Oklahoma: Committee Action Deadline Brings Legislative Agenda into Focus

Last week, another deadline passed in the Oklahoma legislative process, as bills not passed out of committee will lie dormant until next year. Here is an update on a number of pro-gun bills this session:

NRA-backed House Bill 1652, the “Parking Lot/Employee Protection” expansion bill, passed in the Senate Rules Committee last week and now heads to the Senate floor. The bill would allow concealed carry permit holders to lock their firearms in their vehicles on technology center campuses, as well as parking lots set aside for use by a governmental entity and professional sporting events. HB 1652 is authored by state Representative John Enns (R-41) and is sponsored by state Senator Steve Russell (R-45).

House Bill 1439, a “Castle Doctrine” expansion bill, passed in the Senate Public Safety Committee last week. HB 1439 expands the right to use deadly force if necessary by the owner, manager or employee of a business against an intruder, when there is reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm. This “Castle Doctrine” expansion bill, authored by state Representative Steve Vaughan (R-37), now heads to a vote in the full Senate.

Please contact your state Senator and respectfully urge his or her support of HB 1652 and HB 1439!  To locate your state Senator and their contact information, please click here.

Senate Bill 858, the NRA-backed “Firearm Owner Privacy Protection Act,” did not pass out of committee in the House before last week’s committee deadline and will be dormant until next year’s session. The “Firearm Owner Privacy Protection Act” would prohibit medical practitioners from requiring patients to divulge information about private firearm ownership. SB 858 would also prevent healthcare practitioners from denying healthcare to patients who refuse to disclose such information about firearms, ammunition or storage methods. SB 858 was authored by Senator Steve Russell and sponsored in the House by state Representative Mike Ritze (R-80).

Senate Bill 129, an “Open Carry” bill also authored by Senator Steve Russell, was withdrawn for this session for further work next year. SB 129 would have allowed the open carrying of firearms at the same locations that allow concealed firearms by persons 18 years or older.  It was sponsored in the state House by state Representative Leslie Osborn (R-47).

Senate Bill 856, the “Fraudulent Firearms Purchase Prevention Act,” was signed into law by Governor Mary Fallin (R) on April 7. Authored by Senator Steve Russell, SB 856 protects lawful firearm retailers from illegal gun sting operations such as those by anti-gun New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. SB 856 passed unanimously in both the state Senate and House, and was sponsored by state Representative Paul Wesselhoft (R-54).

The NRA will continue to keep you updated on these and other bills throughout the rest of this legislation session!