With Oregon's controversial anti-gun Measure 114 nearing a close victory at the polls, at least one Second Amendment group is planning a legal offensive. 

Measure 114 is a 12-page sandwich of gun control badness that was presented to voters as an up-or-down issue. Among its facets is a mandatory permit-to-purchase scheme in which potential gun buyers would have to pay up to $65 to law enforcement, submit their photo and fingerprints for a background check, and show completion of an approved firearm training course before being allowed to buy a gun. Going past that series of hoops, the Measure outlaws detachable magazines that hold more than 10 rounds or are "readily modifiable" to do so with only a very thin allowance for grandfathering. 

Introduced by a group led by a Portland-area Lutheran pastor who is active in gun control issues, the Measure had the backing of super blue organizations such as Oregon Progressive Party, League of Women Voters of Oregon, and Oregon Alliance for Gun Safety, raising over $2.7 million in contributions-- including big donations from anti-gun groups Everytown and Giffords. Connie Ballmer, the wife of billionaire and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, chipped in at least $750,000. Ballmer has a history of pouring cash into anti-gun ballot measures in neighboring Washington in years past.

Opposing the measure were a variety of pro-gun and hunting orgs who were able to raise about $165,000 in a Vote No on 114/Stop 114 efforts. 

 

GDC Gives Back

 

After the smoke cleared, with some 95 percent of votes tabulated by Monday night, Measure 114 stood at a narrow 50.9 percent (922,942) "yes" votes against 49.1 percent (890,586) in the "no" column. Of the state's 36 counties, only the six surrounding progressive Portland and Eugene voted in favor of the Measure while at least nine Red-leaning counties in Oregon's eastern half all polled over 80 percent against it. 

Guns.com reached out to a prominent gun rights group about the measure and its plans for potential litigation. 
  
"The Second Amendment Foundation and our attorneys are in the process of finalizing our lawsuit and list of plaintiffs for our legal court challenge of Oregon Measure 114," Alan Gottlieb, SAF's founder and executive VP, told Guns.com on Monday. "The measure is both unconstitutional and unworkable as written by the gun prohibition lobby funded by out-of-state billionaires."

Local news outlets report that, with the Measure expected to become law in 30 days, gun stores in the state are experiencing a surge in traffic. Meanwhile, at least three sheriffs have stated they would not enforce Measure 114. 

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