Local news is reporting that Oklahoma could be the next state to pass constitutional carry. HB2597 passed the state’s House Public Safety Committee by a vote of 9-2. Observers suggest it has a good chance of making it to the governor who has said they support it.
HB2597 would allow permitless carry for all law-abiding adults 21 years of age and older.
“…or by a person who is eighteen (18) years of age but not yet twenty-one (21) years of age and the person is a member or veteran of the United States Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard or was discharged under honorable conditions from the United States Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard, and the person is otherwise not disqualified from the possession or purchase of a firearm under state or federal law and is not carrying the firearm in furtherance of a crime.”
I’m not clear on why they have the limitations for 18 to 20-year-olds. I am clear on why the local media reporting is dripping with bias.
Leveraging the Language
The two locals I checked, Fox 25 and KOCO 5, “reported” on the bill much as you’d expect. Here’s the opening sentence from the Fox 25 story.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) – A new House bill that would allow anyone in Oklahoma to carry a gun without a license is moving forward.
That’s an outright lie. The piece goes on to clarify (if anyone reads deeper), but the positioning makes defenders of the bill sound like but, but, but.
You’ll still have to get background checks. Federal laws still apply. We won’t let felons or the mentally insane legal access. But “anyone” will be able to carry a gun, unless they followed the law.
Gun control laws are about restricting legal access, after all. Criminals could care less. So-called news outlets aren’t much interested in the law either.
No Background Checks!
Over at KOCO News 5, they lead with this.
A bill vetoed last year by then-Gov. Mary Fallin that would allow Oklahoma residents to carry a gun without any training or a background check appears to be sailing toward the new Republican governor, who has said he’ll sign it.
Another outright lie.
The bill approved by the committee on Thursday would allow most Oklahomans 21 and older to carry concealed or unconcealed without a license. Exceptions would include anyone in the country illegally or those convicted of certain crimes. Firearms would still be prohibited in certain locations, including public buildings, schools, professional sporting events and casinos.
It’s certainly not Constitutional Carry. And no, Moms Demand Bloomberg’s Gun Ban Money didn’t care for it either.
“It’s disheartening that we have to fight against this again,” said Jackson, who became involved in the gun safety movement after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that left 20 students, six staff members, the shooter’s mother and shooter himself dead in Connecticut. “The majority of Oklahomans don’t want this legislation.”
She didn’t mention Parkland?
Oklahoman’s elected a Republican legislature in the previous session that passed constitutional carry – vetoed by the former “Republican” governor. In the 2018 “wave election” where Democrats took back the House (and most of New Hampshire), Oklahoman’s elected another Republican legislature and a different Republican governor (the previous gov. retired).
I think it is safe to say “the majority of Oklahomans” want what Republican politicians want.
In Oklahoma, they want to protect the individual right to self-defense. And it looks like they are taking steps in the right direction.
