Sheriffs are Refusing to Enforce Oregon’s Latest Gun Grab 

Numerous sheriffs in Oregon stated that they will not carry out the state’s new gun control law that imposes limits on magazine capacity. These sheriffs argued that the provision infringes on the Second Amendment.

According to Jack Phillips of The Epoch Times, Oregon voters gave the green light to Measure 114 (Reduction of Gun Violence Act), on the November 8, 2022  midterm elections. Under this gun grab, magazines that hold over 10 rounds are prohibited, which is a standard anti-gun measure present in solid blue states such as California, Illinois, and New York. 

Various county sheriffs have gone public about their opposition to the law or several provisions of the law. 

“The biggest thing is this does absolutely nothing to address the problem,” Sheriff Cody Bowen of Union County said to Fox News on November 15. “The problem that we have is not… magazine capacity. It’s not background checks. It’s a problem with mental health awareness. It’s a problem with behavior health illness.”

Bowen continued: “Society as a whole is a bigger problem rather than saying that, you know, the guns are killing people.” 

“There’s just no way possible for us to enforce that and nor would I simply because it’s an infringement on our Second Amendment, you know, our right to keep and bear arms,” the Union County sheriff added. He also noted that this measure would not lower the amount of shootings occurring in the state.

Malheur County Sheriff Brian Wolfe announced that he won’t enforce the newly passed magazine limit. 

“I don’t think this is superseding anything. I don’t believe that I am superseding state law by not enforcing it. Anybody in law enforcement, including the state police, including the governor, has to pick and choose what laws they are going to be able to enforce,” he said to a local media out.

On November 9, 2022, Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan said in a Facebook post that she wants “to send a clear message to Linn County residents that the Linn County Sheriff’s Office is NOT going to be enforcing magazine capacity limits.”

“This measure is poorly written and there is still a lot that needs to be sorted out regarding the permitting process, who has to do the training and what exactly does the training have to cover,” Duncan declared. She noted that “immediate lawsuit” should be filed against this measure. 

Curiously, the majority of counties in Oregon opposed this measure, showing a stark urban vs. rural divide. Only 6 out of 36 counties approved this measure. Phillips observed that “The counties that had a majority of voters who voted in favor of it were located in and around Portland, the state’s largest city; the county that includes Eugene; the county that includes the city of Corvallis, the home of Oregon State University; and Lincoln County, located on the coast.”

According to Guns & Ammo magazine’s best states for gun owners rankings, Oregon is ranked in 32nd place. Undoubtedly, these passage of this measure will make Oregon fall further down these rankings as it consolidates its anti-gun status. 

It’s unlikely that pro-gun forces will be able to take back the state government anytime soon. In turn, local resistance from sheriffs and other local actors is needed to nullify these blatantly unconstitutional acts. That’s how the cookie crumbles in today’s Clown World politics.

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