Sheriff Sickler Releases Message Regarding Measure 114

A message from Jackson County Sheriff Nate Sickler:

Ballot Measure 114 “Reduction of Gun Violence Act” is not a solution to the violence problem we have in our society, in fact it will make our County less safe. This measure requires a permit be obtained before an individual can legally attempt to purchase a firearm. It also restricts magazine capacities to 10 rounds. This may sound reasonable to some, but please read and understand what you are voting for.

In order to comply with this measure, Jackson County will need up to 25 full-time employees to be able to issue permits. Because the funding allocated within the measure is insufficient to hire these employees, we will need to assign current Sheriff’s Office employees to conduct the background checks and process permits. This means less Patrol deputies to respond to 911 calls and emergencies, less detectives to investigate crimes, and less specialists to process records.

Even if the funding was sufficient, the time it would take to hire and train staff to do this work would be significant and daunting. Law enforcement agencies across the state are not immune from the challenges facing many employers regarding labor shortages. This measure, if it were to pass, will put considerable strain on law enforcement resources across the state.

Currently in Oregon, background checks are already required on all gun purchases. All Concealed Handgun License permit holders are required to complete a firearm safety course and undergo an additional background check. Measure 114 will do little to reduce illegal gun ownership but will certainly add a significant barrier to law-abiding citizens in their ability to purchase a firearm and protect themselves.

This law will take away Law Enforcement resources currently used to respond to emergencies, patrol our county, investigate crimes, and process records. The work load will be considerable, ongoing, and challenging for our Sheriff’s Office and Police Departments in Jackson County. To give perspective, the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association roughly estimated that 275 new employees would be needed across the State to comply with Ballot Measure 114.

In my opinion, Oregon Voters have been recently misled with Measure 110. I encourage you to fully read and understand this measure prior to casting your vote. Please vote NO on Ballot Measure 114 as I believe it will have a negative impact on the safety of our community and is unconstitutional.

Oregon Sheriffs Oppose Measure 114 as it violates current federal case law and the U.S. Constitution.
The United States (U.S.) 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (Oregon’s U.S. Federal District Court) struck down a nearly identical ban (to what is contained in this measure) on high-capacity magazines in the state of California. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court’s findings is the California ban violated the U.S. Constitution. In Duncan v. Bonta, 979 F3d 1133 (2020), a panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court held that the state of California’s ban on high-capacity magazines violated the U.S. Constitution’s 2nd Amendment. The full U.S. 9th Circuit Court later overturned this opinion, and the U.S. Supreme Court then reversed the full U.S. 9th Circuit Court ruling and sent it back to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court for reconsideration. The 2020 panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court’s decision is currently the law, and this panel’s ruling clearly states that a high-capacity magazine ban violates the U.S. Constitution’s 2nd Amendment.

Oregon Sheriffs are sworn to uphold the laws and Constitution. Sheriffs cannot in good faith support a measure that a Federal Court has said violates the U.S. Constitution.