Yesterday, February 18, the Oklahoma House Judiciary Committee passed the NRA-backed firearms bills below, sending them to the House floor where they await consideration and a vote. Your help is needed to ensure that these bills are considered in the state House. Please call AND e-mail your state Representative TODAY and encourage his or her support for the following measures this session! Contact information for your state Representative can be found here.
House Bill 2329, authored by state Representative Sally Kern (R-84), would allow a person with a carry license to leave their firearm in a locked private vehicle while parked on primary and secondary public and private school parking lots. Under this legislation, law-abiding carry license holders would no longer have to disarm for their commute to work if they are employed by a school, and would provide additional protection to those in rural school districts where law enforcement personnel are often far away. HB 2329 passed by a 11-3 vote.
House Bill 2539, authored by state Representative Terry O’Donnell (R-23), makes a necessary common sense amendment to Oklahoma Statute title 21 § 733, which at this time permits the use of deadly force to defend only one’s self, his or her husband, wife, parent, child, master, mistress, or servant. HB 2539 provides a necessary update to this antiquated statute by expanding the category of people a person can lawfully use deadly force to defend, expanding defense to any other person. HB 2539 passed by a 13-0 vote.
House Bill 2672, authored by state Representative David Derby (R-74), would change current policy to allow lawful carry license holders to carry a firearm while visiting the Oklahoma Capitol. At least thirteen other states currently allow carrying of firearms for self-defense in their state Capitol by the public. Oklahomans should not have to choose between security and participation in the legislative process. This legislation would ensure that law-abiding permit holders have the same ability to defend themselves when they visit the state Capitol as they do when they are in public elsewhere. HB 2672 passed by a 9-6 vote.
House Bill 2461, authored by state Representative Mike Turner (R-82), would require that when certification from a chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) is a prerequisite by federal law for the transfer of a National Firearms Act (NFA) item -- as defined in the NFA -- such certification must be provided within fifteen days if the applicant is not prohibited by law from receiving the NFA item. Some CLEOs simply refuse to sign such forms, and nothing in current law prohibits this, even if the applicant’s receipt of the NFA item would not be contrary to law and the CLEO has no information that the applicant intends to use the NFA item for an unlawful purpose. HB 2461 would prevent an arbitrary personal bias from determining Oklahoma firearm policy and ensure that qualified, law-abiding Oklahomans would not be denied their ability to legally possess NFA items. The reforms in HB 2461 would benefit law-abiding Oklahoma Second Amendment supporters by ensuring the process to obtain NFA items already legal in Oklahoma remains fair, fact-based and objective. HB 2461 passed by an 11-4 vote.
House Bill 2887, authored by state Representative John Enns (R-41), would allow any college, university or technology center school to establish a general policy to allow carry license holders to carry on campus. HB 2887 would improve upon current law which requires written permission to each individual licensee. HB 2887 passed by a 9-6 vote.
House Bill 2520, authored by state Representative Steve Vaughan (R-37), would make providing a full Social Security Number (SSN) while applying for a carry license under the Oklahoma Self Defense Act optional. The proposed bill would only require the applicant to provide the last four digits of their SSN, but would still allow the option of providing a full Social Security number on the form, if desired. HB 2520 passed by an 11-3 vote.
Remember to contact your state Representative and encourage his or her support for these important measures! As always, keep an eye on your e-mail and www.nraila.org for updates.
More Like This From Around The NRA
