Oregon’s high court to consider proposed gun-control measure
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A proposed ballot measure that would restrict ownership of what it defines as “assault weapons” and large-capacity magazines has wound up in the Oregon Supreme Court after a man sought a review of the ballot title, saying it was politically charged and deceptive.
Phillip Lemman of the Oregon Judicial department says the petition for review was received by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, one day before the deadline for requests for review.
Backers of the statewide initiative, meanwhile, said they would not dispute the attorney general’s certification of the ballot title.
They told a news conference in Portland they are ready to launch a statewide campaign to gather enough signatures to put the measure on the November ballot as soon as the court finishes its deliberations and they get a green light.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reported National Rifle Association lobbyist Roger Beyer filed the petition Wednesday morning, objecting to the official ballot language as “politically charged and emotionally laden.”
The court must decide on his challenge and set official ballot language before supporters of the proposed ballot measure can begin gathering the required 88,184 valid signatures needed to make the November ballot. The deadline to submit signatures is July 6, and legally, the court’s handling of the matter could drag out close to that date or beyond it.
Supporters announced Wednesday that they plan to call on churches, synagogues and other worship communities to hold mass petition signings at worship services on the weekend of June 29 to July 1.
The proposed measure would ban the manufacture and sale of semi-automatic firearms defined in the initiative as “assault weapons” and magazines that can hold 10 or more bullets. It would also force those in possession of such items to register with the state police after passing a background check or relinquish ownership by selling them, surrendering them to police or destroying them.
