166.250 Unlawful possession of firearms. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section or ORS 166.260, 166.270, 166.273, 166.274, 166.291, 166.292 or 166.410 to 166.470, a person commits the crime of unlawful possession of a firearm if the person knowingly:
(a) Carries any firearm concealed upon the person;
(b) Possesses a handgun that is concealed and readily accessible to the person within any vehicle;
(c) Possesses a firearm and:
(A) Is under 18 years of age;
(B)(i) While a minor, was found to be within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court for having committed an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a felony or a misdemeanor involving violence, as defined in ORS 166.470; and
(ii) Was discharged from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court within four years prior to being charged under this section;
(C) Has been convicted of a felony;
(D) Was committed to the Oregon Health Authority under ORS 426.130;
(E) Was found to be a person with mental illness and subject to an order under ORS 426.130 that the person be prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm as a result of that mental illness;
(F) Is presently subject to an order under ORS 426.133 prohibiting the person from purchasing or possessing a firearm;
(G) Has been found guilty except for insanity under ORS 161.295 of a felony; or
(H) The possession of the firearm by the person is prohibited under ORS 166.255; or
(d) Possesses an unfinished frame or receiver and is prohibited from possessing firearms under paragraph (c) of this subsection.
(2) This section does not prohibit:
(a) A minor, who is not otherwise prohibited under subsection (1)(c) of this section, from possessing a firearm:
(A) Other than a handgun, if the firearm was transferred to the minor by the minor’s par
Stored review status: 2025_edition_later_amendments_unresolved. A text match is a research starting point; applicability is not established.
Official chapter context and edition notices
Chapter 166 — Offenses Against Public Order; Firearms and Other Weapons; Racketeering
Uncodified sections printed in this chapter were amended or repealed by the Legislative Assembly during its 2026 regular session. See the table of uncodified sections amended or repealed during the 2026 regular session: 2026 A&R Tables
New sections of law were enacted by the Legislative Assembly during its 2026 regular session and pertain to or are likely to be compiled in this ORS chapter. See sections in the following 2026 Oregon Laws chapters: 2026 Session Laws 0120
2025 EDITION
PUBLIC ORDER OFFENSES
CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
RIOT, DISORDERLY CONDUCT, HARASSMENT AND RELATED OFFENSES
BIAS CRIME
AUTHORITY TO REGULATE FIREARMS
POSSESSION AND USE OF WEAPONS
(Generally)
(Possession of Weapons in Public Buildings or Court Facilities)
(Destructive Devices)
(Duties of Firearm Owners and Possessors)
SALE OR TRANSFER OF FIREARMS
EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS
DISCHARGING WEAPONS
POSSESSION OF BODY ARMOR
MISCELLANEOUS
RACKETEERING
RIOT, DISORDERLY CONDUCT, HARASSMENT AND RELATED OFFENSES
File SHA-256: dd35e0da63555ebef88cc11cd6ae4309a37c3b744978829c3b2f00d59c0c08b8. The original may include catalog metadata, neighboring provisions, or embedded records outside this collection's scope. This page displays the selected Oregon section record with its printed versions and adjoining notes. Historical editions and unverified snapshots are not a statement of current law.
Authority boundary: official snapshot extraction not current law verified.
