Open Carry Passes Oklahoma Senate

The Oklahoma Senate passed a measure last week that would allow for open carrying of guns.
Senate Bill 1733, by Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, heads to the House after securing Senate approval by a vote of 34-9.  The measure would allow those who have a concealed-carry permit to openly carry a gun or carry concealed in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has been on the verge of an open carry of firearms law for several years. Former Governor Brad Henry vetoed the last measure that passed in 2010.  Current Governor Mary Fallin may get a chance to sign an open carry bill into law.

The law would require those applying for a firearms carry permit to show they can load, unload, fire, and clear a gun as well as pass a gun education course.

You can send a message to the Texas Legislature and Governor Rick Perry, who has indicated he would sign an open carry bill, by clicking here

We hold that all citizens who may lawfully purchase a handgun be allowed to carry openly in public in the State of Texas except for those places prohibited by law. We also call for state preemption of all handgun laws concerning open carry in Texas.

1. Every individual has the right and responsibility to defend their self against unjustified threats of death or serious bodily injury.

2. The Constitution of the United States guarantees the right of individuals to keep and bear arms.

3. Criminals are not deterred by rules, regulations, and laws forbidding the possession of weapons. A man bent on mass murder will not be stopped by a rule forbidding him to have a gun.

4. It is well known that the requirement to conceal a handgun for the purpose of protecting self, friends, and family can be difficult especially in Texas with our extreme heat since a person will usually have to wear a jacket to properly conceal a handgun and to avoid “printing.”

5. The requirement to conceal a handgun can make it difficult to draw the weapon should the life of the carrier or the life of someone else be in danger.

6. A criminal will not open carry a weapon because he does not want to draw attention to himself. We believe that a citizen openly carrying a handgun lawfully will be a deterrent for crime.

7. Ten states including Arizona, Alaska, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, Virginia, Vermont, and Wyoming all allow open carry of handguns without a license. Twelve states including Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, and Tennessee allow open carry of handguns with a license. In fact, Texas is one of only SIX states in the entire United States that completely bans open carry of handguns.

8. In these states, Open carry is very common and it does not alarm law enforcement or other citizens.

For the foregoing reasons, we residents of the State of Texas affirm and assert that all citizens who may lawfully purchase a handgun be allowed to carry openly in public in the State of Texas except for those places prohibited by law. We also call for state preemption of all handgun laws concerning open carry in Texas.