Your right to own firearms, hunt, fish, harvest & gather are under fierce, unrelenting and multi-front attack.
Our chapter & OHA’s State Office along with similarly minded organizations and the NRA are going all-out to protect your rights.
BUT THAT’S NO LONGER ENOUGH – WE NEED YOUR HELP & NOW – BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!
This page aims to help you understand the gravest threats & show you how to “force multiply” our efforts by personally letting decision makers know exactly how you feel.
2nd AMENDMENT GUN RIGHTS
NOW UNDER ATTACK FROM 3 FRONTS
OR BALLOT MEASURE 114 TO LIMIT PURCHASING FIREARMS: OHA & NRA OPPOSE
Oregon’s Supreme Court upheld a stay ordered by a lower court until the ballot measure 114 goes to trial in May or June 2023. Read on here … and here.
SB 348 WORK AROUND/TROJAN HORSE TO REWRITE/REPLACE 114 WITH EVEN STRONGER LANGUAGE: OHA & SPORTSMEN”S COALITION OPPOSE
See OHA & the Congressional Sportsmen’s Coalition letter to the Senate Committee on Judiciary by Clicking Here.
HB 2005, 6 & 7: BRAND NEW, SEPARATE ATTACKS ON 2nd AMENDMENT RIGHTS: OHA & NRA OPPOSE
2005 – Restricts hand made guns, plus what’s covered in 2006 and possession in designated areas
2006 – Denies 2nd Amendment rights to young adults aged 18-20 by prohibiting them from possessing semi-automatic firearms
2007 – This bill will enable vast expansions of ineffective gun-free zones.
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
CWD
OR HB 2532: OHA AUTHORED BILL TO ADD FUNDS FOR IN-STATE CWD SAMPLING, TESTING & RESEARCH
Click here & scroll down to 6th paragraph to learn more
HUNTING, TRAPPING, FISHING, GATHERING RIGHTS
IP13 formerly IP3: OPPOSED BY OHA, RMEF, BHA (OR Chapter), Ducks Unlimited, NWTF, American Kennel Club, Safari Club International, Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, Oregon Dairy Farmers, …
Would make Oregon an Animal Sanctuary State – Criminalizing hunting, fishing, trapping, and raising, slaughtering, breeding & artificially inseminating livestock. Read about it here… and for background read here
HJR 5: OHA SPONSORED & STRONGLY SUPPORTS
Would counter IP3 – PERMANENTLY. This is 1st step towards 2024 ballet initiative to seek voters approval to constitutionally protection your right to fish, hunt, harvest and gather. Click here and read 4th & 5th paragraph for details
HB 3086: OHA SUPPORTS AS WRITTEN, or IF AMENDED ONLY WITH AMENDMENT 2
Would alter the makeup of ODFW Commission by replacing the 7 member commission from 6 congressional district reps (population based) to 5 river basin management area reps (geography based). Would provide a better more informed model for wildlife management. Read here & here to learn more. Listen to Amy Partrick, OHA’s Policy Directory message here. And Click here to submit written or verbal testimony.
JUST IN – Despite the huge number of supporting organizations, including 5 Indian Tribes, this bill was sidelined by a last minute blitz of the Governor and Speaker of the House offices by environmental groups. This is a setback but the battle is far from over.
HB 3390: OHA OPPOSED
Would have criminalized the sale or trade of fur products, including things made with fur and feathers
JUST IN: This measure was dropped/defeated within days of the Oregon Trappers Association, numerous Fly Fishing and other affected groups, and businesses coordinated efforts to get their members to weigh in with their state representatives.
OTHER:
ALL 6 BILLS SUPPORTED BY OHA IN THE HOUSE & SENATE ATTEMPTING TO BRING BACK THE USE OF HOUNDS TO HUNT COUGARS HAVE DIED.
SAME FOR A BILL TO RESTRICT HOUNDS TO HUNT BOBCATS & LYNX.
ALL BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE LEGALIZED HUNTING WITH CROSSBOWS HAVE DIED DESPITE OHA’s SUPPORT EFFORTS
CENTRAL OREGON, DESCHUTES COUNTY & LOCAL ISSUES
DESCHUTES COUNTY PLANNING & COMMISSIONERS
MULE DEER WINTER RANGE REVISIONS ACCOMPANIED BY ADDED ZONING RESTRICTIONS
OHA EVALUATION PENDING
This is more complicated than it appears. On one hand we all support helping reverse the precipitous decline of our mule deer population. The question is how best to do so.
This proposal would place the burden on landowners who are legitimately concerned over another infringement/loss of their property rights to presumably help mule deer WITHOUT ANY COST vs BENEFIT ANALYSIS. There’s also no consideration/plan to deal with predators, particularly cougars which many believe have every bit if not larger impact on our Mule Deer and Elk populations. Same for wolves moving into the vicinity.
Until the public is presented with ALL THE FACTS (rather than generalities) and ALL THE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS, accompanied by a COST VS BENEFIT ANALYSES OF EACH, it would be irresponsible and dead wrong to saddle landowners with any additional rules or restrictions on top of what are already burdensome zoning restrictions. Don’t be fooled. THIS IS A COMPLEX MULTIFACETED ISSUE that won’t be reversed by this singular measure. What we need are complete and reliable facts associated with each and every facet of the problem before any decisions are made; especially decision(s) to usurp landowner property rights.
To get up to speed go here. And read DRAFT Comments by OHA which are being debated internally. Then to learn more or share your opinions on the matter there will be three informational County Planning Department meetings followed by a public hearing on the proposal. The schedule is:
Thursday, April 6, 2023 – Barnes & Sawyer Room, Deschutes Service Center, Bend (virtual option available), 5:30 p.m.
Can also attend this meeting remotely via Zoom:
Please click this URL to join. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85411683754?pwd=R09CcTJmUit0K0RjeDJIWXp5clpBZz09
Passcode: 404835
Webinar ID: 854 1168 3754
Or join by phone by dialing (346) 248 7799
Monday, April 10, 2023 – Redmond City Hall (Civic Room 208), 5:30 p.m.
Then Thursday April 13, 2023 the Deschutes County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. in the Deschutes Services Center, Barnes & Sawyer Rooms (first floor) at 1300 Wall Street, Bend, OR 97703.
THORNBURG MEGA RESORT; OPPOSED BY OHA, BCH, TRCP, LANDWATCH & VAST MAJORITY OF PUBLIC
This is the most contentious & litigated resort project ever in the state for many reasons; but one in particular – water use. Conditionally approved in 2005, nearby residents and more recently ODFW and other state regulatory departments have objected to the planned resort’s original and recent completely new mitigation plan to offset the >4MM Gallons/day water they intend to draw from the aquifer. The continued drought combined with what’s happened in Klamath and other counties rightly elevates everyone’s concerns. Coincidentally it’s also located right in the heart of the Mule Deer Winter Range area targeted for more restricted land use too.
At first glance one might assume it involves limits to property owner rights; but the fight is mostly over water which belongs to everyone – and the effect Thornburg may very well have on surrounding neighbors wells and the rivers/fisheries which depend on a certain amount of cold water from the already declining aquifer. To see OHA’s Objections to the resort read here. And to do a deeper dive go here.
To find the latest on Public Policy & Legislative Issues Click here for OHA’s Legislative News and Click here to see OHA’s Monthly Tracker Publication, including back issues
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