Stable record: oregon_criminal_law:legal_authorities:166.250 Source file: ors166.html Pages: Not recorded – Not recorded Passage SHA-256: f6cda04c1e9b2ff2eb26af850bce4f167e933b14c98d257475428d64b8b3a705 Retained source evidence SHA-256: dd35e0da63555ebef88cc11cd6ae4309a37c3b744978829c3b2f00d59c0c08b8
Source location: ORS 166.250 (all printed versions and notes)
Stored source content
166.250 Unlawful possession of firearms. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section or ORS 166.260, 166.270, 166.273, 166.274, 166.291, 166.292 or 166.410 to 166.470, a person commits the crime of unlawful possession of a firearm if the person knowingly:
(a) Carries any firearm concealed upon the person;
(b) Possesses a handgun that is concealed and readily accessible to the person within any vehicle;
(c) Possesses a firearm and:
(A) Is under 18 years of age;
(B)(i) While a minor, was found to be within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court for having committed an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a felony or a misdemeanor involving violence, as defined in ORS 166.470; and
(ii) Was discharged from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court within four years prior to being charged under this section;
(C) Has been convicted of a felony;
(D) Was committed to the Oregon Health Authority under ORS 426.130;
(E) Was found to be a person with mental illness and subject to an order under ORS 426.130 that the person be prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm as a result of that mental illness;
(F) Is presently subject to an order under ORS 426.133 prohibiting the person from purchasing or possessing a firearm;
(G) Has been found guilty except for insanity under ORS 161.295 of a felony; or
(H) The possession of the firearm by the person is prohibited under ORS 166.255; or
(d) Possesses an unfinished frame or receiver and is prohibited from possessing firearms under paragraph (c) of this subsection.
(2) This section does not prohibit:
(a) A minor, who is not otherwise prohibited under subsection (1)(c) of this section, from possessing a firearm:
(A) Other than a handgun, if the firearm was transferred to the minor by the minor’s parent or guardian or by another person with the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian; or
(B) Temporarily for hunting, target practice or any other lawful purpose; or
(b) Any citizen of the United States over the age of 18 years who resides in or is temporarily sojourning within this state, and who is not within the excepted classes prescribed by ORS 166.270 and subsection (1) of this section, from owning, possessing or keeping within the person’s place of residence or place of business any handgun, and no permit or license to purchase, own, possess or keep any such firearm at the person’s place of residence or place of business is required of any such citizen. As used in this subsection, “residence” includes a recreational vessel or recreational vehicle while used, for whatever period of time, as residential quarters.
(3) Firearms carried openly in belt holsters are not concealed within the meaning of this section.
(4)(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, a handgun is readily accessible within the meaning of this section if the handgun is within the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
(b) If a vehicle, other than a vehicle described in paragraph (c) of this subsection, has no storage location that is outside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a handgun is not readily accessible within the meaning of this section if:
(A) The handgun is stored in a closed and locked glove compartment, center console or other container; and
(B) The key is not inserted into the lock, if the glove compartment, center console or other container unlocks with a key.
(c) If the vehicle is a motorcycle, an all-terrain vehicle or a snowmobile, a handgun is not readily accessible within the meaning of this section if:
(A) The handgun is in a locked container within or affixed to the vehicle; or
(B) The handgun is equipped with a trigger lock or other locking mechanism that prevents the discharge of the firearm.
(5) Unlawful possession of a firearm is a Class A misdemeanor. [Amended by 1979 c.779 §4; 1985 c.543 §3; 1989 c.839 §13; 1993 c.732 §1; 1993 c.735 §12; 1999 c.1040 §1; 2001 c.666 §§33,45; 2003 c.614 §8; 2009 c.499 §1; 2009 c.595 §112; 2009 c.826 §§8a,11a; 2011 c.662 §§1,2; 2013 c.360 §§6,7; 2015 c.50 §§12,13; 2015 c.201 §3; 2015 c.497 §§3,4; 2023 c.229 §6]
Cross-references
Connections may be documented source relationships, shared citations or nearby passages. Each explains its basis; a connection alone does not establish applicability to your situation.
Oregon criminal law — ORS Title 16 (2025 snapshot) · legal_authorities
161.295 Guilty except for insanity. (1) A person is guilty except for insanity if, at the time of engaging in criminal conduct, the person lacks substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality of the conduct or to conform the conduct to the requirements of law, and:
(a) But for a qualifying mental disorder, the person would have had such substantial capacity;
(b) A mental disorder other than a qualifying mental disorder is not the primary cause of the lack of substantial capacity; and
(c) The lack of substantial capacity is not the result of voluntary intoxication in combination with a qualifying mental disorder, a mental disorder other than a qualifying mental disorder or both.
