Is Oregon (specifically Portland) "gun friendly"?

[Snowdog]

My wife wants to move to Oregon (near Portland) and I really can't argue; it's a beautiful state that seems to have a little of everything. 

We currently live in North Carolina and I really can't complain about the gun laws here.  I've had a CCW for over a decade and folks in these areas generally don't flip their lid if they see a gun (such as removing or placing a rifle case in a car).

I'll research some myself, but can anyone off-hand describe any significant differences in gun-related laws between OR and NC?  I know the general attitude towards guns differs from location to location within the same state; folks in Hendersonville have a laid-back/indifferent attitude towards firearm ownership whereas Asheville, a mere 30 miles north is decisively less "gun-friendly".

We love the looks of Astoria (I mean come on, Goonies was filmed there for goodness sake) but will likely look for a house closer to Portland.  Besides the general public opinions of firearms in Portland and Oregon in general, are there any city ordinances that put a damper on ownership in any of the larger cities of Oregon?

Thanks in advance!

[The Annoyed Man]

Oregon is a shall issue state, requiring an NRA certified course, finger printing, and background check.  Mine cost $65 in fees to the county sheriff and $25 for the certified course.  It took three weeks from start to finish.

See www.handgunlaw.us, www.packing.org, and the Oregon Revised Statutes at http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/ for details.

Oregon is geographically a red state, blue by population and voter distribution. A few very populous counties overwhelm the remainder.  The Portland area (Moscow-on-the-Willamette) is noted for its socialism and other lefty politics.

[Snowdog]

Thanks for that info, Chuck. 
We've also being eyeing Warrenton as well, but I think my wife has her heart set on Portland.  She believes if we make that move, her sister (currently living in NYC) will follow.  With my wife being an RN and her sister an architectural engineer, I guess the job prospects are brighter in that area.

BTW, did you coin "Moscow-on-the-Willamette" ?  That's quite clever (though disturbing if I'm going to actually have to live there).

I guess I'm going to look into any ordinances they have that might prohibit the ownership of German Shepherds too... I know some leftist nutjobs consider them exceedingly dangerous (just like those deadly lawn darts).

[Regolith]

Portland is the liberal nexus of Oregon.  On the West Coast, only San Francisco (and maybe Seattle) out does it in terms of nuttery. 

However, Portland can't do anything about Oregon firearms laws, which are pretty nice in general.  Gotta love preemption. 

[AmbulanceDriver]

To chime in, yeah, Portland itself is pretty nutty as far as being liberal.  Which makes Multnomah County pretty liberal.  However, Clackamas county, directly to the SE, tends to be much more sane.  Especially as you move farther out into rural portions of the county.   Also, your wife being an RN should have NO trouble finding a job here in the Portland Metro area.  In the Portland area alone, there are 14 hospitals, not counting the two across the river in Vancouver, WA.  There are also countless clinics, nursing homes, etc.  All of which need RN's (you didn't specify what type of work she does as an RN, so I kinda gave you the gamut).  Also, for her sister, I can't imagine her having much difficulty finding a job here.  There are several architectural firms in the Portland Metro area.

A few people have tried to ban pitbulls, but it's never really taken off.  GSD's are not specifically banned by any local or county ordinances that I'm aware of anywhere in the state.  Some HOA's however do have rules re: the breed/size of animals, so before buying a house, look into the rules for the HOA that it might be in (very few homes are actually in an HOA, so not too much of a worry there....

If you were to move out here, I would strongly recommend Clackamas county over Multnomah.  Still close enough to get to and from work in a reasonable amount of time, but property taxes are, in general, lower, and they don't seem to have quite the same leftist mentality that Multnomah County does.

[Standing Wolf]

I liked Oregon an awful lot better until I tried to drive in Portland during the rain. Don't look at Oregon in the summer. Look at Oregon during the winter. It's the most water you'll ever see in one place at one time in your life.

[El Tejon]

No, Oregon is in no sense "gun friendly".  However, it is only in Portland that people whine and cry over guns.  The rest of the state either 1.  does not care, 2.  wants to look at your gun.

[The Annoyed Man]

I did not coin "Moscow-on-the-Willamette," cannot remember from whence I acquired the term.

