What Every Oregon Gun Owner Needs to Know in 2026

Oregon's firearm laws have changed more in the last four years than in the previous two decades combined. If you own a firearm in this state - or you're thinking about it - you need to understand where things stand right now.

I'm going to break this down as clearly as I can. This isn't legal advice (I'm an armorer and instructor, not an attorney), but it is a practical overview of what Oregon gun owners need to know in 2026. For anything that affects your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.

Let's start with the big one.

Measure 114: The Long, Strange Trip

In November 2022, Oregon voters approved Ballot Measure 114, which included two major provisions: a permit-to-purchase system requiring background checks and safety training before buying a firearm, and a ban on magazines holding more than 10 rounds.

What happened next was a legal saga.

The measure was immediately challenged in court and blocked from taking effect. A Harney County circuit court issued an injunction, and the measure sat in legal limbo while the case worked through the system.

In March 2025, the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed the lower court's decision, finding that Measure 114 was consistent with the Oregon Constitution. But the case didn't stop there - it went to the Oregon Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments in November 2025.

As of July 2026, the Oregon Supreme Court still has not ruled, so Measure 114 remains blocked statewide. No purchase permit is required and standard-capacity magazines remain legal to buy, own, and carry.

The practical takeaway: the permit-to-purchase system and magazine restrictions are still working through the legal and legislative process, and now have a firm floor on when they could start. Stay current. Check in with our Oregon Firearm Laws page regularly, as I update it when things change.

HB 4145: The Legislature Delays the Earliest Start Date

House Bill 4145, passed by the Legislature in 2026 and signed into law that April, does not build out Measure 114's permit system. It does the opposite: it pushes the earliest possible start date for both the permit-to-purchase system and the magazine limit to January 1, 2028. Even if the courts ultimately uphold Measure 114, its rules cannot be enforced before that date, and the state permit program is not built or accepting applications.

If you're planning to purchase a firearm in Oregon, the practical effect of HB 4145 is simple: nothing about the permit-to-purchase process applies to you today. The specifics are detailed on our Oregon Firearm Laws page.

SB 243: The Rapid-Fire Activator Ban and More

Senate Bill 243, the Oregon Suicide Prevention and Community Safety Firearms Act, passed in 2025 and is in effect now, unlike Measure 114.

First, it bans rapid-fire activators. This includes bump stocks, binary triggers, forced-reset triggers, and any device that increases the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm beyond what the standard trigger mechanism allows. Possession is a Class A misdemeanor; manufacture or transport is a Class B felony.

If you currently own any of these devices, you need to understand your compliance obligations. The law provides a defined period for disposal, surrender, or modification. Do not assume that "grandfathering" applies - read the statute carefully or consult an attorney.

Second, SB 243 gives the state, cities, counties, and other public bodies the authority to bar CHL holders from carrying in public buildings and adjacent grounds, whenever they post clear signage at each entrance. It is not limited to public meetings - watch for posted notices at city halls, libraries, and government offices generally.

Third, most semi-automatic firearm purchases now require the buyer to be 21 or older, with a narrow exception for certain hunting long guns (bolt-action or pump rifles and shotguns stay at 18+). A 72-hour waiting period was originally proposed in the bill but was removed before it passed, so Oregon still has no mandatory waiting period.

The practical impact: if you carry concealed, you need to check the policies of any public building before carrying in, not just during a meeting. The rules may vary by jurisdiction.

Oregon's Extreme Risk Protection Orders

While not new in 2026, Oregon's Extreme Risk Protection Order law (originally passed as SB 719 in 2017) remains an important part of the legal landscape.

An ERPO allows a family member, household member, or law enforcement officer to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from a person who poses an imminent risk of harm to themselves or others. Between 2018 and 2022, Oregon courts processed 649 ERPO petitions.

Whether you view ERPOs as a lifesaving tool or a due process concern (or both), understanding how they work is important for any gun owner. If someone in your household is in crisis, an ERPO may be part of the conversation - and knowing the process in advance is better than learning about it under duress.

The Glossary has a short entry on ERPOs; for how the process works in your situation, consult an attorney.

Practical Compliance Steps

Here's what I recommend for every Oregon gun owner in 2026:

Know the current status of Measure 114. The legal landscape continues to evolve. Check reliable sources - the Oregon State Legislature website, the Oregon Firearms Federation, and our Oregon Firearm Laws page - for the latest.

Audit your accessories. If you own any device that could be classified as a rapid-fire activator under SB 243, determine your compliance obligations now. Don't wait.

Understand the new CHL building restrictions. If you carry concealed, be aware that public bodies may now bar carry in any public building or adjacent grounds posted with signage at each entrance. When in doubt, leave it in your vehicle.

Review your storage practices. Oregon's safe storage law - ORS 166.395 - isn't new, but it's more relevant than ever with increased public attention on firearm safety. Make sure your storage meets the legal standard. Our Oregon Firearm Laws page covers the legal standard.

Keep your CHL current. If you have an Oregon CHL, make sure your renewal is up to date and that you understand the current requirements. Our Oregon CHL page breaks it all down.

Stay trained. Laws change, but fundamentals don't. The four universal safety rules, proper handling, secure storage, and regular practice are your foundation regardless of what the legislature does.

Consider taking a refresher course. If it's been more than a year since your last formal training, consider signing up for one of FST's online classes or an in-person familiarization session. The law expects competency - make sure you have it.

A Note on Staying Current

I'll be honest: keeping up with Oregon's firearms legislation is a part-time job. The legal challenges to Measure 114 alone have produced hundreds of pages of court documents, and the legislative session regularly introduces new bills that affect gun owners.

That's one of the reasons this blog exists. I'll be covering major legal developments as they happen, breaking them down in plain language, and offering practical guidance on what they mean for you.

If you want to be notified when new posts drop - especially legal updates - sign up for the newsletter using the form below this post. And for a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of Oregon's firearm laws, our Oregon Firearm Laws page is your starting point.

Knowing the law isn't optional. It's the baseline responsibility of every gun owner. Let's make sure we're all on solid ground.

- Anth