Bill would eliminate need for gun permits

The Oklahoma House on Wednesday voted to largely deregulate the personal possession of firearms, a policy commonly known as “constitutional carry.”

The measure found its way as an amendment to Senate Bill 1212, which now heads to the Senate for final approval.

If adopted, anyone over 21 years old who can legally own a gun can carry it with them, concealed or not, without a permit.

The relaxed gun law would allow someone to carry a hand gun openly without obtaining a concealed carry license.

State Rep. Jeff Coody, the amendment’s author, said gun owners should be able to carry their weapons without having to pay for it and obtain permission from the state to do so.

Coody and other supporters of the change in law have tried in previous years to adopt constitutional carry, but so far their attempts have failed.

Opponents from diverse backgrounds like law enforcement, health care, education and business advocates have lined up against the measure, saying that having fewer rules on who can carry weapons, and fewer requirements to meet before someone can take a firearm openly in public places, could endanger lives.

Coody downplayed those fears, saying on the House floor that the public should be able to defend themselves from threats without having to meet the requirements set

out by the state to carry a firearm.

He cited the history of the law in 12 other states that have adopted constitutional carry over vehement opposition by law enforcement and other groups, as well as previous Oklahoma laws that have loosed gun regulations.

The amendment passed by a vote of 61 to 24, and the entire bill, which would eliminate the prohibition on carrying in a wildlife refuge or a wildlife management area, passed 59 to 28.

Both votes were cast mostly along party lines but six Republicans, all of whom decided not to run for re-election this year, voted against final passage of the bill.

The Senate can either accept the House amendment or reject it. If Coody’s amendment is rejected, the bill would be sent to a conference committee, where senators and representatives can work behind closed doors to find a compromise.

There isn’t much time left in the session, however, because leaders in the Legislature have said that once work on the state budget is complete, lawmakers will be sent home for the year.