The Oregon City Commission approved the first reading of an ordinance May 16 that would expand the city's weapons code to encompass weapons firing non‑metal projectiles and to align city practice with state law.

Lieutenant Mike Conrad of the Oregon City Police Department told the commission the current code "only prohibits persons 18 years of age from, possessing or, having in their possession a, an air gun which which shoots, either by spring or air, shoots a metal projectile." He said technological changes have produced airguns that fire plastic BBs or paintballs and that ‘‘these are very dangerous because the officers, when they see these coming out at night and sometimes even in the day, their first thought is that it's an actual weapon.'"

The proposal would change the code language from "metal projectile" to "projectile," a broader term that would cover paintball markers and airsoft guns, and would leave intact existing exceptions such as supervised target ranges. It would also remove a provision that the police department sell forfeited/confiscated weapons; Lieutenant Conrad said the department instead takes such weapons to a disposal facility where they are destroyed. Finally, the ordinance edits out a local requirement that the Oregon City Police perform background checks on firearm purchasers because that duty "is now carried out by the Oregon State Police as per ORS 166.412," Conrad said.

Commission discussion focused on how the new language would apply to juveniles and supervised use. "If he is under adult supervision, there's probably no enforcement action we would take at the time," Conrad said in response to a commissioner question about a 15‑year‑old shooting at a backyard target. Commissioners also discussed the difference between possession and discharge; staff clarified that the municipal code already prohibited discharge of firearms within the city regardless of age and the proposed change targets possession by minors.

The first reading of ordinance O7‑1005 passed unanimously, 5–0. Because this was a first reading, commissioners did not adopt a final ordinance at this meeting; the item will return for a subsequent reading and final vote if the commission wishes to advance it.

Speakers quoted: Lieutenant Mike Conrad, Oregon City Police Department.

Why this matters: The change is primarily intended to reduce public safety risks and officer confusion by bringing the municipal code language up to date with the kinds of non‑powder projectile weapons commonly encountered in public.