Bowles will not make part of Ballot Measure 114 an enforcement priority
By Terry Murry on Friday, November 18th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HEPPNER – The following is a statement issued by Morrow County Sheriff John A. Bowles.
While waiting to see if Ballot Measure 114 is going to be certified into law, I have received several inquiries regarding where I stand on the measure.
I did not promote or advocate for the passing of Ballot Measure 114. I am an advocate for people’s rights, safety, security, and livability. This measure will not help increase any of those objectives. This measure will make it more difficult and more expensive for law abiding citizens to exercise their second amendment right. And here is a news flash, criminals do not follow the law. Law abiding citizens will work to comply with this law and criminals will not.
So, what is this measure going to accomplish???
In Morrow County, Measure 114 failed by a count of 20.14% Yes to a count of 79.86% No. Measure 114 will require a permit from law enforcement for citizens to purchase a firearm. Applicants will be required to complete safety training, pass a criminal background check, and receive a permit from local law enforcement city or county. Then complete another background check by the Oregon State Police prior to the purchase of a firearm.
This measure also prohibits the manufacturing, importing, purchasing, selling, possessing, using, or transferring ammunition magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds and makes violations a class A misdemeanor (punishable by up to 364 days in jail, a fine of up to $6,250 or both). This portion of Measure 114 will not be an enforcement priority and we will not be knocking on doors to see if law abiding citizens have a magazine that can hold more than ten rounds.
Measure 114 will be another unfunded mandate. Having to use current staff to comply with measure 114 requirements will negatively affect other public services. Yet local law enforcement will be tasked with creating, implementing, and staffing the required permitting process. This will be a strain on local budgets, staffing and resources. Moving forward, Sheriffs, Chiefs, Oregon State Sheriffs Association, Oregon Association Chiefs of Police, and Oregon State Police will be collaborating to create an efficient permitting process.
My priority is to provide safety, security, and livability, while protecting the rights of all Morrow County citizens and visitors. I can see the possibility of Measure 114 being challenged in court and a stay being granted while it is worked out in our court system. If this measure is enacted into law, I will work diligently to put an efficient permitting process in place.
As Morrow County Sheriff, I swore under oath to support the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution and laws of the State of Oregon. I take this oath very seriously and will work within the law to protect the Constitutional Rights of all people.
John A. Bowles, Morrow County Sheriff
The accompanying photo is from when Bowles was Morrow County’s undersheriff. He was named sheriff recently.