(2) As used in chapter 743, Oregon Laws 1971, the term “qualifying mental disorder” does not include an abnormality manifested only by repeated criminal or otherwise antisocial conduct, nor does the term include any abnormality constituting solely a personality disorder. [1971 c.743 §36; 1983 c.800 §1; 2017 c.634 §3; 2025 c.119 §1]
Note: See note under 161.015.
166.255 Possession of firearm or ammunition by certain persons prohibited. (1) It is unlawful for a person to knowingly possess a firearm or ammunition if:
(a) The person is the subject of a court order that:
(A)(i) Was issued or continued after a hearing for which the person had actual notice and during the course of which the person had an opportunity to be heard; or
(ii) Was issued, continued or remains in effect, by order or operation of law, after the person received notice of the opportunity to request a hearing in which to be heard on the order, and either requested a hearing but did not attend the hearing or withdrew the request before the hearing occurred, or did not request a hearing during the time period in which the opportunity was available;
(B) Restrains the person from stalking, intimidating, molesting or menacing a family or household member of the person, a child of a family or household member of the person or a child of the person; and
(C) Includes a finding that the person represents a credible threat to the physical safety of a family or household member of the person, a child of a family or household member of the person or a child of the person;
(b) The person has been convicted of a qualifying misdemeanor and, at the time of the offense, the person was:
(A) A family or household member of the victim of the offense; or
(B) A parent or guardian of the victim of the offense; or
(c) The person has been convicted of stalking under ORS 163.732.
(2) The prohibition described in subsection (1)(a) of this section does not apply with respect to the transportation, shipment, receipt, possession or importation of any firearm or ammunition imported for, sold or shipped to or issued for the use of the United States Government or any federal departme
166.260 Persons not affected by ORS 166.250. (1) ORS 166.250 does not apply to or affect:
(a) A parole and probation officer, police officer or reserve officer, as those terms are defined in ORS 181A.355.
(b) A federal officer, as defined in ORS 133.005, or a certified reserve officer or corrections officer, as those terms are defined in ORS 181A.355, while the federal officer, certified reserve officer or corrections officer is acting within the scope of employment.
(c) An honorably retired law enforcement officer, unless the person who is a retired law enforcement officer has been convicted of an offense that would make the person ineligible to obtain a concealed handgun license under ORS 166.291 and 166.292.
(d) Any person summoned by an officer described in paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace, while the summoned person is engaged in assisting the officer.
(e) The possession or transportation by any merchant of unloaded firearms as merchandise.
(f) Active or reserve members of:
(A) The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Space Force of the United States, or of the National Guard, when on duty;
(B) The commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; or
(C) The Public Health Service of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, when detailed by proper authority for duty with the Army or Navy of the United States.
(g) Organizations which are by law authorized to purchase or receive weapons described in ORS 166.250 from the United States, or from this state.
(h) Duly authorized military or civil organizations while parading, or the members thereof when going to and from the places of meeting of their organization.
(i) A person who is licensed und
166.270 Possession of weapons by certain felons. (1) Any person who has been convicted of a felony under the law of this state or any other state, or who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of the Government of the United States, who owns or has in the person’s possession or under the person’s custody or control any firearm commits the crime of felon in possession of a firearm.
(2) Any person who has been convicted of a felony under the law of this state or any other state, or who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of the Government of the United States, who owns or has in the person’s possession or under the person’s custody or control any instrument or weapon having a blade that projects or swings into position by force of a spring or by centrifugal force or any blackjack, slungshot, sandclub, sandbag, sap glove, metal knuckles or an Electro-Muscular Disruption Technology device as defined in ORS 165.540, or who carries a dirk, dagger or stiletto, commits the crime of felon in possession of a restricted weapon.
(3) For the purposes of this section, a person “has been convicted of a felony” if, at the time of conviction for an offense, that offense was a felony under the law of the jurisdiction in which it was committed. Such conviction shall not be deemed a conviction of a felony if:
(a) The court declared the conviction to be a misdemeanor at the time of judgment; or
(b) The offense was possession of marijuana and the conviction was prior to January 1, 1972.
