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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 12, 2025)
TEN - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 12, 2025 Oregon House Bill 3075 tightens firearm law Friends Helping By Chris Sykes Oregon House Bill 3075, introduced in the 2025 legislative session, is making waves as a firearm regulation measure that builds on the state’s earlier gun control effort, Ballot Measure 114 from 2022. This bill aims to tighten the rules around owning and buying guns. Supporters see it as a vital step to curb gun violence, while critics argue it’s an overreach that clash- es with constitutional rights. Here’s what the bill entails, along with the arguments for and against it. The bill expands on Ballot Measure 114, which Oregon voters narrowly approved three years ago with a 50.6% yes vote. That measure set up a permit system for buying guns and banned magazines hold- ing more than 10 rounds, though it’s still tied up in court battles. House Bill 3075 keeps the permit idea but stretches the waiting period for approval from 30 days to 60 days. It also boosts the cost, raising the initial permit fee from $65 to $150 and renewals from $50 to $100. Anyone want- ing a gun must take a safety course, pass a background check run by the Oregon State Police, and give their fingerprints. On the maga- zine front, the bill goes fur- ther than its predecessor by banning the possession of magazines over 10 rounds entirely, forcing owners to surrender or destroy them, keeping them for home or range use like before. The state will track permits in a police database, and any lawsuits against the bill must go through Marion County Circuit Court. An emergency clause means if it’s signed into law, it starts right away, skipping the usual 90-day wait. Advocates frame this as a necessary move to make communities safer. They ar- gue that the longer wait and stricter permit rules ensure only responsible people get guns, pointing to the safety course and background checks as common-sense steps. The magazine ban, they say, tackles a big prob- lem—mass shootings often involve these high-capacity clips, and getting rid of them could save lives. They also note that the emer- gency clause reflects how urgent gun violence feels, letting the law kick in fast instead of waiting around. Supporters lean on a feder- al court ruling that upheld Ballot Measure 114’s mag- azine limit, suggesting this bill could stand up to legal scrutiny too. Opponents—gun rights groups and residents— see House Bill 3075 as a step too far. They claim it stomps on the Second Amendment, which guaran- tees the right to bear arms. They’re especially upset about the magazine ban, saying it hurts self-defense since lots of modern guns, like Glocks or AR-15s, use magazines over 10 rounds as standard. The higher fees and training rules, they add, hit low-income folks hardest, making it tougher for them to exercise their rights. The database also concerns them, as it might become a record of gun owners, and limiting law- suits to one court seems like rigging the system. The emergency clause, they say, rushes things and shuts out public push- backs, unlike the delays that slowed Ballot Measure 114. If it becomes law, ex- pect court challenges fast, especially with that emer- gency clause pushing it into action right away. Friends welcomes all this weekend By Doris Brosnan Friends Helping Friends will have their wel- come sign up this weekend again, and they look for- ward to seeing even more people than they hosted last year. On Saturday, “Friends” will open the doors to the Methodist Church gath- ering room to welcome everyone who plans to walk or run in the Shamrock Memory Walk and anyone who just wants to come for the pre-function social time. “Eats and treats,” an- nounces a spokesperson. Individuals who plan to participate as walkers or runners will check in before the 9:30 start time. The minimal cost is $5. Each participant will receive a commemorative wrist band. At 9:30, conversation and consumption of treats in the church must end as the participants gather for a group picture and begin their trek along the trail of shamrock posters featur- ing photos and memorable comments about deceased loved ones being honored. Print & Mailing Services *Design *Print Sykes Publishing *Mail 541-676-9228
