68th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--1995 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 3210

                         House Bill 3110

Sponsored by Representative EIGHMEY


                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Expands types of ammunition to which prohibition against
possession of armor piercing ammunition applies.

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to firearms; amending ORS 166.210 and 166.350.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 166.210 is amended to read:
  166.210. As used in ORS 166.250 to 166.270, 166.280, 166.291 to
166.295 and 166.410 to 166.470:
  (1) 'Antique firearm' means:
  (a) Any firearm, including any firearm with a matchlock,
flintlock, percussion cap or similar type of ignition system,
manufactured in or before 1898; and
  (b) Any replica of any firearm described in paragraph (a) of
this subsection if the replica:
  (A) Is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or
conventional centerfire fixed ammunition; or
  (B) Uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition
that is no longer manufactured in the United States and that is
not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial
trade.
  (2) 'Firearm' means a weapon, by whatever name known, which is
designed to expel a projectile by the action of   { - powder - }
 { +  an explosive + } and which is readily capable of use as a
weapon.   { +  ' Firearm' includes, but is not limited to, a
starter gun and a weapon that may be readily converted to expel a
projectile by the action of an explosive. + }
  (3) 'Firearms silencer' means any device for silencing,
muffling or diminishing the report of a firearm.
  (4) 'Handgun' means any conventional pistol or revolver using a
fixed cartridge containing a propellant charge, primer and
projectile, and designed to be aimed or fired otherwise than from
the shoulder and which fires a single shot for each pressure on
the trigger device.
  (5) 'Machine gun' means a weapon of any description by whatever
name known, loaded or unloaded, which is designed or modified to
allow two or more shots to be fired by a single pressure on the
trigger device.
  (6) 'Minor' means a person under 18 years of age.


  (7) 'Short-barreled rifle' means a rifle having one or more
barrels less than 16 inches in length and any weapon made from a
rifle if the weapon has an overall length of less than 26 inches.
  (8) 'Short-barreled shotgun' means a shotgun having one or more
barrels less than 18 inches in length and any weapon made from a
shotgun if the weapon has an overall length of less than 26
inches.
  SECTION 2. ORS 166.350 is amended to read:
  166.350. (1) A person commits the crime of unlawful possession
of armor piercing ammunition if the person:
  (a) Makes, sells, buys or possesses any   { - handgun
ammunition the bullet or projectile of which is coated with
Teflon or any chemical compound with properties similar to Teflon
and which is intended to penetrate soft body armor - }  { +
armor piercing ammunition + }, such person having the intent that
the ammunition be used in the commission of a felony; or
  (b) Carries any  { + armor piercing + } ammunition
 { - described in paragraph (a) of this subsection - }  while
committing any felony during which the person or any accomplice
of the person is armed with a firearm.
  (2) As used in this section { + : + }   { - , 'Handgun
ammunition' means ammunition principally for use in pistols or
revolvers notwithstanding that the ammunition can be used in some
rifles. - }
   { +  (a) 'Armor piercing ammunition' means:
  (A) A bullet or projectile coated with Teflon or any chemical
compound with properties similar to Teflon that is intended to
penetrate soft body armor and that is intended for use in a
handgun;
  (B) A projectile or projectile core that may be used in a
handgun and that is constructed entirely, excluding the presence
of traces of other substances, from one or a combination of
tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper or
depleted uranium; or
  (C) A fully jacketed projectile larger than .22 caliber
designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a
weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the
projectile.
  (b) 'Armor piercing ammunition' does not include:
  (A) Shotgun shot required by federal or state environmental or
game regulations for hunting purposes;
  (B) A breakable projectile designed for target shooting;
  (C) A projectile that the Attorney General finds is primarily
intended to be used for sporting purposes; or
  (D) Any other projectile or projectile core that the Attorney
General finds is intended to be used for industrial purposes.
   + } (3) Unlawful possession of armor piercing ammunition is a
Class A misdemeanor.
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