Gun Laws in Oregon
Gun Friendliness Score
How We Calculate Gun Friendliness Scores
The Gun Friendliness Score ranges from 0 to 100 and represents how favorable a state's laws are toward gun ownership and use. We evaluate each state across 50 key gun policies, assigning points based on how these policies affect gun owners:
- Policies that support gun rights, reduce restrictions, or expand legal protections for gun owners receive positive points
- Policies that restrict firearm ownership, limit purchase options, or add regulatory burdens receive negative points
Oregon's low score of 12 reflects the state's restrictive laws including universal background checks, magazine capacity limits, secure storage requirements, and limited concealed carry reciprocity.
Oregon Gun Laws Summary
Oregon has implemented some of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, consistently ranking among the least gun-friendly states. The state has extensive regulations on firearms and ammunition, often going well beyond federal requirements and imposing significant additional burdens on gun owners.
Oregon is a shall-issue state for concealed handgun licenses, with county sheriffs handling permit issuance. However, the state has implemented numerous restrictions and requirements that make obtaining and maintaining a permit more difficult than in most states. Oregon does not recognize concealed carry permits from most other states.
In recent years, Oregon has significantly expanded its gun control measures. Ballot Measure 114, passed in November 2022, introduced permit-to-purchase requirements and magazine capacity restrictions, though implementation has faced legal challenges. The state also requires universal background checks for all firearm transfers and has implemented secure storage requirements.
Permitting, Sales and Transfers
Oregon requires background checks for all firearm sales and transfers, including private sales between individuals. All transfers must go through a federally licensed dealer (FFL) or be conducted at a gun show where background check services are available, with limited exceptions for family members and temporary transfers.
Ballot Measure 114, passed in 2022, established a permit-to-purchase system requiring individuals to obtain a permit before purchasing any firearm. The measure also includes training requirements, though implementation has been delayed due to ongoing legal challenges.
Firearms in Public and in the Home
Oregon requires a concealed handgun license (CHL) to carry a concealed firearm. The minimum age is 21, and applicants must complete a training course, pass a background check, and demonstrate competency with a handgun. Oregon has limited reciprocity, recognizing permits from only a handful of states.
Open carry is generally legal without a permit for those 18 and older who can legally possess firearms, though many localities prohibit or restrict open carry in public places. Portland and several other cities have enacted local restrictions on open carry. Certain locations prohibit all carry, including schools, federal buildings, and many public buildings.
Firearm, Feature and Accessory Bans
Oregon has implemented magazine capacity restrictions limiting most magazines to 10 rounds, though enforcement has been stayed pending legal challenges. The state does not have an "assault weapons" ban but has considered such legislation. All NFA items are legal to own provided federal requirements are met, though the state has additional restrictions on some items like suppressors in certain hunting situations.
Local Laws
Oregon has limited preemption of local gun laws. While state law prevents local governments from regulating most aspects of firearm ownership and transfer, localities retain authority over carrying firearms in public places and can enact their own restrictions. This has created a patchwork of local regulations, particularly regarding open carry, that varies significantly between jurisdictions.
2025 Gun Law Checklist
Oregon Gun Policy Profile: 50 Key Legislative Points
Purchasing and Sales Regulations
Background Check for Any Firearm Sale
State requires any firearm sale to go through a licensed dealer (FFL) and be subject to a background check. (Federal law requires those "engaged in the business" of buying/selling firearms to perform a background check during a sale). A private sale or transfer of any firearm between individuals (non-family members) must be also conducted through an FFL.
Background Check for Any Handgun Sale (Including Private Sales)
All handgun sales and most transfers are subject to a background check. Private sales of handguns between individuals (non-family members) must be conducted through an FFL.
Background Check Extensions
State will halt the transfer of a firearm if a background check is delayed. Some states will halt the process indefinitely, some for a set amount of time.
Failed Background Check Reported to Law Enforcement
The firearm dealer (or state agency conducting the background check) has a responsibility to notify local law enforcement of a failed background check.
Must be 21 or Older to Purchase
Most firearms–including rifles, shotguns, and handguns–cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 21. (Federal laws permit long guns to be sold to those over the age of 18.)
Permit to Purchase
State requires a permit (single-use or renewable) for all firearms or specifically for handguns. States typically charge a fee for the permit and a background check is performed during the application.
