Rowan won’t enforce criminal components of 114
By Terry Murry on Thursday, November 17th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – Sheriff Terry Rowan says his office will not enforce the criminal elements of Oregon’s new gun control measure, but will work with the Oregon State Police and other law enforcement entities to ensure the state’s permit reporting system is robust. Rowan is one of several sheriffs to say his first sworn duty is to uphold the United States Constitution, and he firmly believes that Measure 114 violates it.
“Not only do you have the Second Amendment, but you also have the Fourth Amendment that gives you the right to be safe and secure in your home,” he said. “As far as going door to door and saying, ‘Hey, we’re here to check your magazines,’ that’s never, ever going to happen.”
Rowan said he would work with law enforcement partners to make the licensing process as robust as possible to ease the burden on those applying for permits. He believes the courts will intervene in Ballot Measure 114. He also believes the measure will do nothing to deter criminal acts.
“It doesn’t go to the heart of the issue,” he said. “It only impacts law-abiding citizens. Bad guys operate in darkness and around the system and that will continue. It would have been better if they had put forth a measure to hold these offenders more accountable for violating gun laws. You have to go after the root causes instead of the bill touting the firearm is the cause of these dramatic and traumatic events that have taken place.”
Rowan said the Oregon State Sheriffs Association met twice this week and he feels the majority of its members will not be enforcing the criminal components of the bill.
Rowan discussed Ballot Measure 114 on KUMA Coffee Hour. The podcast is available at https://omny.fm/shows/coffee-hour-podcast/november-17-umatilla-county-sheriffs-office.
