Oregon Duty to Inform: Police Stops While Carrying

Duty to Inform Law Enforcement — Oregon

No Statutory Duty to Inform

Oregon does not have a statute that requires concealed handgun license (CHL) holders to proactively inform law enforcement officers that they are carrying a concealed firearm during a traffic stop or other law enforcement contact.

A comprehensive review of Oregon's firearms statutes — primarily found in ORS Chapter 166 (Offenses Against Public Order; Firearms and Other Weapons), including the concealed handgun license provisions at ORS 166.291 through 166.295 and related enforcement provisions — reveals no requirement that a CHL holder must voluntarily disclose their carry status to a law enforcement officer. The ATF's published compilation of Oregon State Laws and Published Ordinances likewise lists no duty-to-inform provision among Oregon's firearms statutes.

Relevant Statutory Framework

CHL Issuance and Administration

• ORS 166.291 – Governs the issuance of concealed handgun licenses, application requirements, and fees.
• ORS 166.292 – Establishes the procedure for issuing licenses, the form of the license, and its duration.
• ORS 166.293 – Addresses denial or revocation of a license and the review process.
• ORS 166.295 – Covers renewal of the concealed handgun license.

Firearm Examination in Public Buildings — ORS 166.380

ORS 166.380 is the closest Oregon comes to any license-presentation requirement, and it is limited to public buildings:

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a peace officer may examine a firearm possessed by anyone on the person while in or on a public building to determine whether the firearm is a loaded firearm.

(2) A person who is licensed under ORS 166.291 and 166.292 to carry a concealed handgun may present a valid concealed handgun license to the peace officer instead of providing the firearm to the peace officer for examination.

Key distinctions:

• This statute applies only to encounters in or on a public building, not to traffic stops, street encounters, or other general law enforcement contacts.
• A CHL holder may present their license in lieu of surrendering the firearm for physical examination — the license effectively serves as proof of lawful carry.
• There is no requirement to volunteer the license; the provision is triggered only if a peace officer initiates an examination request.

Arrest Protection for CHL Holders — ORS 166.262

ORS 166.262 provides that a peace officer may not arrest or charge a person for violating ORS 166.250(1)(a) or (b) (unlawful possession of firearms) or ORS 166.370(1)(a) (possession in public buildings) if the person has a valid CHL in their immediate possession, except when the person is carrying:

• Within the Oregon State Capitol;
• Within the passenger terminal of a commercial service airport with over one million passenger boardings per year (i.e., Portland International Airport);
• Within a building subject to a policy described in ORS 166.377(3); or
• On school grounds subject to a policy described in ORS 166.377.

Recent legislative change: ORS 166.262 was amended by 2025 c.594 §5, which updated the list of locations where CHL arrest protection does not apply, adding buildings with policies under ORS 166.377(3) and clarifying the school grounds exception.

What Oregon Law Does NOT Require

• No proactive disclosure duty — Unlike states such as Ohio or Texas, Oregon does not require CHL holders to volunteer their carry status upon contact with law enforcement.
• No duty during traffic stops — There is no statute requiring disclosure of a concealed firearm during a traffic stop.
• No criminal penalty for failure to inform — Because no duty-to-inform statute exists, there is no associated penalty.

Practical Considerations

• Although Oregon law does not mandate disclosure, many legal experts and law enforcement agencies recommend that CHL holders voluntarily inform officers during any law enforcement encounter as a matter of safety and courtesy.
• If asked directly by a law enforcement officer whether you are carrying a firearm, you should respond truthfully. While Oregon has no specific duty-to-inform law, providing false information to a peace officer could implicate other statutes.
• When carrying in a public building, be prepared to either present your CHL or allow examination of the firearm under ORS 166.380.
• Under ORS 166.262, always carry your CHL when carrying concealed — having it in your immediate possession provides arrest protection in most locations.

Summary