New gun control law spurs historic gun buying rush

Tampa Free Press

Oregon’s new law that will rigidly tighten the state’s gun restrictions led to a massive uptick in attempted firearms purchases, according to NBC affiliate KGW8.

Ballot Measure 114 was passed during the midterm elections and is credited as one of the most restrictive gun laws in the country, sending background checks skyrocketing from 850 per day, prior to the midterms, to 4,000 per day after the law’s passing, according to KGW8.

The measure, often referred to as the Reduction of Gun Violence Act, will require deeper background checks, firearm training, fingerprint collection and a permit to purchase any firearm, according to the legislation, set to be effective in December.

The Oregon state police reported more than 18,000 transactions during election week, resulting in a backlog in background checks, according to KGW8. In 2020, COVID-19 restrictions caused a backlog in background checks that eventually leveled off right before the elections, the Oregon State Police reported.