Oregon Gun Law Backfires | Portland News

Portland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 11, 2026 · 1m

Oregon’s new gun control law, Measure 114, aimed to tighten restrictions by requiring permits and banning high-capacity magazines—but before it even took full effect, gun sales spiked dramatically. Background checks surged by 157% after the vote, with over 63,000 extra checks in just 18 months, suggesting people rushed to buy guns ahead of the new rules. Researchers linked this surge directly to the law, not random behavior, using comparisons with states that didn’t pass similar measures. The law is now on hold until 2028 due to legal challenges, leaving a puzzling paradox: stricter laws may…