Thank goodness we have a new Governor! Definitely a step in the right direction.
Oklahoma House passes no-permit gun bill
By: Journal Record Staff February 13, 2019
OKLAHOMA CITY (JR) – The Oklahoma House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a measure that would allow citizens to carry a firearm without a permit.
House Bill 2597, by state Rep. Jon Echols, would allow anyone age 21 or over to carry a firearm without a permit. It would permit veterans and active-duty and reserve military personnel age 18 or over to carry without a permit.
HB 2597 passed out of the House by a vote of 70-30 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.
The measure would prohibit felons and those with domestic violence convictions or who have been adjudicated as having a mental illness from carrying a firearm. The bill does not affect current federal law requiring a background check for the in-store purchase of a firearm.
In places where carrying a firearm is currently prohibited, the bill allows those private property owners and college campuses to continue to set their own policies regarding the carrying of firearms on those premises.
“This bill solidifies the Second Amendment rights of Oklahomans while protecting private property rights,” said House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. “We worked with private businesses, schools and college campuses to ensure that their rights are protected.”
There are 15 states that allow some form of permitless carry, including Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas.
“Oklahoma has long had permitless carry, but only for citizens visiting from one of those surrounding states that allow it,” said Echols, R-Oklahoma City.
Nearly identical bills to this one cleared the Oklahoma House and Senate last year, but then-Gov. Mary Fallin vetoed it over opposition from law enforcement and concerns about the elimination of training and background checks.
Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt and Senate Republican Leader Greg Treat both say they support the concept.
https://journalrecord.com/2019/02/13...rmit-gun-bill/