Mandatory Waiting Periods
Prior to purchasing a firearm, an individual must wait a specified period (typically between 3-14 days) between initiating the purchase and taking possession of the firearm.
State Licenses All Gun Dealers
State has a licensing system for firearms merchants above and beyond the federal (FFL) system.
Purchase Rejected for Public Safety Reasons
State officials able to block sales of firearms if the purchaser is deemed to be a threat to themselves or to public safety (according to the judgment of the official)
Approved Handgun Roster
State controls what make and model handguns are sold; according to their own criteria. Often, this involves a "roster" of approved handguns with the right "safety" features, such as a loaded chamber indicator, or even the amount of metal in the firearm (Maryland). Often, LE are exempt from these requirements.
Strict Unfinished Frames and Receivers Laws
State sets a lower threshold for unfinished frames and receivers (beyond ATF rule 2021R-05F). Includes ban on 3D-printing of these parts in some states.
Ownership and Registration Requirements
Permit to Possess
Several states require a permit just to possess: a handgun (New York); any firearms or ammunition (Illinois).
State Firearm or Handgun Registry
State keeps a record of every firearm or handgun sold. Includes states with a permit to purchase and states that keep records of purchases.
Mandatory Firearms Training
Prior to purchasing a firearm, an individual must prove they completed the state ordered training. Often, this is part of the application process for a Permit to Purchase.
Secure Storage Requirement
Gun owners must lock up firearms in the home (or anywhere else a minor or prohibited person may have access).
Magazine Capacity Limits
State limits magazine capacity for some or all firearms.
"Assault Weapons" Ban
Magazine fed, semi-automatic, centerfire rifles cannot have other "features" (pistol grip, flash hider, etc.) or they are considered "assault weapons." New guns cannot be registered as "assault weapons." Possession is prohibited with limited exceptions.
Microstamping Law
State has a law banning the sale of a new pistol unless its firing can imprint its serial number somewhere on the cartridge case during firing. This technology is make-believe at present, but these laws will effectively ban the sale of new handguns in the state if/when they become effective
Penalties for Not Reporting a Lost or Stolen Firearm
Gun owners must report the loss or theft of firearms–usually within several days of the incident or first discovering the loss–or potentially face a criminal penalty.
Carry and Location Restrictions
Mandatory Permit for Concealed Carry
State requires a permit to carry a concealed pistol. This includes all states that "may issue" a permit (where officials may deny a permit for subjective reasons).
Officials Can Deny Carry Permit
State allows the carry permit officials to deny an application based on the state's own criteria.
Open Carry Limited or Banned
State restricts open carry to rifles and shotguns or bans open carry completely unless you are LE or special permit holder.
No Carry Mandate for College Campuses
State has not passed a blanket law permitting concealed carry on college campuses.
Gun Ban on Most Public Property
State limits or bans any type of carry in and around government facilities (state, county, municipal) and/or limits carry of firearms in parades and demonstrations
Guns Banned in Bars
State prohibits carry inside bars or consumption of alcohol while carrying.
No Guns in K-12 Schools
Only LE (and in some states, specially licensed school officials) may carry on school property.
Does Not Recognize Other States' Carry Permits
State doesn't consider concealed carry permits from other states valid
Prohibited Persons and Possession Restrictions
Felons are Also Prohibited Persons at State Level
State has a law prohibiting felons from owning guns and ammo, even though federal law already does this.
Fugitives are Also Prohibited Persons at State Level
State has a law prohibiting fugitives from justice from owning guns and ammo, even though federal law already does this.
Involuntarily Committed are Also Prohibited Persons at State Level
State has a law prohibiting those who have been involuntarily committed (to a psychiatric hospital or mental institution), or those found to be a danger to themselves or others from owning guns and ammo. Federal law already prohibits anyone found to be mentally defective or committed to a mental institution at 16 years or older.
Violent Offenders Cannot Possess
State will take away firearms, deny future possession, or at minimum deny future purchase of firearms for certain misdemeanor crimes of violence (besides domestic violence violence).
Domestic Violence Offenders Also Prohibited Persons at State Level
State has a law prohibiting those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from owning guns and ammo, even though federal law already does this
Stalkers are Prohibited Persons at the State Level
State has either made stalking a felony (instant prohibitor) or makes an individual convicted of misdemeanor stalking a prohibited person.
