The Bend City Council is moving forward with an ordinance that would ban all firearms in at least three city-owned buildings, removing an exemption for concealed carry license holders.
In June 2025, an Oregon state law, Senate Bill 243, was passed, banning gun modifications that allow rifles and handguns to be fired at a much faster rate. Also referred to as the “Community Safety Firearms Act,” SB 243 did more than just ban bump stocks and nix switches, however.
The bill also revised Chapter 166 of Oregon’s state code, allowing local governments to restrict concealed carry license holders from carrying weapons into buildings “owned or controlled by” a local governing body, if the buildings are “used by the governing body for official meetings.”
Prior to the passing of SB 243, licensed concealed carry holders were given the only civilian exception to a ban on guns in public buildings in Oregon. Violation of that ban was, and is, a Class C felony offense, without the proper paperwork.
Now, paperwork or no paperwork, municipal and county governments can enforce a total ban on firearms in buildings that host “official meetings.” Governing bodies must notify the public online of all buildings that fall under such policy and post signs explaining the restriction at “all normal points of entry” to said buildings.
“Because the Bend City Council generally acts through ordinances and resolutions, rather than policies or regulations, Council gave direction to staff to draft an ordinance as allowed by SB 243,” reads a staff report from the City Attorney’s office.
At a Jan. 7 City Council meeting, the idea for the ordinance came from Councilor Mike Riley, with Councilor Megan Perkins signing on with an “enthusiastic yes,” she said.
Currently, the City Attorney’s office anticipates that three buildings will be covered by the ordinance, which had its first reading unanimously approved at a Feb. 18 City Council business meeting and is likely to be officially adopted at a March 4 business meeting.
Those buildings are City Hall, the Municipal Court building and the Public Works Campus at Juniper Ridge. “All three buildings are sometimes used by the City Council for official meetings, which corresponds to the scope of authority granted by the legislation,” reads the staff report.
“As a longtime advocate for reducing gun violence, I was grateful when Senator Anthony Broadman helped to champion [SB 243] last session,” Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler told the Source. “This is the same ability the legislature previously granted school districts in order to keep guns off their school campuses. The places where we hold our public meetings should be safe for everyone to gather, provide input and watch their government work.”
This article appears in the Source February 26, 2026.
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As a CHL holder for decades now and an honorably retired Oregon law enforcement officer who routinely participates in the HR-218 retired law enforcement qualification course (federal law permitting, under specific criteria, retired LEOs to carry concealed handguns in all states of the United States), I applaud the Bend City Council for pursuing such an ordinance.
It merely mirrors past and current federal law pertaining to the same thought process regarding the bringing or carrying of a firearm into federal buildings or on federal property. This includes Veteran Administration offices, VA medical hospitals and clinics, post offices, and so on.
A CHL is a privilege not a right and is governed by the country Sheriff’s Office(s). Any law enforcement agency can conduct the yearly HR-218 qualification course as it is a federal permit inclusive to local, county, and state retired LEOs who meet the criteria.
HR-218 conditions for concealed carry do not override such carry by a permit holder in federal buildings or on federal properties – the same holds true for civilian issued CHLs regardless of the issuing state.
It should be pointed out that under Oregon law, as any non CHL holder should know, a firearm may be kept in his/her vehicle if (a) in plain sight or (b) locked in the glovebox or another secure safety space. Oregon does allow cities / towns such as Portland to further restrict the conditions an unlicensed gun owner can store a firearm in a vehicle, to include ammunition.
All such facilities must display at appropriate entrances and exits signage that states no firearms are permitted on property. In some cases, such as the VA Administration in Portland, Oregon, and the Deschutes County courthouse, a TSA-like screening and search process must be gone through before being allowed to enter.
This reflects broader debates about public safety, gun policy, and municipal autonomy in regulating weapons on public property. Such decisions are often shaped by community input and local legislative priorities.
As soon as bad guys that don’t play by the rules see the notice, they’ll stop and leave…. Good job Bendifornia! You nailed it.