Gun divisions as states go different ways

Voters in Oregon and Iowa went in opposite directions on gun control when they responded to questions on the ballot in this month's elections, with the contrasting results reflecting the deep divisions on the issue in the United States.

In the Democratic-leaning state of Oregon, a measure was narrowly passed by voters on Nov 8 to tighten gun controls. It requires residents to obtain a permit to purchase a gun, bans large-capacity magazines over 10 rounds with an exception, and creates a statewide firearms database.

However, in the Republican stronghold of Iowa, voters endorsed a measure strengthening protections on gun ownership.

In Oregon, to get a permit to purchase or transfer ownership of firearms, an applicant needs to complete an approved, in-person firearm safety course, pay a fee, provide personal information, submit to fingerprinting and photographing, and pass a federal criminal background check.

An exception to a ban on large-capacity magazines will be applied to current owners, law enforcement or the military. The permits will be processed by local police chiefs, county sheriffs or their designees.

There were nearly 600 deaths involving a firearm in Oregon in 2020 — 77 percent of those by suicide. Oregon is among the states with the highest rates of suicide. Research shows that tighter gun laws are closely correlated with lower suicide rates.

Until now, only seven states and Washington DC have had permit-to-purchase laws for all firearms, according to the Giffords Law Center, a national gun safety advocacy organization. Eight states and Washington have high-capacity magazine bans as strict as the one Oregon has just passed, the center says.

In Iowa, voters approved a measure as an amendment to the state constitution that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed" and "any and all restrictions of this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny".

In the socially liberal state of Oregon, supporters of gun control welcomed the results.

Dreading the day

"We always wonder 'is today the day' where we get the call that there is a shooting in school," tweeted Oregon resident Matt Coleman, who said he has three children in school. "It doesn't take any guns away, it simply adds some measure of ensuring that most people follow a process."

Opponents of the measure said it infringes on constitutionally protected rights and could reduce gun access among marginalized communities and people of color with law enforcement agencies as the arbiters of granting permits.

Paul Donheffner, legislative committee chairman with the Oregon Hunters Association, said creating a permit system that requires a course in gun safety will be expensive and unwieldy and won't reduce gun violence including mass shootings.

"It is going to put a lot of honest citizens through the wringer," he told Oregon Public Broadcasting. "The people that are committing gun violence aren't going to get a (permit to purchase); you're not going to get a background check; you're not going to go through all this rigmarole."

Numerous sheriffs had spoken out against the measure in Oregon, claiming it was poorly written and will face a court challenge.

Sheriff Michelle Duncan in Linn County wrote on Facebook that she won't enforce magazine-capacity limits. Jefferson County Sheriff Jason Pollock said he wouldn't enforce the measure at all.

In Iowa, gun rights activists applauded the passage of the measure on the Nov 8 ballot.

"This is a historical day for freedom, civil rights and the Hawkeye state," Dave Funk, president of the Iowa Firearms Coalition, said in a statement.

Iowa is the fourth state with "strict scrutiny" language to protect gun rights in its state constitution.