After mass shootings, strict gun-control measure gets enough signatures to make Oregon’s fall ballot

Rev. Mark Knutson (right), chief petitioner of a gun permit initiative, in Oregon, speaks at a rally, joined by Rabbi Michael Cahana (center) outside the state capitol in Salem before signatures were delivered to Oregon elections officials to get the proposal on the ballot. (Andrew Selsky / AP)

SALEM, Ore. — Oregonians will decide in November whether people wanting to buy a gun will first have to qualify for a permit now that one of the strictest gun-control proposals in the nation has qualified for a spot on the ballot.

Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s elections division determined that the gun-safety campaign delivered enough verified signatures of registered voters to put Initiative 17 on the ballot for the Nov. 8 election.