Oregon, My Oregon

Days after a Federal judge denies attempt to block enforcement of Oregon gun control measure an  Oregon Judge Freezes Gun Control Law Over Questions About ‘Fundamental Constitutional Rights’

A state judge has stopped a new Oregon law from taking effect that would create new barriers to purchasing firearms and ban the sale of any magazine larger than a 10-bullet clip.

Harney County Judge Robert Raschio issued a temporary restraining order over Measure 114, a ballot measure passed last month that places new restrictions on purchasing firearms and magazines. Raschio blocked the new law for violating the Oregon state constitution.

“Absent entry of this Temporary Restraining Order, Plaintiffs will be deprived of their right to bear arms pursuant to Or. Const. Art. l, Sec. 27 by being made unable to lawfully purchase a firearm or bear a magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition in the State of Oregon. Deprivation of fundamental constitutional rights for any period constitutes irreparable harm,” the judge wrote in his Tuesday order.

Raschio’s ruling came as part of a legal challenge against the new law filed by Gun Owners of America (GOA). GOA Senior Vice President Erich Pratt celebrated the ruling.

“This is an exciting victory for our members in Oregon as the clock was winding down on securing relief from the onerous and unconstitutional requirements this law would have placed on current and future gun owners. We look forward to continuing the fight,” Pratt said in a statement.

Measure 114 passed last month in a slim majority vote with 50.6% in favor and 49.4% against. The difference amounted to roughly 25,000 votes.

Without bothering to check, you can be sure the vast majority of the yes votes came from Portland, Salem, Eugene and Corvallis, while the rural part of the state voted overwhelmingly no. It's basically a big fuck you to Oregon's rural dwellers, for whom guns are often a day to day tool. No wonder so many of them are anxious to secede from Oregon and join Great Idaho.

The new law places a number of new restrictions on buying, selling, and owning firearms. The law bans the sale of magazines with a capacity of more than 10 bullets. It includes a permit-to-purchase requirement that requires all firearms customers to get a background check and attend gun safety training before purchase.
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Despite the federal court’s ruling, Raschio’s decision is still in effect because he ruled on a challenge based on the state constitution. Immergut’s decision is based on a challenge brought on federal constitutional grounds, according to The Oregonian