In 2023, Oregon enacted a comprehensive ban on undetectable and untraceable firearms.

“Undetectable firearm” means a firearm:¹

• Constructed or produced, including through a three-dimensional printing process, entirely of nonmetal substances;
• That, after removal of grips, stocks and magazines, is not as detectable as a security exemplar by a walk-through metal detector calibrated to detect the security exemplar²; or
• That includes a major component that, if subjected to inspection by the types of X-ray machines commonly used at airports, would not generate an image that accurately depicts the shape of the component.

“Unfinished frame or receiver”³ means a forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body or similar item that:

• Is designed to or may readily be completed, assembled or otherwise converted to function as a frame or receiver; or
• Is marketed or sold to the public to be completed, assembled or otherwise converted to function as a frame or receiver.

A person may not knowingly possess, manufacture or cause to be manufactured within the state, import into the state, or offer for sale, sell or transfer, an undetectable firearm.⁴

A person may not knowingly possess (as of Sept. 1, 2024), offer for sale, sell or transfer a firearm unless the firearm has been imprinted with a serial number by a federally licensed firearm manufacturer, importer or dealer, or a gunsmith with a federal firearms license, in accordance with federal law.⁵

A person, other than a federally licensed firearm dealer, may not knowingly import into this state, offer for sale, sell or transfer an unfinished frame or receiver unless the name of the manufacturer and an individual serial number is conspicuously placed on the unfinished frame or receiver in accordance with federal law.⁶ The person must maintain records relating to the unfinished frame or receiver in accordance with the procedures for record keeping under federal law, and follow the same procedures that are required under state law for the import, sale, or transfer of firearms.⁷

As of Sept. 1, 2024, a person, other than a federally licensed gun manufacturer, may not knowingly possess an unfinished frame or receiver that is not serialized as provided above.

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1. Or. Rev. Stat. § 166.210(17).[↩]
2. As defined by 18 USC 922(p)(2)(C), a security exemplar is an object that is constructed of 3.7 ounces of material type 17-4 PH stainless steel in a shape resembling a handgun; and suitable for testing and calibrating metal detectors.[↩]
3. Id. at (18).[↩]
4. Or. Rev. Stat. § 166.___ [Added by HB 2005, 2023 c. 229 § 3].[↩]
5. Id. at § 4.[↩]
6. Id. at § 5.[↩]
7. Id.; Or. Rev. Stat. § 166.412.[↩]