Firearms Training in Bend & Central Oregon

Oregon Gun Laws & Legal Considerations

Before handling or owning firearms in Oregon, it’s crucial to understand the laws. Firearms training courses will typically cover the basics of state law, but here is an overview of key legal considerations for gun owners in Central Oregon:

Oregon Concealed Handgun License (CHL) Requirements

To carry a concealed handgun in Oregon, you must have an Oregon CHL (Oregon is a shall-issue state for residents). You need to be at least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen (or have permanent resident alien status), and reside in the county where you apply

https://sheriff.deschutes.org/services/concealed-handgun-license/

You must also complete an approved firearm safety training course (or show equivalent experience, such as military service or a hunter safety course) to demonstrate handgun competency

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/oregon-gun-laws-what-you-need-to-know/

With those in hand, you apply through your county sheriff’s office and pass a background check and fingerprinting. Deschutes County, for example, offers its own CHL class to satisfy the training requirement and handles applications at the Sheriff’s Office. Note that Oregon does not honor concealed carry permits from any other states (no reciprocity) – only an Oregon CHL allows you to conceal carry here. Read more about this here.

Open Carry Laws in Oregon

Oregon generally allows open carry of firearms without a license. This means you can legally carry a visible handgun or rifle in public. However, cities and counties are permitted to restrict loaded firearms being carried openly by those without a CHL (read more here). For example, cities like Portland and Beaverton prohibit carrying a loaded firearm openly in public unless you have a CHL

In Bend, there is no general ban on loaded open carry (Bend does not have an ordinance against loaded firearms in public for license holders) – but Bend does prohibit firearms in city parks by local code. https://www.oregonfirearms.org/chl-central/local-gun-codes#:~:text=5

If you openly carry, use caution and be aware of any local regulations wherever you are. Also, even though open carry is legal, expect that law enforcement might stop to check your status if they get calls, especially if you are in an urban area. Keep any firearms unloaded when in a vehicle if you don’t have a CHL (see transporting firearms below).

Places You Cannot Carry a Firearm

Even with a permit, certain places are off-limits for firearms. Under federal law, you cannot bring guns into federal facilities (e.g. post offices, federal courthouses) or secure airport areas. Oregon state law prohibits firearms (even with CHL) in courthouses, jails, and executive government buildings. In 2021, Oregon passed SB 554, which gave local governments and school districts the power to ban firearms in their public buildings for CHL holders as well (read more). As a result, many public schools, colleges, and city buildings now post signs prohibiting firearms entirely. For instance, the Bend–La Pine School District and many Oregon school districts have opted to ban guns on school grounds, even if you have a CHL. The Oregon State Capitol in Salem and the passenger terminal of Portland International Airport are specifically off-limits by law for CHL holders as well.

Always look for “No Firearms” signs when entering any government or school facility; if they’re posted pursuant to the new law, honor them – otherwise you risk arrest for trespass. Of course, any private business or property owner can ask you not to carry on their premises; if you refuse to comply or leave, you could also face trespassing charges. When in doubt, discreetly inquire about a location’s policy or secure your firearm before entering.

Transporting Firearms in Oregon

Oregon has specific rules for guns in vehicles. If you do not have a CHL and you have a handgun in your car, it must be unloaded and stored in a closed container (such as a case or glove box) or in the trunk. Essentially, it should not be readily accessible to anyone in the vehicle. Having a round in the chamber or a loaded magazine inserted in the handgun would violate the law if you’re not licensed. Long guns (rifles and shotguns) can legally be carried loaded in Oregon, but this is generally not recommended – and some cities may have local ordinances against loaded rifles/shotguns in vehicles. If you have an Oregon CHL, you are allowed to carry a loaded handgun on your person or in the vehicle, concealed or openly, while driving

Regardless of license, never point a firearm at or from a vehicle, and if stopped by police, it’s wise to inform the officer if you have a gun in the car (Oregon law doesn’t require disclosure, but doing so calmly is usually appreciated). Treat any firearm in a vehicle as if it’s on the firing line: unloaded (if no permit), safety on (if applicable), and secured.

Firearm Purchase & Ownership Laws in Oregon

No permit is required to purchase a firearm in Oregon (at least for now), but all sales – including private-party sales – must go through a background check by law. This means if you buy from a gun store, the dealer will run an instant background check through the State Police. If you buy from or sell to another individual, you both must go to a licensed dealer or law enforcement office to have a background check performed (there are exceptions for close family transfers). Oregon has a mandatory waiting period only in the sense that if the background check is delayed, the sale cannot proceed until approved (Oregon does not allow the federal “3-day rule” for default proceeds). In recent years, background check delays have been an issue, but the State Police Firearms Unit has been improving wait times. There is currently no magazine capacity limit or assault weapon ban in effect for standard gun ownership in Oregon (read more). However, in 2022 voters passed Ballot Measure 114, which will (if implemented) require a permit-to-purchase for firearms and ban magazines holding over 10 rounds (read more). Measure 114 has been tied up in court since its passage – as of late 2025 it is not yet in effect, pending Oregon Supreme Court review

Lawmakers have pushed the implementation date to March 2026 while legal challenges continue

Additionally, Oregon in 2023 banned so-called “ghost guns” (unserialized firearms) and made it illegal to manufacture or sell them

In summary: you can currently purchase rifles, shotguns at 18+ and handguns at 21+, after passing a background check. Be prepared for possible delays in background checks. Keep an eye on the news regarding the permit-to-purchase system – it could be required in the near future, changing how Oregonians buy guns.

Use of Force & Self-Defense Laws in Oregon

Oregon does not have a explicit “Stand Your Ground” statute, but state law and court rulings effectively say you have no duty to retreat if you are in a place you have a lawful right to be. Read more here: https://giffords.org/lawcenter/state-laws/stand-your-ground-in-oregon/

In other words, Oregon law allows you to defend yourself or others with appropriate force (including deadly force) if you reasonably believe you are in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury, without requiring you to first try to run away. Read more.

This is true outside your home as well – Oregon’s Supreme Court in State v. Sandoval confirmed no duty to retreat in public self-defense situations.

That said, the standard for justified use of deadly force is high: the threat must be immediate and likely to cause death or serious injury. Oregon law (ORS 161.219) also specifically permits the use of deadly force to stop certain home invasions (burglary), under what’s often called the Castle Doctrine. If an intruder is unlawfully and forcefully entering your dwelling, you’re generally justified in using deadly force to defend yourself there

Important: Even though there’s no legal duty to retreat, using a firearm in self-defense will invite intense scrutiny of whether your actions were reasonable. Expect that police and prosecutors will examine if you had any safer options, and whether the level of force matched the threat. Oregon is not a “permitless carry” state nor does it have civil immunity for self-defense like some states – so it’s wise to know the laws well. Training classes on Oregon self-defense law (often taught by lawyers or certified instructors) can provide invaluable context. Always remember: the goal is to avoid conflict if at all possible and use your firearm only as a last resort when lives are at stake.