Our sister site, Townhall, reported July 17 on last week's worrying decision, calling the gun law — passed by a narrow margin in 2022 by Oregon voters — "extreme." U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut reportedly claimed that large-capacity gun magazines "are not commonly used for self-defense, and are therefore not protected by the Second Amendment." She justified this mystifying logic by asserting the Second Amendment "allows governments to ensure that only law-abiding, responsible citizens keep and bear arms." Which doesn't seem to be any sort of explanation for new restrictions on legal firearms.

Measure 114 puts many new restrictions on Oregonians' firearms, including "permit-to-purchase" guidelines. Immergut claimed that Measure 114 accords with "the nation's history and tradition of regulating uniquely dangerous features of weapons and firearms to protect public safety." Considering the Founding Fathers used the most powerful weapons they could get their hands on to start, fight, and win the Revolution, the judge's assertion seems questionable.

Townhall previously covered how Measure 114 would require a permit and hands-on safety training and fingerprinting provided by law enforcement to buy a gun. In addition, the law prohibits the sale, transfer, or import of gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammo. It would not be illegal to own a gun without a permit, but a permit would be required by law to purchase one.

Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan previously criticized the legislation in December. "We've seen the statistics that most crimes involving guns that criminals commit, they're not obtaining those firearms legally anyway," Duncan said. She also stated she "can't put handcuffs on someone knowing that there is this black cloud around the constitutionality of that magazine capacity limit." Ultimately, the sheriff called Measure 114 "poorly written" and (on Facebook) "a terrible law for gunowners, crime victims, and public safety."