Free Republic

Can anyone seen openly and legally carrying a gun be stopped and asked to show their open-carry license? Who is or is not authorized to stop and question a person seen carrying a gun and ask to see the license? Does the open-carry bill make such provision? Many people will feel intimidated or made uncomfortable in the presence of openly carried weapons. I have an Oklahoma concealed weapon license and shall continue to carry a concealed gun unless a new law makes concealment unlawful. As a combat veteran, I learned that it's good military strategy to keep your enemy (including...

Fairfax, VA --(Ammoland.com)- NRA-News is a valued partner that continues to cover breaking gun rights news with a new and improved short video format in the “NRA News Minute” videos. To view the current firearms or gun rights news video, please click above: Cameron Gray and John Popp talk to Ashley Varner, NRA-ILA Oklahoma and Missouri State Liaison on the recent signing of a New Open Carry Law by the Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin. Read More on these topics: * Open Carry Becomes Law in Oklahoma * Open Carry is the Law in Michigan About: Established in 1871, the National...

BRYAN COUNTY, OK -- Come November, Oklahomans with a permit will be able to carry their guns out in the open in most places. Governor Mary Fallin signed the open carry measure into law Tuesday. The open carry law not only allows people to have their guns out in plain sight, but it also allows property owners without a permit to carry openly on their lawn for self defense. We talked to several people who all had strong and very different opinions about open carry. Raymond Coats has his concealed weapon's license and says he is excited about the new...

OKLAHOMA CITY, May 10 (Reuters) - A bill to allow Oklahomans with a concealed-carry permit to openly carry their handguns is headed to the governor, who is expected to sign the legislation that passed the state Senate on Thursday. The bill, approved by a 33-10 vote, would allow those with a concealed-carry handgun permit to openly carry their firearms in holsters from Nov. 1. Those without such permits could obtain a gun permit and openly carry a firearm if they meet legal criteria, pass a background check and undergo firearms training. Republican Governor Mary Fallin, a member of the National...

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gun-toting residents of other states will be allowed to carry concealed weapons in Oklahoma under a bill signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin.

Oklahomans with concealed handgun permits would be allowed to carry their weapons in the open if a bill that easily passed the House of Representatives becomes law. But members defeated an amendment Thursday that would have allowed for the open carry of handguns anywhere without a permit. Senate Bill 1733 would allow anyone with a license to carry a firearm under the Oklahoma Self Defense Act to carry the weapon either openly or concealed. It passed 85-3 and is headed for a conference committee. It also would allow a property owner to openly carry a handgun on his or her...

A bill currently making its way through the Oklahoma state legislature would allow citizens of the state to openly carry loaded handguns without a permit. Only six states and the District of Columbia expressly prohibit this practice, with the remaining states either specifically allowing open carry or having no law on the books prohibiting it. In recent years, the practice of openly carrying a gun has grown in popularity, as legislation that would permit it has been introduced in places like Texas, South Carolina, and Arkansas—some of the last states that have held out against it. Proponents of open carry...

Earlier this month, innovative legislators in the state of Oklahoma voted unanimously to advance a proposed amendment that guarantees Second Amendment protections to law abiding citizens during a state of emergency declared by a state official or agency. Current state riot law is unclear as to how far law enforcement can go with respect to handling disasters, riots, or disorder. In fact, the Oklahoma Riot Control and Prevention Act provide for such wide latitude, that law enforcement, if they wanted to, could effectuate a military, take our guns away operation. Oklahoma Senate Bill 1760 makes it clear that provisions in...

SHAWNEE, Okla. — Legislation signed by Gov. Mary Fallin would limit the liability of owners, employees and customers for injuries that take place on gun ranges, gun shops and gun clubs. Senate Bill 875, by state Sen. Anthony Sykes and state Rep. Dennis Johnson, would limit liability for injuries if the party in question acted in good faith. Liability would not be limited if the party involved acted intentionally, willfully or with wanton disregard for the safety of those injured. Sykes said the legislation helps bolster the Second Amendment rights of Oklahomans. “This measure will enhance our ability to exercise...

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Right now, two open carry bills allowing people to openly carry firearms are moving through the state legislature. Click Like For Oklahoma News Updates: Lawmakers are debating them, but first they want to clarify the rules. Rep. Steve Martin says the open carry law was stopped in 1971. However, it could soon be back. "It is an open carry for people with a permit," said Martin. Martin spearheaded the idea with House bill 2522. Then a similar bill proposed in the Senate changed some language for specific rules. For instance if passed, this bill will not allow...

