Gun sales significantly increased in Oregon last year, amid riots in Portland and the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 516,696 background checks were done in the state in 2020, according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That’s a jump from the 357,700 background checks in 2019 and 359,682 background checks in the state in 2018. The figures are from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, where requests for background checks are lodged. The checks are made to make sure a prospective buyer doesn’t have a criminal record or isn’t otherwise ineligible to purchase or own a firearm. Requests for background checks increased significantly nationwide, with nearly 40 million requests in 2020 compared to 28.3 million the year prior. Oregon represented a 44 percent increase, and almost 1.5 percent of the increase. Some in the state attributed the higher number of sales to the riots that took place in Portland …