8 of 10 Oregon counties approve measures to boost gun rights

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Voters in eight Oregon counties have approved ordinances to bolster residents’ gun rights that were championed by militia groups.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Wednesday that the ordinances say that residents of those counties now have the right to own semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines, regardless of state or federal law.

They also empower sheriffs to determine if state and federal gun laws are constitutional and prohibit the use of county funds to enforce them.

But the ordinances are likely to be challenged in court and are seen as mostly symbolic.

The measure appeared in Baker, Columbia, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lake, Lincoln, Linn, Umatilla and Union counties.

It passed in all but Jackson and Lincoln counties.

Two militia groups, the Three Percenters and Oath Keepers, campaigned for the ordinance across the state.

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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com