Intervention and Seizure Provisions
Red Flag Law
Law enforcement (and others, depending on the state) is allowed to request that firearms be taken away from others with limited due process.
Emergency Gun Seizure Before Restraining Orders
Similar to a red flag law, state will take away guns before an actual conviction. This is often during domestic disputes, before a restraining order takes effect, and in similar situations.
Guns Seized for Hate Crimes
State will take away all firearms from an individual in response to a misdemeanor hate crime conviction.
Guns Seized After Becoming Prohibited
State will quickly respond when an individual's status changes to prohibited and take away all firearms belonging to that person.
Guns Seized After Domestic Violence Conviction
State will quickly respond to take away firearms from an individual if they are convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence.
Guns Seized Amid Restraining Orders
State will take away all firearms from anyone who is subject to a restraining order, even though federal law already does this.
No Stand Your Ground Law
State imposes a "duty to retreat" before using force or requires "proportional force" when responding to an attack or dangerous situation with force.
Monitoring and Threat Assessment
Mental Health Database
State maintains records of anyone that has been committed or involuntarily committed to psychiatric hospitals. They send this information to the FBI for use by the NICS (or when conducting a state background check, if applicable).
School Officials Conduct Threat Assessments
Teams of mostly school officials are empowered by law to refer children for mental health assessments or take more drastic action if they believe the child poses a threat to themselves or others.
Mandatory Tracing of "Crime Guns"
Law enforcement must use either a state system or the federal firearm tracing system to research any firearm recovered from a crime scene or used in a crime.
Law Enforcement Oversight and Accountability
No LE Officers Bill of Rights
Some states never passed (or passed and later repealed) a set of basic protections for public safety officers. These protections vary by state. They often include the right to engage in political activity and run for public office, and the right to refuse a lie detector test, among other things.
Heavy Restrictions on LE Use of Deadly Force
State laws severely limit the discharge of firearms to apprehend criminals, including against individuals suspected of murder or fleeing a felony in many cases.
Reports for LE Deadly Force Incidents
Law enforcement agencies are required to report any officer-involved shootings that result in serious injury or death. Monthly or annual reports are compiled using this data and made available to the public.
No Qualified Immunity Defense Laws
In civil court, LE officials may not use a defense of qualified immunity if they are accused of certain civil rights violations. This includes situations in which a firearm was used.
Prevention and Support Programs
Dedicated Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Some states have passed legislation creating gun violence prevention offices that target "community gun violence." Taxpayer funds are used to support these programs, which may have little to no effect on violent crime.
Funding for Services of Victims of Gun Violence
Some states maximize the use of federal money intended for victims of violent crime by increasing pool of eligible claimants. Money is paid out to families of convicted felons in many cases.
Local Control
Counties / Cities / Towns Can Pass Stricter Gun Laws
Local governments are free to pass their own gun control laws in addition to any existing laws at the federal and state levels. Some states prohibit local governments from passing laws about specific things-including guns. This is known as preemption.
Conclusion
In this piece, we discuss the ammunition and firearms laws relevant to the state of Oregon. To do so, the piece starts off with the firearms laws of the state with the goal of explaining the processes for having ammunition shipped to a residential address in the state. From there, the piece dives into the firearms laws first in terms of the process for purchasing firearms, and then for the legal guidelines for carrying a firearm in the state. We wrap up the piece with some information that we think will be useful for folks who are interested in legally buying, owning, and carrying guns and ammo in Oregon.
This piece is not intended as legal advice. Instead, we hope that you use the information here as a background for your own research so that you can make your own, informed, decisions.
Like many states, Oregon has preemption. This means that the state government has declared that no localities such as counties, cities, or towns can make or enforce firearms and ammunition laws that are stricter than those at the state level. Preemption makes things easier for law-abiding gun owners, in that it means that once you understand the laws at the state level, that understanding applies to the state as a whole.
Oregon is moderately permissive in terms of its firearms and ammunition laws. While there are no major bans at the moment, a magazine ban is currently being litigated, and the more urban parts of the state seem to have not only the political appetite for more restrictive gun laws but also, sometimes, the votes in the state legislature to put those laws in front of the governor.
Ammo Laws/Buying Ammo in Oregon
First, we will cover the ammo laws of the state.
