State House Votes to Advance Firearm Freedoms
Yesterday, two NRA-supported bills advanced in the Oklahoma House, before the legislative crossover deadline. Senate Bills 1760 and 1743 both received the required third reading in the House and each bill was approved by an overwhelming majority.
Senate Bill 1760, authored by state Senator Anthony Sykes (R-24) and state Representative T.W. Shannon (R-62), received unanimous approval in a vote of 84 to 0. As previously reported, this “Emergency Powers” bill is necessary to fill the current gap in the language of the state riot control statute to prevent the banning of ownership, possession or transportation of firearms and ammunition during declared states of emergency.
Senate Bill 1743, also known as the “Landowner’s Hunting Freedom Act” passed in the House in a vote of 77 to 5. SB 1743, authored by state Senator Steve Russell (R-45) and state Representative Leslie Osborn (R-47), would allow Oklahoma landowners and their guests to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting. This legislation is particularly important as noise complaints are being used more frequently as an excuse to close shooting ranges, informal shooting areas, and hunting lands throughout the country. Increased use of suppressors will help to eliminate many of these complaints and protect hunting and shooting areas well into the future. Most importantly, it will help protect hunters hearing. For more information on firearms and suppressors, click here.
Both of these Senate bills will now return to the Senate, where the House amendments can be accepted or declined by the authors.
Your NRA-ILA will continue to keep you updated on the progress of this and other firearm freedom legislation. Please contact your state Senator and urge him or her to support Senate Bills 1743 and 1760. Contact information for your state legislators can be found by clicking here.