(4) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to any person who has been:
(a) Convicted of only one felony under the law of this state or any other state, or who has been convicted of only one felony under the laws of the United States, which felony did not involve criminal homicide
166.470 Limitations and conditions for sales of firearms. (1) Unless relief has been granted under ORS 166.273 or 166.274 or 18 U.S.C. 925(c) or the expunction laws of this state or an equivalent law of another jurisdiction, a person may not intentionally sell, deliver or otherwise transfer any firearm when the transferor knows or reasonably should know that the recipient:
(a) Is under 18 years of age;
(b) Has been convicted of a felony;
(c) Has any outstanding felony warrants for arrest;
(d) Is free on any form of pretrial release for a felony;
(e) Was committed to the Oregon Health Authority under ORS 426.130;
(f) After January 1, 1990, was found to be a person with mental illness and subject to an order under ORS 426.130 that the person be prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm as a result of that mental illness;
(g) Has been convicted of a misdemeanor involving violence or found guilty except for insanity under ORS 161.295 of a misdemeanor involving violence within the previous four years. As used in this paragraph, “misdemeanor involving violence” means a misdemeanor described in ORS 163.160, 163.187, 163.190, 163.195 or 166.155 (1)(b);
(h) Is presently subject to an order under ORS 426.133 prohibiting the person from purchasing or possessing a firearm; or
(i) Has been found guilty except for insanity under ORS 161.295 of a felony.
(2) A person may not sell, deliver or otherwise transfer any firearm that the person knows or reasonably should know is stolen.
(3) Subsection (1)(a) of this section does not prohibit:
(a) The parent or guardian, or another person with the consent of the parent or guardian, of a minor from transferring to the minor a firearm, other than a handgun; or
(b) The temporary transfer of any firearm to a minor for huntin
166.210 Definitions. As used in ORS 166.250 to 166.270, 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) “Corrections officer” has the meaning given that term in ORS 181A.355.
(3) “Firearm” means a weapon, by whatever name known, which is designed to expel a projectile by the action of powder.
(4) “Firearms silencer” means any device for silencing, muffling or diminishing the report of a firearm.
(5) “Frame” has the meaning given that term in 27 C.F.R. 478.12.
(6) “Handgun” means any 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.
(7) “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.
(8) “Major component” has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. 922.
(9) “Minor” means a person under 18 years of age.
(10) “Offense” has the meaning given that term in ORS 161.505.
(11) “Parole and probation officer” has the meaning given that term in ORS 181A.355.
(12) “Peace officer” has the meaning given that term in ORS 133.005.
(13) “Receiv
166.256 Relinquishment of firearm upon person becoming subject to certain court orders. (1)(a) When a respondent becomes subject to an order described in ORS 166.255 (1)(a) prohibiting the respondent from possessing firearms or ammunition, the court shall:
(A) Indicate in the order that the respondent is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under ORS 166.250 and 166.255 while the order is in effect.
(B) Ensure that the respondent is subject to an additional order:
(i) Requiring the respondent to transfer all firearms and ammunition in the respondent’s possession in accordance with subsection (2) of this section; and
(ii) Requiring the respondent to file a declaration as described in subsection (4) of this section.
(b) If the respondent becomes subject to the order while the respondent is present in court, the court shall:
(A) Inform the respondent, orally and in writing, that the respondent is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition;
(B) Order in writing that the respondent transfer all firearms and ammunition in the respondent’s possession in accordance with subsection (2) of this section; and
(C) Order that the respondent file a declaration as described in subsection (4) of this section.
