Posted on 04/20/2016 7:12:20 PM PDT by Osage Orange
The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would allow people to openly carry firearms without a permit and without training.
A total of 34 organizations — including the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Oklahoma State Troopers Association, universities, chambers of commerce and hospitals — sent a letter to Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman in opposition to House Bill 3098 and House Joint Resolution 1009, a proposed ballot measure intended to make it harder to regulate guns.
House Bill 3098 was approved 37-9. The joint resolution was not considered.
Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, said the bill won't expand the places people can bring guns, but would allow non-felons over 21 to carry guns without having to go through the permitting and training process required for concealed carry.
The measure will now go to a conference committee and further legislative consideration.
There was no debate, but some senators asked questions, including whether the job of law enforcement would become more difficult if more people without training are carrying guns.
"How are we going to decide who is doing it lawfully or not until they kill somebody?" asked Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa.
Dahm said under an amendment to the bill those carrying a weapon would need to disclose this to a law enforcement officer if they are stopped.
The National Rifle Association supports the bill.
"Gloom and doom predictions of ‘wild west' scenarios in states with strong gun rights have proven time and again to be nothing more than scare tactics," said Catherine Mortensen, a spokesman for the association.
"Since 1991, when the nation's total violent crime rate hit an all-time high, 26 states have adopted Right-to-Carry laws, and the violent crime rate has declined by more than half, to a 43-year low, and the murder rate has declined to an all-time low. We know that criminals are less likely to target someone who may be armed."
The letter in opposition to the measures said they would jeopardize:
• The rights of businesses to keep guns from being carried onto their private property.
• The rights of event hosts at public parks, recreational areas and fairgrounds to prevent weapons at events.
• The ability of colleges to prohibit guns on campus.
• Make it harder for law enforcement to protect public safety.
"Until these issues can be addressed, we ask that these measures not move forward in the Senate," the letter states.
While loosening restrictions on open carry, Rep. Jeff Coody's House Bill 3098 would maintain present licensing procedures for those wishing to carry a concealed gun.
Coody, R-Grandfield, said self-defense is a God-given right and the right to bear arms is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
"If we give people some freedom, people tend to use that responsibly," said Coody, R-Grandfield.
“We have a government that wants to take our constitutional rights away from us. This is push back."
House Joint Resolution 1009 would put on the November ballot a measure to amend the state Constitution to boost protection for the right to keep and bear arms and specify that any regulation of the right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.
I carry a gun....I can’t carry a policeman.
“”How are we going to decide who is doing it lawfully or not until they kill somebody?” asked Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa.”
another reminder why Dummycrats are insane..
Big Business is a big impediment to freedom in this country.
Cruz is dead on this issue and Trump is partially alive by opposing the importation of cheap labor across our southern border for the benefit of Big Business.
I support these laws although I personally have no desire to carry openly.
I do wish there was a nation wide constitutional carry law.
Matthews is an idiot...
“How are we going to decide who is doing it lawfully or not until they kill somebody?” asked Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa.”
Typical Democrat mindset.
A similar bill here in Maine passed the Democratic controlled Maine House and the Republican controlled Maine Senate last year.
Gov. Paul LePage signed it into law last July, and it took effect last October.
Unlike Oklahoma, the State Police here in Maine was in favor of the bill. The Maine State Police said it took up too much of their time issuing conceal carry permits; now, no permit is necessary if you carry on your person or in your vehicle.
I carry concealed...when I think the need. I have a pistol in my truck at all times.
Wish, the OK Troopers would follow suit...
The troopers and the “troopers association” may be two different things.
I know the fraternal order of police often supports gun control even tho a poll by a nationwide police equipment supply company indicated that the ordinary cops oppose gun control very strongly.
I thought there already was. Isn’t it called the 2nd amendment?
Good point.....
Matthews represents a North Tulsa district where gangs roam and shoot regularly, resulting in the deaths of innocents. Yet Matthews wants to blame law-abiding persons who want to protect themselves from his constituents.
I’m up for that law...
There were Sooners with open carry guns a hundred years before troopers ever existed.
{July 1, 1937]
bttt
The stupidity of that statement really leapt out at me.
Mississippi does not mandate one tells an officer (traffic stop, etc.) that one is armed. I usually do mention it but have moved my permit to another area of my wallet so it doesn't become visible when I go for my driver license.
I suppose I can understand some cops being worried about more guns in the hands of some folks but they will benefit from that too - more good guys with guns on-hand is better for everyone.
Remember the late 1980s & early 1990s? Shall Issue concealed carry laws were new and few. Some States (Florida, for example) had Shall Issue concealed carry, but prohibited open carry. The laws were interpreted such that if the outline of your concealed weapon was visible, or some part of it were uncovered momentarily, you were violating the prohibition on open carry. Concealed carry discussions and literature were full of warnings about "printing" and "flashing" and similar nonsense. Open carry laws protect us all from that problem.
And then there's the Constitutional issue ... "keep and bear arms".
That's why I support legal open carry even though I rarely do it.
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