mechanicworkman
Member
In about two weeks I will be traveling from St. Louis Missouri to Portland, Oregon with a layover in Denver Colorado of about 2 hours. I will be there visiting family and friends as well as doing a little target shooting if possible and would like to take my handgun if possible.
I am a holder of a UTAH CCW for which I can legally carry in Missouri as well as Colorado although my handgun will be in my checked baggage at that point but not Oregon. I will declare that I have a firearm at the counter at STL and have it checked by the TSA in a box for which I have the only key!(do I need any forms filled out ahead of time? Is this even a good idea or am I opening myself up to get in trouble?
Now my questions start upon arrival in Portland since I do not have a Oregon CCW I will have to have the weapon open carried and when in a vehicle it must be locked in the trunk or not readily available & unloaded at least this is what I am understanding correct?
My question is this since I will have to carry openly how the legality apply when I have to declare the firearm at the desk I certainly can’t carry it above my head and keeping it in my checked luggage once I have gotten my bags from baggage claim would classify as concealed. I have read another thing on a site (http://oregonfirearms.org/faq/) that said as follows---
The Port of Portland issued an ordinance in 1996 saying "no guns, no exceptions." This was ordinance 377-R (Of course, this does not apply if you are legally traveling with a firearm and it's in your checked baggage.)
This obviously was not a reaction to 9/11, since it was written well before that.
The problem is, Oregon law very clearly PROHIBITS the Port of Portland from enacting any such ordinance. When we contacted the Chief of Police of the Port of Portland, Chief Phil Klahn, and asked him (very politely) about this contradiction, he had their lawyer, Barbara Jacobsen call us back She left a voice message telling us that she had given our name to the Department of Homeland Security. (Insert joke about them here.)
After numerous attempts to get an answer, we finally received a long letter from Jacobsen explaining why she believed the Port had the right to create such an ordinance.
We then forwarded THAT letter to House Representative Wayne Scott. He took it to "Legislative Counsel." These are the lawyers for the legislature. They actually write the laws the legislators request.
Their response was pretty straightforward. In their opinion, the Port of Portland may NOT enact any such ordinance.
Here's a direct quote from their opinion: "You have asked whether the Port of Portland has the authority to enact regulations prohibiting a person from carrying a firearm in the terminal at the Portland International Airport. The short answer is no."
We then forwarded their opinion to both Chief Klahn and Barbara Jacobsen. The Chief had advised us to advise you (our supporters) not to carry in the terminal. After reading the opinion of Legislative Counsel, he replied once again that his officers could cite license holders and then they could "have their day in court." Attorney Jacobsen has not responded at all. Your tax dollars at work.
So, as it stands, the law says you may carry in the terminal. The Port of Portland says you can be arrested if you are obeying the law. Legislative Counsel says the Port of Portland may not enforce this ordinance, and the Port of Portland Police say they don't care.
This sounds as if I may have a 50/50 chance at being arrested ticked & possibly be a felon does anyone have any input on this? Has anyone without an Oregon CCW traveled through there and how do the rules apply?Am I just better off leaving it at home?
I am a holder of a UTAH CCW for which I can legally carry in Missouri as well as Colorado although my handgun will be in my checked baggage at that point but not Oregon. I will declare that I have a firearm at the counter at STL and have it checked by the TSA in a box for which I have the only key!(do I need any forms filled out ahead of time? Is this even a good idea or am I opening myself up to get in trouble?
Now my questions start upon arrival in Portland since I do not have a Oregon CCW I will have to have the weapon open carried and when in a vehicle it must be locked in the trunk or not readily available & unloaded at least this is what I am understanding correct?
My question is this since I will have to carry openly how the legality apply when I have to declare the firearm at the desk I certainly can’t carry it above my head and keeping it in my checked luggage once I have gotten my bags from baggage claim would classify as concealed. I have read another thing on a site (http://oregonfirearms.org/faq/) that said as follows---
The Port of Portland issued an ordinance in 1996 saying "no guns, no exceptions." This was ordinance 377-R (Of course, this does not apply if you are legally traveling with a firearm and it's in your checked baggage.)
This obviously was not a reaction to 9/11, since it was written well before that.
The problem is, Oregon law very clearly PROHIBITS the Port of Portland from enacting any such ordinance. When we contacted the Chief of Police of the Port of Portland, Chief Phil Klahn, and asked him (very politely) about this contradiction, he had their lawyer, Barbara Jacobsen call us back She left a voice message telling us that she had given our name to the Department of Homeland Security. (Insert joke about them here.)
After numerous attempts to get an answer, we finally received a long letter from Jacobsen explaining why she believed the Port had the right to create such an ordinance.
We then forwarded THAT letter to House Representative Wayne Scott. He took it to "Legislative Counsel." These are the lawyers for the legislature. They actually write the laws the legislators request.
Their response was pretty straightforward. In their opinion, the Port of Portland may NOT enact any such ordinance.
Here's a direct quote from their opinion: "You have asked whether the Port of Portland has the authority to enact regulations prohibiting a person from carrying a firearm in the terminal at the Portland International Airport. The short answer is no."
We then forwarded their opinion to both Chief Klahn and Barbara Jacobsen. The Chief had advised us to advise you (our supporters) not to carry in the terminal. After reading the opinion of Legislative Counsel, he replied once again that his officers could cite license holders and then they could "have their day in court." Attorney Jacobsen has not responded at all. Your tax dollars at work.
So, as it stands, the law says you may carry in the terminal. The Port of Portland says you can be arrested if you are obeying the law. Legislative Counsel says the Port of Portland may not enforce this ordinance, and the Port of Portland Police say they don't care.
This sounds as if I may have a 50/50 chance at being arrested ticked & possibly be a felon does anyone have any input on this? Has anyone without an Oregon CCW traveled through there and how do the rules apply?Am I just better off leaving it at home?