Who Can Train and Own
A plain-English guide to who is legally eligible to participate in firearm training and to possess firearms under federal and Oregon law. Read this before you fill out the contact form so you know where you stand.
Most adults in Oregon can lawfully train, own, and carry firearms. The list below exists because federal and state law set out specific categories of people who cannot. None of this is meant to be intimidating. The goal is to make sure you have accurate information, in plain language, before you sign anything that asks you to attest to your eligibility.
This page is general education, not legal advice. If anything here applies to your situation or you are not sure, please talk with a lawyer before purchasing or training.
Federal Prohibited Categories
Federal law (18 USC 922(g)) lists categories of people who cannot lawfully ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms or . Here they are in everyday language.
Convicted of a felony
If you have been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, federal law generally prohibits you from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Some misdemeanors that carry a possible sentence over one year can also count.
Fugitive from justice
If you have fled any state to avoid prosecution or to avoid giving testimony in a criminal proceeding, you are prohibited.
Unlawful user of, or addicted to, a controlled substance
Federal law prohibits anyone who is an 'unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance' from having firearms (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3)). Cannabis is still a federal controlled substance, even though Oregon allows it. The federal regulation covers regular, ongoing use, not isolated or past use (27 C.F.R. 478.11), and in June 2026 the Supreme Court held one such prosecution unconstitutional (United States v. Hemani). The law here is unsettled; talk to a lawyer. This is an honest gap between state and federal law that many people are surprised by, and it is something to be aware of before purchasing or training.
Adjudicated as mentally defective or committed to a mental institution
This applies to a formal determination by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority (for example, a finding of insanity, incompetence to stand trial, or being a danger to self or others) or a formal commitment to a mental institution (27 C.F.R. 478.11). Voluntary outpatient counseling, therapy, or seeking help on your own does not make you a prohibited person.
Unlawfully in the United States, or in nonimmigrant visa status
People unlawfully present in the US are prohibited. People legally in the US on certain nonimmigrant visas are also generally prohibited, with limited exceptions (such as some hunting license holders, official government representatives, and others listed in federal law).
Dishonorably discharged from the US Armed Forces
A dishonorable discharge is a prohibitor. Other-than-honorable, bad conduct, and general discharges are not automatic federal prohibitors, though they can have other consequences.
Renounced US citizenship
Formally renouncing US citizenship makes a person prohibited under federal law.
Subject to certain restraining orders
If a court has issued a qualifying order restraining you from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or that partner's child (and you had notice and an opportunity to be heard), you are prohibited while the order is in effect.
Convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
A qualifying misdemeanor conviction involving the use or attempted use of physical force, or threatened use of a deadly weapon, against a domestic partner, family member, or someone with a similar relationship, is a federal prohibitor.
Separately, if you are under indictment for a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, you may not receive a firearm while the case is pending (18 U.S.C. 922(n)). That rule covers shipping, transporting, and receiving, not possession.
Oregon Specifics
On top of federal rules, Oregon has its own age, background-check, and licensing requirements. The most common ones to know:
Minimum age 18
In general, you must be at least 18 to participate in live-fire firearm training. A licensed dealer may not sell a rifle or shotgun to anyone under 18 (18 U.S.C. 922(b)(1)), and Oregon bars most transfers to anyone under 18 (ORS 166.470).
Minimum age 21 for handguns and CHL
You must be 21 to purchase a handgun from a federal firearms licensee (FFL), and 21 to apply for an Oregon Concealed Handgun License.
Background checks at the counter
Oregon firearm transfers run through a point-of-sale by the Oregon State Police Firearms Instant Check System. Private transfers also generally have to go through an FFL.
Measure 114 status
Ballot Measure 114 (the permit-to-purchase and -capacity law) has never taken effect. The Oregon Court of Appeals held it constitutional in March 2025, but the Oregon Supreme Court is still reviewing that decision (argued November 2025; no ruling appears in the court's opinion list through the release of October 8, 2026), and a 2026 law (HB 4145) delayed its earliest possible start to January 1, 2028. As of October 2026 no purchase permit is required. Status can change, so check current Oregon State Police guidance before making purchasing decisions.
If You Used to Be Prohibited
For some categories (certain felony convictions, some domestic-violence misdemeanors, some mental-health adjudications, and others), there are legal pathways that may restore the right to possess firearms. In Oregon these can include expungement, set-aside, or specific relief-from-disabilities procedures. The rules are technical and depend heavily on the specific conviction or order.
If you believe you were once prohibited and your situation has changed, please consult an attorney who handles Oregon firearms law before you train, purchase, or possess. Working with counsel up front protects you and is much cheaper than the alternative.
What If I Am Not Sure?
If you read the list above and any of it might describe your situation, the safest next step is to talk with a lawyer who handles firearms cases in Oregon. You can also review the official sources directly:
I am a firearms instructor, not an attorney. I cannot tell you whether a specific conviction, order, or status applies to you. A short consultation with a lawyer is the right call when there is any doubt.
You Are Welcome Here
If you are a law-abiding adult, you are welcome at Firearm Safety Team. Queer, trans, nonbinary, BIPOC, disabled, neurodivergent, first-time owners, longtime shooters, anyone in between: this space is for you. Self-defense and safe handling are not exclusive clubs, and learning is always a good idea.
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