New gun law in Oregon goes into effect: Here's what to know

A portion of a gun-control measure the Oregon Legislature passed earlier this year requiring safe storage of firearms went into effect Saturday. 

Oregon joins 11 other states in requiring gun owners to store their firearms in a gun room or safe or use a trigger lock when it is not being carried or under their control. 

Here's what to know about the new law:

• A firearm is not considered secured if a key or combination to the trigger, cable lock or the container is readily available to a person the owner or possessor has not authorized to carry or control the firearm or a handgun is left unattended in a vehicle and is within view of people outside the vehicle.
• The safe storage requirement doesn’t apply if a gun owner is either alone in their home or with other people allowed to use the gun.
• Violations of the law are civil infractions, but the penalties increase if a minor gets access to an unsecured firearm as a result of the violation.
• If an owner violates the safe storage law and, as a result, the firearm is used to injure a person or property within two years of the violation, the injured party may bring a civil lawsuit against the owner and the court must find that the owner or possessor was negligent. 
• If a person transfers a firearm and a criminal background check is required prior to the transfer, the person is also required to transfer the firearm with a trigger lock or in a locked container.
• A gun dealer must post in a prominent location a notice, in block letters not less than one inch in height, that states, “The purchaser of a firearm has an obligation to store firearms in a safe manner and to prevent unsupervised access to a firearm by a minor. If a minor or unauthorized person obtains access to a firearm and the owner failed to store the firearm in a safe manner, the owner may be in violation of the law.”
• Failing to secure a firearm would result in a maximum fine of $500.
• That fine increases to $2,000 if a minor accesses an unsecured firearm.

Another portion of the bill imposes a new gun ban at the state Capitol and allows public school districts, community colleges and universities to set their own gun ban policies. 

The bill received pushback from Republicans and spurred a failed referendum petition. 

Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, one of the chief sponsors of the bill, told Oregon Public Broadcasting the public supported the push to increase gun safety and control. She pointed to the public opinion being influenced, in part, by armed groups at the state Capitol. 

"The people who are opposing this bill are actually the best poster child for the bill,” she told OPB.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth