Firearms instructors and gun sellers tell us they still don't know how Measure 114's new permitting process will work, and that they've gotten no direction on it yet from the state.
Once Measure 114 takes effect, people wanting to buy guns will have to go through a training course, which includes live-firing the weapon, to get a permit to purchase.
It's unclear yet whether private firearms instructors or only law enforcement will be able to teach the permit class.
“So there's some fears surrounding the fact that only Oregon Sheriffs or Oregon State Police would be authorized to teach that,” said Lead Firearms Instructor and CEO of PDX Arsenal Concealed Carry Bryan Mumford.
He says the fear comes from the fact that law enforcement agencies are already backed up with Concealed Handgun License classes. So he worries about what would happen if only law enforcement agencies, and not private instructors like himself could teach the class.
“Currently even Washington, Multnomah County they’re scheduling out to the end of February, early March for concealed handgun licenses by itself. So we see how overburdened they are currently and again we just anticipate that will continue to increase with the demand that will be caused with the permit to purchase side,” Mumford said.
Firearms instructor and owner of Defensive Arts in Portland Greg Fishback says the Utah Concealed Handgun Carry course could satisfy the requirements of Measure 114's permit. He and many other instructors throughout the state are certified to teach.
“So everybody who can teach Utah Concealed Carry we are all BCI, which is Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification, we are all law enforcement instructors with curriculum that exceeds [Measure] 114. That and the fact that I have a sim-munition shop, I could teach this class tomorrow, without hesitation,” Fishback said.
But he says he's gotten no clear answers from law enforcement or the state about whether he'll be able to teach it once Measure 114 goes into effect.
“The state has not reached out to those of us on the frontline. We are the people who interface with the gun owner and they haven’t reached out to us at all,” he said.
We reached out to the Oregon State Police (OSP) about this question and many others regarding the permitting process for Measure 114, but they told us in a statement that couldn't answer our questions right now because "OSP is currently reviewing the Temporary Restraining Order issued by the Harney County Circuit Court. We are seeking legal counsel to confirm how this TRO will impact the implementation of BM114."
Another issue with the permitting process: how will it impact those stuck in OSP's background check backlog?
There's been a rush on guns ever since voters approved Measure 114 in November.
According to some gun sellers we talked to, most buyers get instantly approved. State law requires buyers to be approved on the same day they try to purchase a weapon.
However, a small percentage of gun buyers have to go through a more thorough background check by OSP and enter the cue.
“As of yesterday the background check cue for non-CHL (Concealed Handgun License) holders was over 34,000 Oregon residents waiting, and I believe that the CHL holder’s list which takes precedent over the non-CHL holder's list, that was over 10,000,” Mumford said.
OSP said in a statement last week that those who didn't have their background checks cleared by the time Measure 114 goes into effect will have to go through the new permitting process.
That process does not yet exist.
Fishback says that will get even more complicated if those people were buying guns with magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.
Which are banned under the new law.
“A percentage of the people, of the 36,000 are gonna clear, but when their gun has a 13-round magazine, I can’t give them their gun, or can I? I might be able to give them the gun but take their magazine and destroy it? Don’t know, nobody’s talking to us,” Fishback said.
KATU also reached out to several local law enforcement agencies with questions about how the permitting process would work.
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office told us they're going to wait to respond until they can review the Harney County Circuit Court ruling which effectively halted Measure 114 from being implemented. We're still waiting to hear back from the others.