Standing Up for Our Rights: Responding to Oregon’s Latest Gun Control Efforts

The Battle Over the Second Amendment Continues

Another legislative attempt to infringe on the rights of law-abiding gun owners is unfolding in Oregon. The Oregon Gun Control Bill, recently introduced and discussed in a heated public hearing, is just the latest example of turning a blind eye to the real causes of gun violence while placing heavier burdens on responsible citizens. This proposed legislation adds more restrictions, more red tape, and moves us further from the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution. At Fortress Firearms Training in Fountain Inn, SC, we stand firmly against overreach like this and continue to educate and prepare responsible gun owners for safe and legal firearm ownership.

What’s in the Oregon Gun Control Bill?

This bill brings a slew of new proposals that would, if enacted, greatly affect both gun owners and firearms dealers across the state. Some of the key measures include:

• Raising the minimum age to purchase firearms from 18 to 21
• Allowing lawsuits against gun dealers and manufacturers — essentially opening the door to hold them liable for the criminal misuse of firearms
• Increased storage and liability requirements for gun owners
• Expanded background checks including more intrusive access into a buyer’s mental health history

While these measures are marketed under the guise of “public safety,” the reality is that they do more to punish responsible, law-abiding citizens than stop actual crime. The anti-gun lobby continues to push similar legislation across multiple states, ignoring the fact that criminals – by definition – do not follow laws in the first place.

The Flawed Logic of Gun Control Advocates

During the public hearing, testimonies in support of the bill often focused on emotionally charged narratives rather than data-driven evidence. Opponents of the bill pointed out a glaring truth: Gun control laws don’t prevent crime. They only make it more difficult for responsible citizens to protect themselves and their families.

What’s most frustrating, and frankly dangerous, is the absence of focus on proven methods of reducing gun violence. Instead of empowering communities with access to education and training, these legislative pushes seek to disarm us. That’s not safety — that’s submission.

Real Safety Comes From Education and Training

At Fortress Firearms Training, we believe the key to public safety lies in comprehensive firearms training for law-abiding adults, not government-mandated disempowerment. Our courses are focused on:

• Responsible handgun ownership and operation
• SC Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) training for those seeking to carry legally
• Home defense tactics that can help protect families without relying on overworked law enforcement

Rather than pass confusing, vague and overreaching laws like those proposed in Oregon, states should model themselves after communities that cultivate knowledge, respect, and empowerment through training and personal responsibility.

The Political Theater Behind Gun Control Bills

The proposed Oregon gun control bill isn’t just poor policy — it’s political theater. Legislators proposing these laws often admit that they expect legal challenges once they’re passed, signaling that the real intention may be more about scoring political points than improving public safety. It’s no coincidence that similar measures have been proposed before and have failed in part due to grassroots pushback from pro-2A citizens who know better.

What’s more, efforts to allow civil lawsuits against gun dealers and firearm manufacturers is nothing short of an attempt to bankrupt the industry — a backdoor gun ban through the legal system. Imagine holding a car manufacturer liable for every drunk driving crash — the logic falls apart as quickly as the argument itself.

Why the Second Amendment Matters Now More Than Ever

When politicians suggest that rights should be “reinterpreted” for modern times, freedom faces a dangerous crossroads. The Second Amendment isn’t about hunting. It’s not about sport. It’s about the innate right of the American people to defend themselves from threats, foreign or domestic — including tyrannical overreach.

Measures like the Oregon Gun Control Bill chip away at that right piece by piece. Today, it’s raising the age and increasing storage mandates. Tomorrow, it’s door-to-door confiscation. Don’t think it can happen? Just look at places like California and New York where gun restrictions and bureaucracy have created a system where only criminals and the elite hold power.

What You Can Do

Whether you live in Fountain Inn, SC or on the other side of the country, your voice matters. Here are ways you can stand up for your Second Amendment rights:

• Contact your elected officials and urge them to oppose any similar gun control measures
• Support pro-gun organizations that challenge unconstitutional laws in court
• Get trained and stay educated – knowledge and skill are your greatest tools

Joining our community at Fortress Firearms Training means becoming part of a proud, prepared network of patriots who believe in responsible firearm ownership and the preservation of our rights.

Conclusion: Freedom Must Be Defended

The Oregon Gun Control Bill is just another step down a dangerous road that leads to less freedom, not greater safety. Americans must push back now before more states adopt the same failed philosophy that punishes the good and emboldens the bad. At Fortress Firearms Training, we’re more than just an education center — we’re a stronghold of American values, safety, discipline, and freedom.

If you value your right to defend yourself and your loved ones, stand with us. Get trained. Get informed. Stay free.