Introduction
Over 1.1 million Oregon residents experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Fortunately, many victims survive these traumatic events; however, Oregon reported 190 intimate partner violence related homicides victims from 2008 to 2017. Although Oregon doesn’t report the mechanism of death, evidence suggests firearms are a significant contributing factor. An abuser’s access to firearms can determine a victim’s chances of survival; domestic violence firearm prohibitions and removal laws save lives.
Oregon prohibits possession of firearms and ammunition by persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence and persons subject to final domestic violence restraining orders. Oregon does not require removal of firearms from persons subject to domestic violence restraining orders; however, a court issuing an ex parte domestic violence restraining order shall, if requested by the petitioner, order other relief the court considers necessary to provide for the safety and welfare of the petitioner and the children in the custody of the petitioner.