The initiative to ban the sale of high-capacity magazines and a broad range of semiautomatic pistols, rifles and shotguns still needs to qualify for the November ballot. An effort to gather the required signatures has until July 6.

The initiative also would require most existing owners of these weapons to pass criminal background checks and register with the state in order to keep them. Failure to do so would be a Class B felony.

Mike Zacchino/The Oregonian/OregonLive

The fight over assault weapon ban wording

Portland-area clergy are leading the effort to gather the 88,184 signatures needed by July 6 to get a gun control initiative on the November ballot in Oregon. The measure would ban the sale of high-capacity magazines and a broad range of semiautomatic pistols, rifles and shotguns. It would also require most existing owners of these weapons to pass criminal background checks and register with the state; failure to do so would be a Class B felony.

Under state law, the attorney general must draft an impartial ballot title that describes the measure. The draft received what appears to be a record number of public comments. The measure's opponents could still appeal to the Oregon Supreme Court to force changes to the title. Here are the details of what Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum issued:

Don't Edit

The caption

By law, the caption for the ballot title of a state measure must reasonably identify the subject matter of the measure and contain no more than 15 words. The draft title read: Criminalizes Possession Or Transfer of "Assault Weapons" (Defined) Or "Large Capacity Magazines" (Defined), With Exceptions

Don't Edit

Charles Krupa/The Associated Press

Critical comments poured in

The vast majority of the comments (more than 1,000 were submitted) objected to the use of the term "assault weapons," and most commenters also objected to the reference to "large capacity magazines." Taking into account the comments and the limitations of the title caption, the attorney general's office made changes to the draft and issued the final wording.

Don't Edit

The final wording

The caption certified by the Attorney General's Office reads: Prohibits "Assault Weapons" (Defined), "Large Capacity Magazines" (Defined), Unless Registered With State Police. Criminal Penalties.

Don't Edit

Gordon R. Friedman/The Oregonian/OregonLive

Result of a 'yes' vote

A ballot title must, under state law, include "[a] simple and understandable statement of not more than 25 words that describes the result if the state measure is approved." The certified title reads:

"Yes" vote prohibits "assault weapons" (defined), "large capacity magazines" (defined), unless registered with State Police after background check. Criminal penalties. State Police must maintain registry.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Result of 'no' vote

The ballot title, similarly, must include a simple statement for the result of a "no" vote. The certified title says:

"No" vote retains current law requiring background check for firearm purchases, barring purchases by certain individuals, and not requiring registration of firearms or ammunition magazines.

Don't Edit

Seth Perlman/The Associated Press

What is an 'assault weapon'?

The summary section of the ballot title must be no more than 125 words and must summarize the measure in an impartial way. Many commenters on the draft summary noted that there is no agreement or shared definition of what constitutes an "assault weapon" or "large capacity magazine." The summary from the attorney general's office instead lists "in as much detail as space allows" the covered items and says that the measure refers to semiautomatic weapons.

Don't Edit

The summary

Here is the summary as certified:

Measure prohibits "assault weapons" (defined), "large capacity magazines" (defined), unless registered with State Police after background check. Criminal penalties.

"Assault weapons" definition includes:

Semiautomatic rifles with detachable magazine and certain additional features;

Semiautomatic, centerfire or rimfire rifles," or semiautomatic pistol, capable of holding more than ten bullets with fixed magazine;

Semiautomatic centerfire rifles under thirty inches;

Semiautomatic handguns with certain additional features;

Semiautomatic shotguns with certain additional features;

Shotguns with revolving cylinders.

"Large capacity magazines" defined as capable of holding over 10 rounds, excluding tubular magazines in .22 caliber or lever-action firearms.

"Covered items not registered must be sold/ surrendered/ destroyed. State Police must maintain registry. Acquisition mostly prohibited after effective date, January 1, 2019. Measure may limit uses of covered items. Other provisions."