Guns at public schools

HB 2588, by Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, would authorize the carrying of a handgun onto school property by school personnel if the person possesses a valid handgun license and meets other requirements authorized by the board of education of the district.

HB 2588 passed by a vote of 79-19.

City policies on guns

The Senate approved local control for cities to adopt policies allowing their employees to carry concealed firearms.

Senate Bill 644, authored by Sen. Blake Cowboy Stephens, R-Tahlequah, would let employees to carry a concealed firearm on municipal property if the employee has a handgun license. The employee must carry the firearm or store it in a locked location with permission of the governing body.

Under the bill, any employee authorized to carry and acting in a reasonable and prudent manner would be immune from civil and criminal liability for any injury resulting from the carrying, accidental or intentional discharge or a handgun on municipal property. The city would also be immune from liability.

Constitutional Carry law

The House passed a bill which modifies the provisions for the carrying and possession of firearms in certain circumstances.

The measure also cleans up and clarifies language from Oklahoma’s 2019 Constitutional Carry Law.

House Bill 2645, authored by Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, and presented on the floor by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, allows for the transport of firearms on public roads if an individual is eligible to carry a firearm, clarifies laws regarding where and when firearms can be carried, allows for the carrying of guns by municipal employees and changes the law regarding the carrying of firearms in establishments that serve alcohol.

Sanctuary State law passes

The Senate approved the 2nd Amendment Sanctuary State Act, which would pre-empt the entire field of legislation by any agency or political subdivision of the state to infringe upon the 2nd Amendment rights of citizens. 

Authored by Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, Senate Bill 631 states any federal, state, county or municipal act, law, executive order, administrative order, court order, rule, policy or regulation ordering the buy-back, confiscation or surrender of firearms, gun accessories or ammunition from law-abiding Oklahomans is an infringement against the right to keep and bear arms guaranteed by the United States Constitution.

The measure is co-authored by Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow; Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa; Sen. Cody Rogers, R-Tulsa; and others.

SB 631 is also supported by 23 Oklahoma sheriffs. The measure now moves to the House.