With only 3 dissenting votes, SB1733 (licensed open carry) passed the House.  SB1733 is much more than just open carry, though.  It contains the elements of HB2522 that OK2A added to it, including private property open carry and relaxing the police notification requirement.  This bill now faces one more vote by the Senate before being sent to the Governor.  One interesting note, four representatives that voted against HB2522 decided to vote for SB1733: Cooksey (R), Nollan (R), Jeanie McDaniels (D), and Williams (D).  The bill passed the House 85-3.

Perhaps the most important bill of the session is SB1760.  This bill will prohibit the government (state or local) from confiscating weapons or prohibiting the otherwise legal possession, use, carry, sale, etc of firearms, ammunition, or accessories and it allows for civil recourse if the government violates the law.  This is critical legislation if we want to make sure that a Katrina-type incident never happens in Oklahoma.  This bill passed the House unanimously.

Another important bill, possibly second only to SB1760, is SB1785.  SB1785 grants reciprocity to visitors from non-permitting states, such as Arizona.  Constitutional carry states have not enjoyed reciprocity because they have no permit.  This bill will recognize the driver's license from constitutional carry states as a permit.  What makes this such an important bill is its implications for future legislation in Oklahoma.  If our legislature recognizes the "constitutional rights" of people from out of state to carry why shouldn't they recognize our "constitutional right" to carry?  SB1785 passed the House 82-4. 

In addition to these bills, SB1743, the suppressed hunting bill, passed 77-5 and SB1541, Sen. Jolley and Rep. Cooksey's elite carry bill, was laid over and is now dead.

All in all, not a bad day.  We appreciate everyone who called or emailed the legislators.  Today's outcome is the result of much labor by many people and we should all be pleased.

Please continue to call the House leadership to urge them to schedule SB1733, SB1785, and especially SB1548.  Contact Speaker Steele at 405-557-7345 or krissteele@okhouse.gov and Rep. DeWitt at 405-557-7332 or daledewitt@okhouse.gov.

SB1733 is supposedly being stalled because the Senate author, Senator Anthony Sykes, is playing games with a House bill.  We've been told Sen. Sykes is using a House bill to try to redraw some judicial district lines so that he and some of his cronies will be able to run for the bench and win easily.  Senator Sykes won't return our calls and has ignored repeated requests to schedule a meeting, so we have not been able to hear his side of the story, however, if this is true, then shame on him.  But, that's not a valid reason to hold up a good bill.  Using our time and our business to settle a personal vendetta is not acceptable.  Call Speaker Steele and the Floor Leader, Representative DeWitt, and politely tell them to quit holding the Second Amendment hostage to settle a problem with another legislator.  Tell them to schedule SB1733 for a hearing on the floor immediately.  Speaker Steele can be contacted at 405-557-7345 or krissteele@okhouse.gov and Rep. DeWitt can be contacted at 405-557-7332 or daledewitt@okhouse.gov.  If you would like to see if Senator Sykes will share his side of this story with you, he may be contacted at 405-521-5569 or lewis@oksenate.gov.

Some say HB2522 has stalled because it was changed and no longer would require a state-issued license.  I don't believe that to be the case.  Unlicensed open carry passed the Senate with ease last year.  Also, I believe that Governor Fallin would sign the bill if it were sent to her.  The House, however, is another story.  I believe the House leadership would try to kill the bill.  This bill is the strongest of the two and needs to be heard by the Senate and sent back to the House.  The House needs to be forced to show us (not just tell us) where they stand on allowing you and me to exercise our God-given, Constitutionally-protected right without having to pay the state to do it.  They need to be forced into an up or down, yes or no vote on unlicensed open carry.  Senator Shulz has been helpful with 2A bills in the past, we want to encourage him to continue.  Call Senator Shulz and thank him for his past support of 2A legislation and then politely tell him you are not comfortable with waiting to see what the House does with SB1733.  Politely ask him to take the lead on this issue by immediately scheduling HB2522 for a vote on the Senate floor.  Senator Shulz may be contacted at 405-521-5612 or schulz@oksenate.gov.

SB1733 was also stripped by the House Public Safety Committee.  It had the original language from HB2522 placed in it along with another provision to allow for military personnel and defense contractors who are deployed overseas to still be able to receive their carry permit while overseas.

