Why It Matters: Oregon’s law-abiding hunters and shooters have long played a vital role in funding conservation and wildlife management efforts throughout the state. Under the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), a unique “user pays – public benefits” structure, Oregon’s sportsmen and women generate tens of millions of dollars each year for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. These funds are generated through license sales and a 10-11% federal excise tax on sporting-related goods, including firearm purchases. If implemented, Measure 114, which was being considered by the legislature as Senate Bill 348, will impact conservation funding by decreasing the tax revenue available for wildlife management and conservation.
- On June 25, the 2023 Oregon Legislative Session adjourned Sine Die, marking the defeat for Senate Bill 348 and other firearm-related legislation that would have negatively impacted Oregon’s law-abiding hunters and recreational shooters.
- Senate Bill 348, which would have implemented the provisions of Measure 114 through legislative action, failed to advance this session and will now be left to the federal and state courts to determine the initiative petitions’ viability. If implemented, Measure 114 would ban all standard capacity magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds and would require an impossible permitting process to purchase a firearm.
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Oregon Hunters Association, and numerous other organizations that make up the Sportsmen Opposed to Gun Violence Coalition actively advocated against Senate Bill 348 throughout the legislative session and are currently supporting the NSSF-backed federal legal challenge against Measure 114.
The Oregon Legislature adjourned Sine Die from the 2023 legislative session on June 25, marking the defeat for Senate Bill 348 and several other pieces of firearm-related legislation that would have impacted Oregon’s law-abiding hunters and recreational shooters. Senate 348, which would have implemented the provisions of Measure 114 through legislative action, failed to advance this session, thus leaving the fate of the ballot measure to federal and state courts.
Oregon’s Measure 114, which narrowly passed on the November 2022 ballot, currently remains on hold while legal challenges are underway. Instead of waiting for the courts to determine the constitutionality of Measure 114, proponents of SB 348 sought to implement the ballot measure’s provisions through legislative action. SB 348, if passed, would have required an expensive and exhaustive permitting process for the lawful transfer or firearms, imposed a 3-day waiting period on firearm purchases, imposed training requirements on Oregon’s law-abiding hunters and recreational shooters, restricted firearm purchases for Oregon’s youth hunters under 21 years of age, and restricted standard capacity magazines that are commonly found in the hands of hunters and recreational shooters.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and over 20 national and state organizations actively advocated against the passage of Senate Bill 348, including submitting letters and press releases throughout the legislative session. Organized as the Sportsmen Opposed to Gun Violence Coalition, this diverse coalition of organizations originally formed to lead an opposition campaign against Measure 114 and has since been working on legal and legislative strategy, including submitting an amicus brief in May on the NSSF-backed federal lawsuit challenging the initiative.
Joining the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation in the Sportsmen Opposed to Gun Violence Coalition are the Oregon Hunters Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sportsmen’s Alliance, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Safari Club International, Mule Deer Foundation, Dallas Safari Club, National Deer Association, Oregon United Sporting Dogs Association, Oregon Trappers Association, Hunting Works for Oregon, National Trappers Association, Furtakers of America, Oregon Angler Alliance, Oregon Outdoor Council, and Oregon Wild Sheep Foundation. CSF and partner organizations will continue to monitor Measure 114 and other efforts impacting Oregon’s law-abiding hunters and recreational shooters.
