(PORTLAND, Oreg.) — During the city council meeting on October 28, 2026, the council unanimously enacted an ordinance banning concealed firearms from key city buildings, though the debate exposed lingering friction regarding committee processes and personal safety in council chambers.
Photo Credit: YouTube / eGov PDX
In June 2025, Oregon lawmakers passed Senate Bill 243, also known as the Community Safety Firearms Act, which took effect September 1, 2025.
State legislation allows local governments to adopt ordinances that ban licensed concealed firearms in certain public buildings. Lawmakers had previously allowed those bans in other public buildings, local school districts, colleges, and universities.
This was the second reading of the ordinance from the October 21, 2026, meeting, where the council moved to address this public safety concern. The measure was strongly supported by gun violence prevention advocates.
During that first reading, Marty Glickman, the Executive Director of Braided River Campaign and representing Moms Demand Action, testified in strong support of the ordinance to prohibit firearms in city buildings. She urged a 'yes' vote to make City Hall a safer workplace and a democratic space.
Kip Silverman spoke on his own behalf as Co-chair of the Portland Committee on Community Engaged Policing. He supported the ordinance to amend the code regarding firearm possession. He stated that he would feel much safer during potentially heated public meetings if designated security staff were not confused about who posed a threat due to multiple people drawing guns.
Amy Wexler, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Safe Oregon, a statewide gun tragedy prevention nonprofit, strongly urged the council to pass the ordinance prohibiting concealed carry firearms in city buildings used for official public meetings.
Wexler emphasized that democracy requires the ability to speak without fear or intimidation, referencing the 'Guns and Democracy' study. She argued that the presence of firearms can alter the atmosphere, making people hesitate to participate, and that the city has a responsibility to ensure these civic spaces are safe and accessible.
“Even when no threat is made and no shot is fired; the presence of a firearm can change the atmosphere. It can make people think twice about speaking, sharing their experiences, or challenging someone else’s views. We should not accept that as the price of participating in local government. To be clear, this is not about assuming that everyone who legally carries a firearm intends to cause harm. It is about recognizing that public meetings serve a unique civic purpose. The city has a responsibility to make these spaces safe and accessible for the people who use them,” Wexler said.
Council President Jamie Dunphy opened the discussion by offering an overview of the ordinance and asking for the council’s support.
Photo Credit: YouTube / eGov PDX
“This ordinance makes it illegal to carry a handgun into city hall, the Portland Building, or the 1900 Building even if you have a handgun license or CHL. I feel that it’s unconscionable, given the daily news of new acts of gun violence, to not enact SB 243 to protect the public spaces where our communities gather, Dunphy said. “
“I’m asking for your support in this. If passed, this ordinance will make it so that the only folks allowed to bring a gun into the buildings where we hold public meetings will be police, security, and other public safety officers.”
Ultimately, the council voted unanimously in favor of the ordinance.
According to portland.gov, “This ordinance will apply to three city-owned and managed buildings on a permanent basis, and as a result, we anticipate minimal financial impacts. We can expect small one-time costs for signage creation, but we have not identified any ongoing costs. There are no related MOUs, IGAs, or long-term commitments and it should not require additional staffing or equipment to enact.”
To add to or correct any information in this report, please email me at rory.h@lead4earth.org.
0
0
Comments