Arson is recognized as the highest dollar loss crime and the most violent means of loss of life to the citizens of Oregon. The need exists to protect the people of Oregon from loss of life and property by reducing the crime of arson, arson-related crimes and the prevention of future violent crimes by identifying and targeting serial / predatory / habitual violent offenders.

Per ORS 480.200 {(1)} (3), revised in 1999 by HB 3190, "Explosive" means a chemical compound, misture or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion. The term includes, but is not limited to, dynamite, pellet powder, initiating explosives, detonators, safety fuses, squibs, detonating cord, igniter cord and igniters, but excludes fireworks as defined in ORS 480.110 (1), primers and fertilizer, as defined in ORS 633.310. Previous wording, now deleted, referred to a "chemical reation resulting in a substantially instantaneous release of gas and heat."