Oregon Told a Licensed Visitor: You Have No Other Options

Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation, and Cynthia Ladd filed a federal complaint on September 11, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Eugene Division. The caption is Ladd v. Hunter, No. 6:26-cv-01883. Defendants are Marion County Sheriff Nick Hunter, in his official capacity, and the City of Salem. The complaint and Ladd’s sworn declaration are posted by Gun Owners Foundation.

ORS § 166.291 generally requires a Concealed Handgun License applicant to reside in the county of application. A sheriff may waive that only for someone from a contiguous state with a “compelling business interest or other legitimate demonstrated need.” Oregon borders Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and California. Arizona is not on that list. Oregon also recognizes no other state’s carry permit.

Ladd is a Maricopa County, Arizona resident, GOA’s Oregon state director, and holds an Arizona Concealed Weapons Permit and a nonresident Utah Concealed Firearm Permit. Her declaration says she called the Marion County Sheriff’s Office on August 14, 2026. After she said she lived in Arizona, a CHL employee named Mariah told her Oregon does not issue nonresident permits unless the applicant lives “in a border county.” She then called Lane County. After she said she lives in Arizona, Miss Lopez told her she would not be able to apply at all. Ladd asked, “That’s it? I have no other options?” Lopez: “Yes ma’am, you do not qualify. You have no other options.”

ORS § 166.173 lets cities and counties “regulate, restrict or prohibit” loaded firearms in public. Those local rules do not apply to Oregon CHL holders — the license most nonresidents cannot obtain. Salem prohibits a loaded firearm in public without a CHL. ORS § 166.250 separately bars an unlicensed person from a concealed, readily accessible handgun in a vehicle. The plaintiffs ask the court to open nonresident applications or honor other states’ permits, and to knock down the local loaded-carry overlay. The court has not ruled.