Oregon voters narrowly passed Measure 114 in November 2022, approving new restrictions on gun purchases that have yet to take effect.
But a new study co-authored by Oregon State University economist Katie Bollman found the prospect of those restrictions prompted a sharp increase in firearm demand.
Researchers estimate Oregon recorded about 63,000 more firearm-related background checks than expected in the 18 months after the election. The study found the increase wasn’t simply driven by people moving up purchases they already planned to make.
“What we find is that it’s largely driven by new purchases that folks who weren’t planning to purchase a firearm in the near future ended up buying one because of the Measure 114 referendum,” Bollman said. …
The findings could have implications beyond Oregon. The researchers describe the phenomenon as a “Steel Paradox”: The prospect of tighter gun restrictions can prompt people to buy firearms before those restrictions take effect.
— Mike Green and Natalie Golay in Oregon passed tighter gun restrictions. Gun demand surged instead