Looks like other states CCW permits may be good in Oregon

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House says concealed carry licenses from other states OK in Oregon

The Oregon House voted Monday to throw out the welcome mat for out-of-state visitors packing heat and concealed weapons permits.

On a vote of 40 to 17, the chamber approved a bill that would allow people who have permits from other states to carry concealed guns while visiting Oregon.

Two former law enforcement agents Democratic Rep. Jeff Barker, D-Aloha, and Republican Rep. Wayne Krieger, R-Gold Beach carried the bill, which now goes to the Senate for approval.

Currently, Oregon doesn't recognize licenses issued by any other state, though a license from this state is honored in just over a dozen others.

This is the second piece of legislation concerning concealed handguns to pass through the House in a week. A bill blocking the release of information about who carries concealed weapons passed on Thursday by slightly larger margins.

While the law is aimed at license holders from other states, it could also potentially open the door to reciprocity with some 37 states in all, said Krieger. Oregon handgun owners, concealed carry, are receiving a definite benefit, he said.

Only one representative spoke against the legislation, Mary Nolan, a Democrat from Portland.

"Oregon has found a carefully constructed balance, developed over a number of years in this chamber, involving Republicans and Democrats working together," she said. "Not every state has done this careful balancing."

Indeed, Oregon has some very specific regulations when it comes to the issuance of concealed handgun licenses. For instance, under state law, recipients must demonstrate handgun "competence" most often by completing certain training courses. In addition, they cannot have been convicted of a felony, be subject to citation for stalking, be registered as sex offender in any state or have received a dishonorable discharge from the armed forces.

Other states, however, have different regulations, some of which are considerably less rigorous, Nolan said.

Many states allow people who would be excluded from carrying a concealed handgun if they lived in Oregon to carry it in their own state, she said, adding that the bill is essentially an end run around Oregon law.

Krieger brushed aside much of the criticism. While its true that the standards vary by state, he said, a basic background check is done in most of those states. "I don't know of any that don't do them."

The law wouldn't apply to the handful of states that allow residents to conceal handguns without a permit and it only applies to those visiting Oregon. License holder from another state who move to Oregon must apply for a license here.

Barker, the Democrat from Aloha who helped carry the bill, said he understood concerns about loose restrictions in other states. But, he pointed out that no law enforcement groups came out against the law.

"The people who actually go get a permit, I think, are law-abiding people who actually follow the law so they are not the problem," Barker said after the vote. "The criminals are going to bring their guns and not have a permit."

The bills fate is uncertain in the Senate.

House says concealed carry licenses from other states OK in Oregon | OregonLive.com

I think it will pass the senate, but getting it past the governor may be a challenge.

Jeff Barker was in the academy just behind mine, he's also a former OSP trooper.