Central Oregon sheriff says he won't enforce new gun control law

(NOVEMBER 18, 2022) Voters in Oregon approved a new law this fall. The law increased the control of guns in the state. For example, it limits the number of bullets in a gun. It requires stronger permits.

However, Sheriff Jason Pollock says he won't enforce the law. A sheriff is the leader of police in a county, and Pollack is the leader of the police in Jefferson County in Central Oregon. To "enforce" means to make people follow a rule or law.

Pollack says he doesn't have enough police officers to do the work. He also believes the new law is against the U.S. Constitution. He thinks gun owners will still have these kinds of guns anyway.

City leaders are happy with Pollack's decision. They think the new law is too much for small cities in Central Oregon. One leader of Jefferson County says, "It just seems like Portland gets cancer, and we are treated with [chemotherapy], and I just get sick and tired of the way things are done."

The sheriff in Crook County also disagrees with the new law. Violations against this law will be "lower priority." That means they will be less important than other problems.

The Oregon State Sheriff's Association agrees, too. Shane Nelson is Deschutes County Sheriff. He represents the association. He says, "This measure will not make our community safer." He says there is more risk because police should be doing other things.

Most residents of those counties seem to agree. The results of the votes in those counties about this new law:

• Jefferson County: 70% said no

• Crook County: 80% said no

• Deschutes County: 50% said no

However, there were enough "yes" votes in other parts of the state. So now it is a law.