Oregon gun advocates push for stricter laws after Bend school shooting

Oregon gun control advocates are urging state leaders to implement stricter firearm regulations following a mass shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend on October 15. The incident, in which a 16-year-old gunman killed three children and a teacher, has intensified calls for additional measures despite Oregon ranking 12th in the nation for gun safety laws.

A key point of contention is Measure 114, approved by voters in 2022, which would ban high-capacity magazines and require safety training for gun purchasers. The measure is currently awaiting a final ruling from the Oregon Supreme Court and is set to take effect in January 2028 if upheld. Advocates argue that mandatory safety courses and stricter background checks could prevent incidents where minors gain access to unsupervised firearms.

Legal experts note that while Oregon law allows family members to transfer long guns to minors without registration, safe storage laws require adult supervision. Violations of these storage laws currently carry a civil penalty of up to $2,000, a figure critics describe as insufficient. Some advocates are also pushing for harsher criminal penalties for safe storage violations and for the state to allow individuals to petition judges to temporarily remove firearms from themselves if they are experiencing suicidal tendencies.

Read the full story at Oregon Capital Chronicle.