Ballot Measure 5 expands current state law by requiring that a person other than a gun dealer who transfers a firearm at a gun show request a criminal background check.
Current law requires only gun dealers to request such background checks.
The measure specifies information that a person other than a gun dealer must provide to the State Police when requesting a criminal background check and establishes deadlines for the State Police to respond. The State Police may charge a fee, as provided under existing Oregon law, for the additional background checks authorized by this measure. Under current law the State of Oregon conducts criminal background checks on purchases of handguns made through gun dealers, and the federal government conducts such checks on rifle and shotgun purchases made through gun dealers. This measure transfers the authority from the federal government to the state to conduct criminal background checks on rifle and shotgun purchases. The measure requires that the Department of State Police, in addition to conducting a criminal background check, determine whether a person is prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a firearm.