Gun enthusiasts in Oregon are scrambling to stockpile firearms before a new buy-back law takes effect that would dramatically tighten the state’s gun regulations.
Carl Durkheimer, the owner of a northwest Oregon gun store south of Portland, told Fox News that gun sales have hit a 30-year high in recent weeks as Oregonians await a judge’s decision on whether to initiate stricter permits. . -the procurement law is postponed until Thursday.
“Two things are happening. There’s a fear that they can’t get a gun, but there’s a real logistics that they can’t do background checks,” Durkheimer said Wednesday on “American Reports.”
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Customers line up at the Northwest Armory on December 6, 2022 in Milwaukee, Oregon.
(Hannah Rae Lambert/)
A new law that requires Oregonians to obtain a permit to purchase a firearm prohibits the manufacture, purchase or sale of ammunition magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds.
Supporters of the measure say it would curb violent crime in the state, as well as accidental deaths and suicides. However, critics say the law limits the state’s ability to exercise Second Amendment Rights.
Durkheimer shared a photo of the congested parking lot in front of her store, saying she fears Oregonians won’t be able to get one in the near future if they don’t apply for a permit soon.
“It takes a year for an Oregonian to get a permit,” Durkehimer said. “If the permit’s effective date happens in the next 30 days, say some judges, an Oregon citizen will not be able to purchase a firearm anywhere in the United States. This is a violation. Oregonians will be deprived of their constitutional rights.”
Oregon’s Measure 114 narrowly passed the ballot box last month, with 50.7 percent of Oregonians supporting gun restrictions. Durkheimer blamed Multnomah County residents and politicians in Salem for pushing the measure through.
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The parking lot at the Northwest Armory was overflowing on November 25, 2022, as Oregonians rushed to purchase gun and ammunition magazines.
(Photo by Karl Durkheimer)
“The rights of Oregonians are being trampled right now by the voters of Multnomah County, the politicians in Salem, and I’ve lived in Multnomah County most of my life. There is some disconnect. I see a lot of disconnect between legal gun ownership and gun ownership.” violent crime and mental health crisis,” he said. “Portland has a violent crime problem. Oregon doesn’t.”
The Oregon Department of Justice asked for the measure to be delayed after law enforcement officials were fully informed about the lack of infrastructure, funding and staffing to create a permit-to-purchase program. A federal judge is expected to rule later this week on whether to move the start date of the measures.
“Oregon is the point of contact for the FBI, so the Oregon State Police does background checks. It’s a quick background check. Typically, 90% of people are approved within minutes, seconds,” Durkheimer said.
A customer is shopping for a handgun at a local store.
(Scott Olson/Getty Images)
With the police department already stretched thin, Durkheimer said, about 36,000 people have had background checks delayed “because the state doesn’t have the resources to do their jobs properly like they’ve been doing for 23 years.” “.
According to OSP, anyone who does not have a background check completed by Dec. 8 or later must wait to receive a purchase permit.
Fox News’ Hannah Rae Lambert contributed to this report.