Recent records reveal that fewer than 2% of Oregon’s gun dealers have been inspected in the past two years, alarming gun safety advocates who argue that proactive oversight is crucial for preventing gun violence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) only managed to inspect 31 and 34 dealers in 2022 and 2023, respectively, amidst concerns about the inadequate regulation of approximately 2,000 state dealers.
Gun safety groups, including the Alliance for a Safe Oregon, stress that such low inspection rates contribute to issues like “straw purchasing,” where firearms are bought for individuals who cannot legally obtain them. Statistics indicate that 56% of firearms traced to crimes in Oregon in 2023 came from in-state dealers, raising questions about the effectiveness of the current inspection process and calling for local legislation similar to New Jersey’s to improve oversight.
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