STEPPING UP

Oregon First State to Enact Gun-Control Laws After Parkland

Gov. Kate Brown signs bill barring domestic abusers from buying, keeping firearms.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed a regulation into law Monday that bars “intimate partners” who have a history of domestic abuse or are convicted stalkers from owning and keeping guns—making the state the first to enact stricter gun rules since the Parkland school shooting. Previously, the Oregon law only applied to married partners, allowing unmarried couples to circumvent the law. The bill to close the “boyfriend loophole” was introduced in January. “I’m proud to sign this bill, making Oregon the first state to take action to prevent senseless gun violence since the tragedy in Parkland, Florida,” Brown said in a statement. “Today marks an important milestone, but we know we have more to do. It’s long past time we hold the White House and Congress accountable. Now’s the time to enact real change and federal gun-safety legislation.” This comes as other states, like Florida, have voted to keep AR-15s legal, and as retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods have pledged to no longer sell assault-style guns.