Oregon does have concealed carry with permit. Portland has been owned by democrats for decades. Fortunately, not being from that part of the state, I’m not aware if concealed carry is legal in the city. If it is legal, I doubt if many of the sheep-like residents would be armed. Another soft target for the antifa fascists.
Oregon has a preemption law, believe it or not. It long predates the current mal-administration and legislature, of course. The only thing local municipalities and counties can govern is open carry. Even then, they can only require that open-carry firearms be unloaded.
Oregon has both shall-issue concealed carry and no-permit required open carry.
I am a little perplexed that the Republicans did not just show up, armed both with firearms and video cameras.Small groups could easily be self-protecting and self-documenting.
There are probably two reasons:
1. Republicans are smart enough to avoid violent street confrontations, and
2. A local jury would be tilted strongly toward Antifa sympathizers.