitution.
This overturned a 2023 Harney County Circuit Court decision that had slammed it as a violation of your right to bear arms and locked it down with a permanent injunction. The Appeals Court argued it fits Oregon’s rules for regulating guns, but we don’t have to start sweating yet—it’s not in effect.
Challengers have until about mid-April to take it to the Oregon Supreme Court, and pro-2A groups like the Oregon Firearms Federation are gearing up for that fight. They understandably and naturally see this as a direct attack on a fundamental freedom, and they’re not wrong to question how far the state can push before it crosses the line.
Federally, it’s a different story. In July 2023, a U.S. District Judge gave Measure 114 the green light under the Second Amendment, and that’s still grinding through the Ninth Circuit. But the state-level hold is what’s keeping it stalled for now. Gun shops, sheriffs, and regular folks like you and me are left hanging—will this thing stick, or will the Supreme Court squash it? The clock’s ticking.
HB 3075: The Legislature’s Sneaky Sequel
While the battle over Measure 114 continues to rage on in court, the Oregon Legislature is cooking up HB 3075 in the background for a secondary line of attack.
Introduced in the 2025 session, this bill tweaks Measure 114’s permit rules but doubles down hard. It stretches the permit waiting period from 30 to 60 days, hikes fees from $65 to $150, and demands proof of a safety course—moves that have gun-owning Oregonians seeing red.
Worse, it slaps an “emergency” label on itself, meaning if it passes, it’s law the second the governor signs it, no voter challenge allowed. That’s a power play to dodge the courts and ram it through fast.
Supporters obviously claim it’s about safety, pointing to stats from states where permit laws cut gun violence.
But here’s the rub: HB 3075 doesn’t just stop bad guys; it burdens law-abiding citizens with red tape and costs that could price out and time out plenty of folks who just want to protect themselves.
The pro-2A crowd calls it Measure 114 2.0—a rehashed attack on your rights, dressed up as reform. They’re not exaggerating when they say it feels like the state’s at war with gun owners.
What’s at Stake and What’s Next
Here’s the deal: Measure 114’s still on hold, but if the Oregon Supreme Court upholds it—or if HB 3075 sails through—the landscape changes fast.
You’re looking at permits that could take months to get and drain your wallet, plus a magazine ban that turns an item you likely have dozens of into contraband overnight. It’s a slippery slope to broader restrictions—once the government gets a foot in the door, it rarely stops pushing.
The Appeals Court ruling nods to self-defense rights but says bans like this are fine. Pro-2A folks counter that the Oregon Constitution’s “right to bear arms for the defense of themselves” isn’t just decoration—it’s a promise.
The same goes for the Second Amendment. HB 3075’s “emergency” tag only fuels the fire, hinting at a legislature itching to bypass the people it’s supposed to serve. As a lifetime gun owner and law-abiding citizen, do I get an “emergency” $150 for the permit cost plus the cost of the classes I have to take since the state just decided to deem me a criminal overnight?
For now, Measure 114’s fate hinges on that Supreme Court appeal, due by mid-April. HB 3075’s moving through the Judiciary Committee, and with Democrats holding sway, it’s got legs.
If you’re pro-2A, this is your heads-up: stock up, speak out, and keep an eye on Salem. The fight’s not over, but the stakes are sky-high for gun owning Oregonians.
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