Indivisible Supports Strong, Effective Laws To Reduce Firearm Violence
By Penny Okamoto, Executive Director of Ceasefire Oregon Education Foundation
Ceasefire Oregon Education Foundation and the Ceasefire Oregon Action Fund (PAC) applaud Indivisible’s work to counter the Trump administration’s outrageous actions from ICE zip-tying children and abducting people off the streets, to extrajudicial killings of people in boats.
Indivisible also champions an impressive slate of policies designed to reduce gun violence — a mission deeply aligned with Ceasefire Oregon’s own.We know that is important to Ceasefire Oregon supporters so we compiled a list of Indivisible’s position on major firearm laws and policies.
When you support a party or a candidate, be sure to know their positions on important gun violence prevention laws. We encourage you to support candidates who will actively support strong, effective gun laws.
Indivisible supports the following laws as policies. See how those match up with Oregon’s laws and with our positions.
Indivisible supports banning assault weapons and large capacity magazines.
Ceasefire Oregon worked closely with LEVO (Lift Every Voice Oregon) to pass Measure 114 which bans high capacity magazines in Oregon. In fact, when Measure 114 began as an initiative petition (IP 17), Ceasefire Oregon and LEVO also worked very hard to enact its sister initiative petition, IP 18, which would have banned assault weapons. Ceasefire Oregon and LEVO continue to support a ban on assault weapons.
Ceasefire Oregon supports a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines
Oregon law bans high-capacity magazines pending Oregon’s Supreme Court ruling on Measure 114 but does not ban assault weapons
Indivisible supports banning bump stocks
In 2025, Ceasefire Oregon supported and helped to pass Oregon SB 243 which bans rapid fire activators (RFAs) including bump stocks.
Ceasefire Oregon YES
Oregon law YES
Indivisible supports universal background checks
Ceasefire Oregon was instrumental in helping to pass SB 941 in 2015 which mandated universal background checks for firearm sales and transfers. Thanks to strong work from gun violence prevention groups across the state, Oregonians must undergo background checks whether they are buying or transferring firearms at federally licensed firearms dealers or through a private transaction. (Exceptions are made for transactions between family members.)
Ceasefire Oregon YES
Oregon law YES
Indivisible supports an age limit on gun purchases
Under current federal law, individuals as young as 18 can legally purchase a semi-automatic rifle even though federal law requires them to be 21 to buy a handgun. Oregon follows this same standard, allowing anyone 18 or older to purchase assault-style weapons. Ceasefire Oregon supports raising the minimum age for these purchases to 21.
Earlier this year, Oregon legislators had an opportunity to take that step. Despite holding majorities in both the House and Senate, Democratic lawmakers failed to advance legislation that would have raised the minimum age for possessing or purchasing assault rifles to 21. Senate Bills 697 and 243 both included provisions to establish this commonsense safeguard but ultimately did not pass. The age limitation in SB 243 was stripped away before the bill passed.
Ceasefire Oregon YES
Oregon law NO
Indivisible supports waiting periods
Waiting period laws require a brief delay between the purchase of a firearm and its transfer to the buyer. These laws save lives by providing time for thorough background checks to be completed and for potential buyers — especially those in crisis — to reconsider impulsive decisions.
Ceasefire Oregon agrees with Indivisible and strongly supports the adoption of waiting periods as a proven, commonsense safeguard against gun violence and suicide. Unfortunately, in 2025 Oregon lawmakers once again failed to act. Senate Bill 243 originally included a waiting period provision, but it was removed after Democratic Representative Paul Evans declined to support it.
By stripping this life-saving measure from the bill, the Legislature missed another chance to protect Oregonians from preventable tragedy.
Ceasefire Oregon YES
Oregon law NO
Indivisible supports Extreme risk protective orders (red flag laws)
Extreme risk protection orders (ERPO) allow families or law enforcement to petition a court to temporarily remove guns from the possession of individuals who may be at risk of injuring themselves or others. Ceasefire Oregon agrees with Indivisible that ERPOs save lives. The Oregon legislature really stepped up to the plate in 2017 to pass Oregon’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law which became effective in January 2018.
Ceasefire Oregon YES
Oregon law YES
Indivisible supports laws that require gun owners to be licensed, registered, and complete safety training
Absolutely! Ceasefire Oregon is in complete agreement with Indivisible on this! We were honored to work so closely with LEVO (Lift Every Voice Oregon) to pass Measure 114 in 2022! (Still waiting for the Oregon Supreme Court to approve the measure.) The measure requires gun owners to be trained and licensed before acquiring a firearm.
The United States registers fully automatic firearms (among other firearm-related products like silencers) under the National Firearms Act. That is one reason why fully automatic firearms and silencers are rarely used in crimes (but they still are.) Some day soon, we hope that will apply to semi-automatic firearms as well.
Ceasefire Oregon YES
Oregon law YES on licensing and training pending Measure 114 ruling but NO on registration