Oregon’s controversial new gun control measure goes on trial

KARAH RUCKER: GUN LAWS IN OREGON COULD DRAMATICALLY CHANGE DEPENDING ON HOW A FEDERAL JUDGE RULES.

A TRIAL OVER THE STATE’S GUN CONTROL LAW BEGINS TODAY – TO SETTLE A LENGTHY LEGAL PROCESS OVER A MEASURE PASSED BY OREGON VOTERS IN NOVEMBER –OPPONENTS OF THE LAW ARGUE IT VIOLATES THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

THE TRIAL WILL BE HELD BEFORE A JUDGE AT THE U.S. FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT IN PORTLAND AND IF THE JUDGE RULES THE GUN CONTROL LAW IS NOT IN VIOLATION OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT – THEN OREGON WILL BECOME ONE OF THE MOST RESTRICTIVE STATES IN WHICH TO PURCHASE A GUN.

THE MEASURE AT HAND INCLUDES SOME OF THE TOUGHEST GUN CONTROLS IN THE NATION. IT REQUIRES RESIDENTS TO UNDERGO A SAFETY TRAINING COURSE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A PERMIT TO PURCHASE A GUN. IT REQUIRES BACKGROUND CHECKS – AND BANS THE SALE OR TRANSFER OF HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES WITH MORE THAN 10 ROUNDS.

GUN RIGHTS ADVOCATES POUNCED ON THE PROPOSAL AFTER OREGON VOTERS PASSED IT LAST YEAR. THERE ARE TWO MAJOR LAWSUITS IN PLAY PREVENTING IT FROM TAKING EFFECT. THIS ONE — CLAIMS THE MEASURE VIOLATES THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. ANOTHER ONE FILED IN STATE COURT IN RURAL SOUTHEASTERN OREGON — CLAIMS THE MEASURE VIOLATES THE STATE CONSTITUTION. THE LATTER DOESN’T GO TO TRIAL UNTIL SEPTEMBER. WHICH MEANS THE MEASURE WON’T SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY AT LEAST UNTIL THEN.

AND EVEN AFTER THAT DECISION COMES DOWN – IT’S LIKELY TO FACE AN APPEAL —

WHICH WOULD KEEP THE GUN LAWS FROM TAKING EFFECT EVEN FURTHER.

RIGHT NOW – IT’S SILENT CHAOS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE. REPUBLICAN SENATORS ARE GOING ON FIVE WEEKS  ABSENT FROM THEIR JOBS IN THE LONGEST-STAGED WALKOUT IN THE STATE’S HISTORY.

OTHER GUN SAFETY LAWS — INCLUDING ONE THAT WOULD RAISE THE MINIMUM AGE TO PURCHASE A GUN FROM 18 TO 21  — ARE STALLING OUT AMID A PARTISAN STALEMATE. BECAUSE OF THE STATE’S CURRENT GUN LAWS IN QUESTION —

GUN SALES IN THE STATE SKYROCKETED BY 400 PERCENT IN THE WAKE OF POTENTIAL CHANGE.