Oregon Residents Sue Columbia County Over Unconstitutional Nullification Law

Everytown Law, representing four citizens of Columbia County, Oregon, joined a challenge to a “Lawless County” ordinance that nullifies nearly all state and federal gun safety laws.

Everytown Law, along with local counsel Stoll Berne, represents four residents of Columbia County, Oregon as interested parties in a Validation Proceeding initiated by Columbia County regarding a so-called “Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance” (“SASO”) that Columbia County voters narrowly passed in November 2020. The citizens challenge the right of the County to choose to ignore state and federal laws, and, even more extremely, penalize any official who enforces such laws.

On February 15, 2023, the Oregon Court of Appeals struck down the County’s SASO, delivering a victory for public safety and the rule of law. The three-judge panel unanimously agreed with the petition filed by the four residents of Columbia County. In its decision, the panel invalidated the ordinance and explained how the Ordinance clearly conflicted with controlling Oregon state law. We applaud the Oregon Court of Appeals for striking down this lawless and dangerous ordinance. 

Columbia County’s SASO is just one of many so-called “Second Amendment Sanctuary” laws passed across the country. See Everytown Law’s analysis of similarly dangerous laws here.  

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