OK2A would prefer unlicensed open carry and we will continue to work toward that.  However, if we are not able to get an unlicensed bill, which appears very unlikely this year, we will take a step in the right direction with licensed open carry.  We will begin working next year to remove the licensing requirement.

We will let you know when these bills are scheduled to be heard on the House and Senate floor.

Please make two phone calls.  Call the President Pro Temp, Senator Brian Bingman and politely tell him to make sure that the Public Safety Committee holds another meeting so these two critical bills have a chance to be heard in committee.  His phone number is 405-521-5528 and his email address is bingman@oksenate.gov.

Then call the Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, Senator Barrington, and politely tell him if to give HB2416 and HB2988 a hearing if he has another committee meeting.  His phone number is 405-521-5563 and his email address is barrington@oksenate.gov.

For details, call 918-844-4243 or email info@ok2a.org.

The only meeting this week is tomorrow night, Thursday March 15, in Tulsa at 2A Shooting Center (4616 E Admiral Pl) at 6:30 pm.  For details, call 918-844-4243 or email info@ok2a.

For details, call 918-844-4243 or email info@ok2a.org.

The Stillwater OK2A chapter will meet Thursday night at 7:00 pm at Mexico Joe's, 311 E Hall of Fame Ave., in Stillwater.

For details, call 918-844-4243 or email info@ok2a.org.

Note:  If you follow the HB2522 link to read the bill, the language that will be voted on is under the "Amendments" tab.  Then, click on the "committee amendment" under the House Committee Amendments header.

SB1733 - Sen. Sykes open carry bill (by license).
SB1760 - Sen. Sykes bill to specifically prohibit state or local government from confiscating weapons during times of a declared emergency.
SB1785 - Sen. Russell's bill allowing for reciprocity for non-permitting states.

Please call the Senate Public Safety Committee members tonight (you can leave a message on their voice mail) or early tomorrow to urge them to support these measures.

Due to Rep. Tibbs health, it is anticipated that she won't be involved in the meeting next Wednesday.  Please say a prayer for her health.  In her absence Rep. Steve Martin will act as Chairman of the Committee.  Please call or email (calls are better than emails) Rep. Martin and thank him for his work on open carry and politely encourage him to also hear the following bills:

HB2997 - Rep. Newell's car carry bill. 
HB2998 - Rep. Newell's bill to reduce the penalty for a CWL holder who carries their weapon into a marked establishment from a crime to a trespass violation.
HB2514 - Rep. Kern's bill restoring the right of the governing bodies of private schools to set their own weapons policies.

Rep. Martin's phone number is (405) 557-7402 and his email address is stevemartin@okhouse.gov.  Also call the committee members and ask them to support these bills when they come before them.

House Public Safety Committee members:

Location: H&H Gun Range (400 S Vermont, Suite 110).

Memo: Please arrive early if you plan to purchase dinner from 4U Café inside H&H.

The program will include a legislative update by Senator Shortey and OK2A Deputy Director Don Spencer and a presentation by OCU law professor Michael O'Shea.

The next step for this bill will be a floor vote in the House sometime in the next few weeks.  We will let you know when that will happen.

House Judiciary Committee Members (all telephone numbers are 405 area code):

Ada Chapter
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: JD's Cafe (911 N Broadway, Ada)

Stillwater Chapter
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Mexico Joe's (311 E Hall of Fame Ave, Stillwater)

For meetings at restaurants, please plan to arrive early if you intend to order a meal.

For more information, call (918) 844-4243 or email us at info@ok2a.org.

Tuesday, February 7

Guthrie Chapter
Time:  7:00 PM
Location:  Patriot Industries (211 E Oklahoma Ave, Guthrie)

Thursday, February 9

Ada Chapter
Time:  6:30 PM
Location:  JD's Cafe (911 N Broadway, Ada)

Stillwater Chapter
Time:  7:00 PM
Location:  Mexico Joe's (311 E Hall of Fame Ave, Stillwater)

For meetings at restaurants, please plan to arrive early if you intend to order a meal.

For more information, call (918) 844-4243 or email us at info@ok2a.org.

While there is always a "best pick," there is also always a "worst pick."  OK2A's worst pick for Senate District 20 is Phil Berkenbile.  Mr. Berkenbile was an outspoken opponent of adult Vo-Tech students simply being able to leave their concealed carry weapon locked in their vehicles while attending classes at Oklahoma's Vo-Techs.