(2)(a) Within 24 hours of becoming subject to the court order under subsection (1)(a)(B) of this section or receiving the court order under subsection (1)(b)(B) of this section, the respondent shall transfer all firearms and ammunition in the respondent’s possession to a local law enforcement agency, to a gun dealer as defined in ORS 166.412 or to a third party who does not reside with the respondent, and shall obtain a proof of transfer under paragraph (b) of this subsection. A transfer to a third party under this subsection must be in accordance wit
166.259 Relinquishment of firearm upon conviction of certain offenses. (1) When a person is convicted of an offense described in ORS 166.255 (1)(b) or (c), the court shall, at the time of conviction:
(a) Indicate in the judgment of conviction that the person is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under ORS 166.250 and 166.255;
(b) Inform the person, orally and in writing, that the person is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition;
(c) Order in writing that the person transfer all firearms and ammunition in the person’s possession in accordance with subsection (2) of this section; and
(d) Order that the person file a declaration as described in subsection (4) of this section.
(2)(a) Within 24 hours of the court’s order under subsection (1) of this section, the person shall transfer all firearms and ammunition in the person’s possession to a local law enforcement agency, to a gun dealer as defined in ORS 166.412 or to a third party who does not reside with the person, and shall obtain a proof of transfer under paragraph (b) of this subsection. A transfer to a third party under this subsection must be in accordance with ORS 166.435, except that the criminal background check exceptions in ORS 166.435 (4) do not apply.
(b) A law enforcement agency, gun dealer or third party receiving a firearm or ammunition pursuant to this subsection shall issue to the person a written proof of transfer. The proof of transfer must include the person’s name, the date of transfer and the serial number, make and model of each transferred firearm. A proof of transfer issued by a third party must also include the unique approval number from the Department of State Police from the criminal background check conducted under ORS 166.435.
(c) A person transferring a f
166.262 Limitation on peace officer’s authority to arrest for violating ORS 166.250 or 166.370. A peace officer may not arrest or charge a person for violating ORS 166.250 (1)(a) or (b) or 166.370 (1)(a) if the person has in the person’s immediate possession:
(1) A valid license to carry a firearm as provided in ORS 166.291 and 166.292, unless the person possesses a firearm within the Capitol, within the passenger terminal of a commercial service airport with over one million passenger boardings per year, within a building subject to a policy described in ORS 166.377 (3) or on school grounds subject to a policy described in ORS 166.377 (1);
(2) Proof that the person is a law enforcement officer; or
(3) Proof that the person is an honorably retired law enforcement officer, unless the person has been convicted of an offense that would make the person ineligible to obtain a concealed handgun license under ORS 166.291 and 166.292. [1999 c.1040 §5; 2015 c.709 §3; 2021 c.146 §11; 2025 c.594 §5]
166.273 Relief from firearm prohibitions related to mental health. (1) A person barred from transporting, shipping, possessing or receiving a firearm may file a petition with the Psychiatric Security Review Board for relief from the bar if:
(a) The person is barred from possessing a firearm under ORS 166.250 (1)(c)(D) or (E);
(b) The person is barred from receiving a firearm under ORS 166.470 (1)(e) or (f) or, if the person has been found guilty except for insanity of a misdemeanor involving violence, ORS 166.470 (1)(g); or
(c) The person is barred from possessing, receiving, shipping or transporting a firearm under 18 U.S.C. 922(d)(4) or (g)(4) as the result of a state mental health determination.
(2) The petitioner shall serve a copy of the petition on:
(a) The Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority; and
(b) The district attorney in each county in which:
(A) The person was committed by a court to the Oregon Health Authority, or adjudicated by a court as a person with mental illness, under ORS 426.130;
(B) The person was committed by a court to the Department of Human Services, or adjudicated by a court as in need of commitment for residential care, treatment and training, under ORS 427.290;
(C) The person was found guilty except for insanity under ORS 161.295;
(D) The person was found responsible except for insanity under ORS 419C.411; or
(E) The person was found by a court to lack fitness to proceed under ORS 161.363 and 161.370.
(3) Following receipt of the petition, the board shall conduct a contested case hearing, make written findings of fact and conclusions of law on the issues before the board and issue a final order.
(4) The state and any person or entity described in subsection (2) of this section may appear and object to an