Oregon Court of Appeals rules Measure 114 is constitutional
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, March 12th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
SALEM – The Oregon Court of Appeals has overturned a ruling by Harney County Judge Robert Raschio and declared Oregon’s narrowly-approved gun control ordinance is in keeping with the state constitution. The Oregon Department of Justice appealed the ruling to the higher court. It is now anticipated that the two individuals who brought the suit in Harney County Circuit Court will carry their arguments to the Oregon Supreme Court.
This is not the only court case against the gun control ordinance. A suit in federal court saw a Portland judge rule it constitutional. That is currently before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Those bringing the federal suit, including Umatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan, anticipate that once it passes the hurdle of a court that’s viewed as liberal, the U.S. Supreme Court will overturn the ruling.
Ballot Measure 114 requires people to complete a gun safety class and a federal background check before they can purchase a firearm. It also bans the future purchase of magazines that carry more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
The Oregon Senate Republican Caucus issued a statement decrying the state Appeals Court ruling:
“Measure 114 is an alarming attack on the constitutional rights of responsible Oregonians. It was poorly conceived from the start, creating a bureaucratic nightmare for law enforcement and infringing on the rights of law-abiding gun owners. The measure does nothing to address crime, hold criminals accountable, or improve public safety. Instead, it criminalizes responsible citizens while making it harder for them to protect themselves and their families.
“We have already seen the legal and logistical chaos caused by this law. It was immediately challenged in court, with a Harney County judge rightfully blocking it due to clear constitutional concerns. Yet now, despite years of legal uncertainty and overwhelming opposition from rural communities and law enforcement, the Court of Appeals has decided to ignore the real-world consequences and push forward an extreme, unworkable policy.
“Requiring a permit to exercise a constitutional right is an outrageous overreach, and restricting magazine capacity will do nothing to stop violent criminals. Our law enforcement agencies are already stretched thin, and Measure 114 will only make their jobs harder by forcing them to dedicate time and resources to a permitting scheme that serves no public safety purpose.
“Oregonians deserve laws that actually target criminals, not laws that punish law-abiding citizens for exercising their fundamental rights. Senate Republicans will continue fighting for policies that protect both public safety and individual freedoms. We urge the Oregon Supreme Court to take up this case and uphold the constitutional rights of Oregonians.”
