Voters are asked every election to vote on amendments to the Oregon Constitution. But how many have even read the Oregon Constitution to know the intent or consequences of their vote?

For the next three Wednesday evenings, you have an opportunity to learn what the Oregon Constitution says and the background to why it was written that way. Mike Nearman is a veteran on teaching the Oregon Constitution and offers a background of knowledge on all the wise and unwise decisions voters have made to amend it.

The classes are free and open to the public. You can attend in person at The River Church, 4675 Portland Rd, NE, Salem, or view on Rumble on TheRiverNW channel. Classes are 7pm to 9pm, February 22, March 1, and March 8.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

One such amendment is Measure 114, which narrowly passed in the 2022 election that is going through a court challenge. The measure would require a permit to purchase a firearm, require a background check, and imposes restrictions regarding "large-capacity" magazines. The measure continues to be delayed as Joseph Arnold, et al. v. Tina Kotek et al claims it is unconstitutional.

Section 27 of Article 1 of the Oregon Constitution says, “The people shall have the right to bear arms for the defense of themselves, and the State, but the Military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power.”

Justice Berkeley Lent, Oregon Supreme Court, interpreted Section 27 for the first time in 1980 in State v. Kessler. He traced the Oregon constitutional language of 1859 through several earlier state constitutions back to the 1689 Bill of Rights in England, which guaranteed that Protestants could have “arms for their defense.”

Justice Lent wrote, “Our task, in construing a constitutional provision, is to respect the principles given the status of constitutional guarantees and limitations by the drafters; it is not to abandon these principles when this fits the needs of the moment.”

The opinion confirms that in its historical context, the Oregon right as stated in the Oregon Constitution is meant to protect liberty against government oppression …while also protecting a citizen’s right to self-defense.

When government wants control over who can own a gun, where is the protected liberty against that government's oppression? Don’t miss the class on Section 27 of the Oregon Constitution.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-02-21 17:27:05

Last Update: 2023-02-22 13:51:12