Deschutes judge to rule on gun measure ballot title

After a hearing held Monday, it’s up to a Deschutes County judge to decide if a proposed gun-related ballot measure title is accurate and if the language in the measure is used correctly for voters to understand.

Initiative petition 9-2018-1, the Second Amendment Protection Ordinance, was filed by a group in Redmond.

This proposed ordinance would expand the constitutional definition of a firearm to include accessories like bump stocks.

It would give Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson authority only to enforce the gun laws he believes are constitutional.

Bend City Councilor Barb Campbell, who filed one of two petitions against the measure’s ballot title, said it would conflict with the state and federal government.

“This measure would overturn our relationship with the state and federal governments,” Campbell said. Our relationship on both of those we have home rule. We can make our own rules, unless the state and federal government has a rule in place. We do not have authority over the state or the federal government.”

Zandra Brant, the second resident who filed a petition, said the measure is too vague.

“Voters need to know what they’re voting for when they start to vote,” Brant said. “It misleads the reader by putting in first ‘expands the definition of firearms,’ instead of saying it prohibits the enforcement of the laws. That is far more important.”

District Attorney John Hummel wrote the ballot initiative and said Monday’s hearing was about deciding if the proper words were used to describe the proposed initiative, ones that the voters will understand.

“The petitioners that don’t support the ballot initiative, they made that clear, and I respect their view on that,” Hummel said. “I also respect the views of the people who put forth the ordinance, and the voters are going to decide whether we pass it or not. My job was to accurately prepare this summary for the proposed initiative.”

Circuit Judge Wells Ashby expects to making his decision later this week. Once that is done, the Redmond group can start to gather signatures for the ballot measure.