Portland City Council unanimously approves 5 gun-control measures
Portland’s City Council this morning unanimously approved five new local gun control measures crafted by the mayor in an effort to reduce gun violence in the city.
“Will this end up in court? Most certainly so. Will we fight it? Absolutely. What’s at stake? The safety of our youth,” Mayor Sam Adams said.
The council joins major cities around the country, led by mayors who have pushed to pass gun control measures that their state lawmakers would not or could not.
Supporters of Portland’s proposed gun control laws have called them a needed tool for law enforcement to crack down on gang-related shootings, while critics have voiced concerns about their constitutionality, and potential for unfairly targeting young blacks.
Three ordinances would hold adults responsible if their gun gets into a child’s hands, penalize gun owners who don’t report the theft or loss of a firearm, and designate shooting hot spots and allow the city to exclude certain gun offenders from them.