While Democrat leadership is yelling from the rooftops that "fascism is coming!", they are also trying to take away the rights of people, particularly minorities and the poor, from being able to own firearms. Measure 114, which was largely struck down by the courts as unconstitutional, has been re-written as HB 4145 and passed the Oregon state senate. While we have ICE executing citizens in the streets, Oregon dems think this is the time to make gun ownership harder.
Both of Eugene's reps voted to pass this bill: Floyd Prozanski (bill sponsor!) and Lisa Fragala. A signature by Kotek is a given at this point.
Among other things, this bill:
- Doubles the amount of time for state bureaucrats to issue the required permit to lawfully purchase a firearm from 30 days to 60 days. If a date goes poorly and you end up with a stalker, you shouldn't need to wait two whole months to purchase protection. Because you know the cops will never care about enforcing a restraining order, assuming you could even get one in the first place.
- Increases the cost for the permit by more than 130%, from $65 to $150, a clear attempt to make lawful gun ownership unobtainable through financial barriers. Rights, especially self defense, should not be paywalled.
- Carves out on and off duty law enforcement from the permit requirement and magazine capacity limitations, creating different classes of people for lawful firearm ownership. "Rules for thee, not for me"
- Changes the implementation date of the magazine ban and permit requirements.
- Includes a government maintained de facto registry of firearm owners, with their personal data and fingerprints to be shared with the FBI.
It may feel pointless to contact reps but I know that they do actually read (and occasionally, respond!) to these inquiries. Public pressure can be powerful!
E-mails for Prozanski and Fragala: Sen.FloydProzanski@oregonlegislature.gov Rep.LisaFragala@oregonlegislature.gov
Contact Tina Kotek (only person who can stop this bill!): https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/share-your-opinion.aspx
See how your rep voted (go to history -> Feb 25 to see the vote) https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/Measures/Overview/HB4145
Find your rep: https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/