Oregon Capitol installing metal detectors, adding bag searches

Oregon is beefing up security at its State Capitol in Salem, requiring visitors to go through metal detectors and have their bags checked starting on Jan. 27.

All visitors, employees and elected officials will have to pass through the metal detector and bags will be checked personally or run through an X-ray machine, the State Senate and State House said in a news release. Security guards will also man the State Capitol.

Oregon will join 33 other states that have metal detectors installed in the capitol building, according to the release, which called the new measures akin to courthouse security.

The new security measures are in response to the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol as well as the December 2020 breach of the Oregon State Capitol, when a Republican lawmaker opened a door to let in protesters objecting to new coronavirus restrictions being discussed during an emergency session of the assembly. 

The Capitol was only cleared after state and city police arrested several people.

The Hill has reached out to the State Senate and House for further comment.