Governor vetoes Oklahoma gun bill

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin vetoed a bill late Friday that would have authorized adults to carry firearms without a permit or training, dealing a rare defeat to the National Rifle Association in a conservative state.

The veto comes after opposition from the business community and law enforcement authorities, including top officials with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation who have said it could erode public safety.

The NRA had supported the bill’s passage and had urged Fallin, a Republican, to sign it.

In a statement announcing her veto, Fallin stressed her support for the Second Amendment.

“I believe the firearms laws we currently have in place are effective, appropriate and minimal,” she said. But she added that the bill would have eliminated the requirement for a training course and reduced the level of background checks to carry a gun.

Also Friday, Fallin signed a bill that provides legal protections to faith-based agencies that won’t place children in LGBT homes because of religious or moral convictions or policies. It was supported by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and the state’s Catholic bishops, but gay-rights advocates say it will allow agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples, single people and non-Christians.