[gunsmith]

It could be fun, I loved watching anti gun libs scream in agony
while living in SF, the good thing about Portland is they can not prevent you from packing like they could in SF.

[Fjolnirsson]

I've found Oregon in general to be very gun friendly, except for Portland and Eugene, where people tend to get a little bit damp in their panties at the thought of a firearm. Our CHL laws are very good. Carry anywhere with a permit, except for jails and courthouses. Local ordinances against open or concealed carry are preempted by the CHL.
Class 3 stuff s legal, with signoff from the county LEO. Lots of hunters, ranges and public shoots here. Mostly, you'll find people that, as El Tejon said, don't care about your gun, or want to look at it.
As big cities go, Portland is very clean and friendly.

[Snowdog]

I sincerely appreciate the information guys, thanks!

AmbulanceDriver, my wife is currently in MedSurg but has mentioned looking into hospice.  There's certainly a pronounced shortage of nurses in this area; I guess she has job security just about anywhere in the US. I'm sure my wife will be elated to hear the good job prospect for her sister.  Her sister has visited Portland a few times and boasted on several occasions how "perfect" it is, saying that it's easily her favorite city (though she's far, far more liberal-leaning than either my wife or I). We don't expect it would take much to get her out there.  I guess the idea is if she moves to Portland as well, maybe some of the rest of the family will gravitate there too instead of being strewn all over the country as they are now.


Thanks everyone for the info on gun laws.  My collection has been thinned out over the years and the only firearms I currently own that I held concerns about (besides my handguns) were my M1 carbine and FAL.  The rest are a collection of WWI and WWII battle rifles that no one currently seems to fret much about.

Good to hear about the German shepherds!  Though mine died last November, I fully intend to adopt another as soon as time allows... I can't believe we've gone this long without one.  It's like not wearing underpant if feels so awkward.

Generally good news all around.  I'll cut and paste some of these replies for my wife.  I think this relocation is enevitable.

[jbrown9709]

I'll echo the statements by others about the tail (Portland metro area, Eugene etc.) wagging the dog when it comes to Oregon politics, as well as the much more relaxed state of the rest of the state.  I live in Washington county (adjacent to Multnomah on the west side) and we definitely get some of the socialism bleeding from the festering sore that is Portland.  Unfortunately, as of the 2006 election, the lefty's have both sides of the legislative aisle, as well as the state house, so be prepared for some anti- nastiness to come down the pike.  My chief complaint about living here is the OVERWHELMING amount of influence that the rabid greenies and the teachers union have in policy issues.  Those two groups seem to have the governor by the short curly ones.  That said, Oregon is a truly gorgeous place to live once you get away from the population centers.

[Wizzo]

Portland and Multnomah County are NOT gun friendly.
Live across the river to the north in Vancouver, Washington.
Although the Seattle Democrats are trying to Californicate the state, Washington remains MORE pro-gun than Oregon.

[BobR]

Here is a pretty long thread about some gun laws in Oregon. It mainly covers open carry, which is legal. Not sure I would want to do it in Portland though. The begining of page 4 on the thread has a working copy of the pamphlet for Oregon gun rights.

http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum45/9028.html

bob

[JimMarch]

The Portland OR PD is among the most corrupt in the nation, especially for a city that size.

I have personally had a major run-in up there and I've known a lot of people with equivelent or worse complaints.

Open carry is legal in OR with a CCW permit, but if you try it in Portland you're likely to be arrested and possibly shot.

I am *NOT* kidding.

[Telperion]

Cities in Oregon can prohibit open carry, but not concealed carry.  Portland and Beaverton have such ordinances.

[BobR]

Things like that make me glad WA has a pre-emption law with regards to guns.

bob

[Telperion]

Take a penny, leave a penny ...

OC is not covered by Oregon's preemption law, but Washington prohibits most title 2 firearms. 

[BobR]

but Washington prohibits most title 2 firearms

There is good and bad there. If I could own NFA I would just go in debt to have one. If I want a supressor, I can have it, I just can't use it in WA. I need to go to Idaho or Oregon to use it. 

But, as it is, no SBR's or full auto for me.

bob