By: José Niño
Even with Oklahoma passing Constitutional Carry in 2019, the state legislature is still working to boost the state’s pro-gun profile.
The National Rifle Association recently highlighted several bills that are making progress in the legislature:
House Bill 1404/ Senate Bill 978: It bans the prohibition on the transportation of firearms in a boat or vessel. On top of that, the legislation makes clear that it is only illegal to discharge a firearm, except in cases of hunting and self-defense. HB 1404 was passed in the State House 78-16 and has been kicked off to the Senate Public Safety Committee. SB 978 was passed in the Senate by a 40-7 vote and is currently in the House Judiciary Committee.
House Bill 2051: This legislation bolsters the Private Property Protection Act and establishes the right to self-defense on private property. HB 2051 was passed in the House by a vote of 74-19 and was later kicked off to the Senate Public Safety Committee.
House Bill 2139: HB 2139 grants local school boards the power to allow Self-Defense Act (SDA) licensees to carry on school property. This bill was passed in the State House by a 79-20 vote and was sent to the Senate Public Safety Committee for reference.
House Bill 2155: This legislation gives individuals the right to appeal in self-defense cases. Additionally, HB 2155 clarifies the immunity provision for individuals making claims of self-defense. HB 2155 passed the House by a vote of 79-15 and is now under consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
House Bill 2644: This legislation safeguards the right to bear arms of lawful adults who carry, store, or transport their ammunition or firearms in a locked vehicle. HB 2644 passed the House by a vote of 79-20 and was sent to the Senate Public Safety Committee.
House Bill 2645: HB 2645 outlines the carry exemption that grants individuals the right to possess firearms on certain property. This legislation upholds the right to self-defense while lawful adults pass through a municipal park, zoo, street, plaza, sidewalk, or alley. HB 2645 was passed in the House by a 78-20 vote and was sent to the Senate Public Safety Committee.
House Bill 2737: This legislation gets rid of the larger than 45-caliber criteria for prohibited carry for SDA license holders. HB 2737 was passed in the House by a vote of 73-19 and was sent to the Senate Rules Committee.
House Bill 2646: HB 2646 lists out the cases that mandates a person to show a driver’s license, handgun license, state identification card or valid military identification card when law enforcement officers demand they show said items while possessing firearms. Further, the legislation prohibits the arrest of an individual for failing to display the license or identification card. HB 2646 was passed in the House by a 76-16 vote and was sent off to the Senate Public Safety Committee.
House Bill 2647: This legislation bans a person from taking civil action against a firearm, firearm accessory, ammunition manufacturer, distributor, dealer, importer, exporter, trade association, or the owners, shareholders, directors, and employees of the aforementioned entities, for several actions. HB 2647 bars anti-gun activists or organizations from attempting to bankrupt the firearms industry using frivolous lawsuits. HB 2647 was passed in the House by a 73-20 vote and is now in the Senate Rules Committee.
Senate Bill 721: SB 721 details the SDA course requirements and gets rid of language mandating firearms instructors to train with a specific type of firearm in order to be certified as an instructor for a said firearm. In addition, the measure scraps obsolete language. SB 721 was passed in the Senate by a 42-4 vote and was sent to the House Public Safety Committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 9: This resolution will enshrine the Second Amendment in the Oklahoma constitution. SJR 9 has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.
Oklahoma is one of the most pro-gun states in the Union. According to Guns & Ammo Magazine’s Best States for Gun Owners rankings, it just escapes the top-10 category with a ranking of 11th place. Nevertheless, Oklahoma’s state elected officials are not resting on their laurels. They are tirelessly working to undermine the gun control state that previous generations of its political class have established. That’s the kind of mindset that’s needed to restore gun rights in America.
The more state legislators work to create a separation of firearms and state, the freer and more secure their jurisdictions will be.
José Niño is a freelance writer based in Austin, Texas. Contact him via Facebook, Twitter, or email him at [email protected]. Get his e-book, The 10 Myths of Gun Control, here.