OKLAHOMA CITY — Members of a state House committee have voted to increase the legal protection of citizens’ constitutional rights. Senate Bill 1760, by state Sen. Anthony Sykes and state Rep. T.W. Shannon, would specify that Oklahomans’ Second Amendment rights cannot be taken away during a declared state of emergency. “While government may assume greater police powers to preserve public safety during times of emergency, the government should never be allowed to strip citizens of their most basic constitutional rights,” said Shannon , R-Lawton. “This legislation simply makes clear that Oklahomans will continue to have the right to self-defense during...

We fully support the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. However, the possible expansion of Oklahoma’s open carry laws for handguns is off target. What’s the status of the legislation? The House of Representatives recently approved a bill to allow anyone who has completed conceal and carry qualifications to be able to openly carry weapons. Then the bill was sent to the Senate, where an amendment that may eliminate the requirement for a conceal and carry license was added. However, state Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, believes a bill that allows only those with the conceal and carry license...

TULSA — Several members of the Tulsa chapter of the NAACP gathered at a north Tulsa church Friday evening for an emergency meeting to discuss what police have characterized as a possible "shooting spree" that targeted five people early Friday morning. As news spread that the police are looking for a white man in connection with the shootings of five black people, people began saying they believe the shootings were racially motivated. KRMG spoke with Tulsa City Councilor Jack Henderson as the meeting continued in the 2200 block of N. Peoria Avenue. When asked if people in the community felt...

SHAWNEE, Okla. — Members of a state House committee have voted to increase the legal protection of citizens’ constitutional rights. Senate Bill 1760, by state Sen. Anthony Sykes and state Rep. T.W. Shannon, would specify that Oklahomans’ Second Amendment rights cannot be taken away during a declared state of emergency. “While government may assume greater police powers to preserve public safety during times of emergency, the government should never be allowed to strip citizens of their most basic constitutional rights,” said Shannon, R-Lawton. “This legislation simply makes clear that Oklahomans will continue to have the right to self-defense during emergency...

Students who support carrying concealed weapons on campus are going to show it in a nationwide protest. This week, members of Students for Concealed Carry will wear empty holsters to symbolize how defenseless students are against an attack on Oklahoma State University campus. The protest was organized by the national organization of Students for Concealed Carry, a group advocating concealed weapons on college campuses with slogans like “Disarming good guys won’t stop bad guys” and “Self-defense is a human right.” Joren Whitley, president of the OSU chapter of Students for Concealed Carry, said that the holster also signifies that the...

OKLAHOMA CITY - A proposed Open Carry gun law making its way through the state legislature has sparked debate among supporters of the idea. Gun rights advocates agree there should be open carry, but they disagree over measures in the current bill. Oklahoma lawmakers are currently debating the law and legal experts are watching the developments closely. Professor Mike O'Shea says the main issue now is whether or not the law will require an open carry permit. "A permit-based bill, House Bill 2522 sponsored by Representative Martin had cleared the House of Representatives by an overwhelming margin," said O'Shea. But...

CUSHING, Okla. -- The President is scheduled to speak in Payne County this Thursday morning. It may be rural Oklahoma, but when it comes to pipelines, it's the Capitol. The President is expected to talk about energy, though many in that industry are not impressed. They are even planning to protest his visit, calling it a political ploy more than a genuine interest. Mike Cantrell with the Domestic Energy Producers Alliance says, "For the last three years he's been anti-fossil fuels." Mickey Thompson, an energy industry expert and political analyst, says, "He calls our industry an industry of the past...

Oklahoma has been on the verge of an open carry law for firearms for several years. Then Governor Brad Henry vetoed the last measure to make it that far in 2010 but Governor Mary Fallin may have a chance to sign one of her own. Senate bill 1733 was passed by a 34-9 vote on Wednesday and now heads to the House for further consideration. 1733 would allow anyone with a concealed carry permit to also carry the gun openly if they choose. The bill was written by Senator Anthony Sykes a Republican from Moore and would require those applying...

Most Americans donÂ’t think about gun rights. Why would they? They only have so much mental bandwidth. TheyÂ’ve got to focus on paying the bills, getting the kids to, from and through school; finding time for friends and doing whatever it takes not to lose what they already have. I reckon itÂ’s that latter priority that moves non-gun rights folk towards the pro-gun position. The knowledge that a firearm helps maintain their status quo. As for understanding or caring about the way firearms are regulated, meh. In the same way the presidential election is a popularity contest, the general public...

OKLAHOMA CITY - Licensed Oklahomans would be able to carry holstered firearms openly under a bill passed Wednesday by the Oklahoma House. The proposal would essentially extend the state's current concealed weapon permit law to include guns carried visibly in belt or shoulder holsters. To qualify for a license under the law, a person must be a U.S. citizen, live in the state, be at least 21, complete a firearms safety and training course, pass a criminal records check, be fingerprinted and pay fees. The measure, written by Rep. Steve Martin, R-Bartlesville, passed on a 85-9 vote. It goes on...