Oregon is permissive in terms of its ammunition laws. The state does not currently have a blanket ban on any specific types of ammunition. The process for buying ammunition in Oregon follows the federal guidelines set forth by the ATF.
The ATF has two sets of requirements that ammunition buyers must meet. The first is an age requirement: people who wish to buy ammo for long guns (rifles and shotguns) have to be at least eighteen years of age or older, and handgun ammo buyers have to be at least twenty-one. Secondly, ammo buyers cannot be prohibited persons, which the ATF defines as those convicted of felonies or domestic violence, people who have been found mentally deficient in a court of law, or people who have been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility for inpatient treatment.
Assuming that the buyer meets both sets of requirements, the state of Oregon does not have a problem with ammunition being shipped to homes in the state. Some carriers might ask for someone with an ID to be present to sign for packages containing ammo.
Since Oregon has no major ammo bans at the state level, it can be considered to be a permissive state in terms of its ammo laws.
Gun Laws/Buying Guns in Oregon
Next, we will do the same exercise for the state’s gun laws.
Oregon is something of a mixed bag in terms of the permissiveness of its firearms laws. In some regards, the state is highly permissive. For example, there is not currently an assault weapons ban in the state, and the state allows its residents to own NFA items such as suppressors, machine guns, and short-barreled rifles and shotguns.
There are, on the other hand, strict elements to the state’s gun laws: a magazine ban has already been signed into law in the state, and is currently being litigated at the state level. For Oregonians reading this: check the status of that case and seriously consider ordering magazines if the law is still being held up in state court. This same law would also, if upheld, institute a permit to purchase firearms in the state.
As of the writing of this piece, the process for buying a firearm at a gun store in Oregon follows federal guidelines. The buyer should bring a valid form of identification and a form of payment to the store. There, the FFL will have the buyer fill out ATF’s Form 4473 to complete a background check and record the purchase. As soon as both the background check is cleared and the payment has been accepted, the buyer can leave with the firearm the same day.
Oregon requires people to conduct background checks for private party sales as well: this can be done at any FFL in the state and has exceptions for some folks, including immediate family members.
The carriage of firearms is somewhat permissive in the state: open carry is largely legal and does not require a permit, though this is one aspect of the law that localities have been allowed to regulate. Some cities in the state require that people have a concealed carry permit to openly carry a firearm within city limits.
Concealed carry is moderately permissive as well: the state has shall-issue licenses for residents and allows residents of bordering states to get a concealed carry permit on a may-issue basis, even if the practice is uncommon. Oregon’s permitting process is relatively straightforward, and the permit is fairly widely recognized by other states.
Like most states, Oregon has a list of places where firearms are generally prohibited. In Oregon, this list includes:
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Hospitals
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State Capitol Buildings
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K-12 Schools
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City Halls
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Inside Airport Terminals
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Court Facilities
While this list is not in and of itself permissive, Oregon does allow people with concealed carry permits to carry in many of the places listed above. Some can make their own rules, though, such as schools. When in doubt, it is often best to simply call or email a given location to ask about its firearm policies in the state of Oregon.
Overall, Oregon is a mixed bag: its carry and purchase laws as they currently sit are permissive, probably owing much to the state’s largely rural geography. On the other hand, there is a very real potential for the state to become much more strict in the coming years, depending on both political currents at the state and federal level, as well as the outcome of lawsuits in the state. Oregon is a state to keep an eye on in terms of changing firearms laws.
Sales Tax on Guns/Ammo in Oregon
Oregon has no state sales taxes: this makes it a good place to buy firearms and also explains why there are outlet malls and car dealerships at every highway exit near the border with other states.
Oregon does not impose additional taxes on firearms and ammunition in the state: this is a relatively affordable state in which to be a gun owner.
More Resources:
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The ATF maintains a list of all FFLs in the country, including in Oregon. This list is kept up to date and can be used to find gun stores in the state. Generally, gun stores are Type One or Type Two FFLs.
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Wheretoshoot.org is a great resource: if you mess with the mile and city/zip code features, it can be used to find any available ranges in your area. Users add more ranges often, and the information is frequently fact-checked for accuracy.
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Oregon has a number of well-rated gun stores as well.
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The Oregon Firearms subreddit is fairly active, especially given the ongoing magazine ban case in the state.