QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Gun bill passes House
By Hailey Branson and Lauren Craun
Capitol News Service
March 17, 2008
OKLAHOMA CITY — Concealed handguns will be more prevalent on Oklahoma
college campuses if a controversial bill passed by the Oklahoma House of Representative
becomes law this spring.
House Bill 2513, which passed through the House by a vote of 65-36 Thursday,
would allow active military members, military veterans and those with law enforcement
training to carry concealed weapons on college campuses, where they are currently
banned.
The bill, written by Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, was amended from its
original version, which would have allowed anyone 21 years old or older with a
concealed-carry license to carry a weapon on campus.
Before Thursday’s vote, Murphey said 60,000 Oklahomans have concealed-carry
licenses since the passage of the Concealed Carrying Act 12 years ago. He said citizens
have been “very responsible.”
“I don’t think its right that we’re telling people you can carry your weapon at the
mall, at the movie theaters and on Main Street, but when you want to go to school to
better yourself and use state services, you have to leave your weapon at home,” he said.
Murphey said college campuses are dangerous and people with concealed-carry
licenses should be able to carry guns everywhere — including campus.
“A lot of [concerns] seem like the same concerns they had in the first place with
the Concealed Carrying Act, and those concerns have been proven false,” Murphey said.
“So why in the world won’t we allow weapons in the classroom, which is one place
where suicidal gunmen know they can come and get a lot of victims?”
Tulsa-area legislators were generally in favor of Murphey’s bill, including its
amendments.
Rep. John Wright, R-Tulsa, who voted in favor of the bill, said it has become
clear through the string of school shootings in recent years that restricting people from
having guns on campus does not stop those who wish to break the law.
“This is not a dramatic knee-jerk response, but rather a very small, measured step
to send a sign that there is possibly someone in a [University of Oklahoma] classroom or
an [Oklahoma State University] lecture hall who would be able to quickly respond to a
similar incident that happened at Virginia Tech or Illinois,” he said.
He said the bill is not advocating a “Wild West” mentality because it only allows
people who are properly trained to carry guns on campus.
“The law is very measured in its approach,” he said.
Wright said an OU student recently told him how few armed security personnel
are on the OU campus. He said a bubble cannot be drawn around college campuses just
to provide a false sense of security.
Rep. Skye McNiel, R-Bristow, who voted in favor of the bill, said she is OK with
the bill now that it only allows military members and those who are CLEET certified to
carry weapons on campus.
“I am a firm believer in second amendment rights,” she said. “Responsible people
who go to the class have the right to carry those guns.”
“I think it’s important that we have young men and women serving in our armed
forces, and if they take the class, then they can carry that weapon,” she continued.
Rep. Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa, who also voted in favor of the bill, said he is a
member of the National Rifle Association and understands the pros and cons of the bill.
He said he is always concerned about how much training a person has when they
carry weapons.
“Right now, the state of Oklahoma requires eight hours before you get your
concealed weapon [license],” he said. “I would be open to the fact that we might have
additional time we put on there for that.”
Murphey said the passing of the bill is “a step in the right direction,” despite the
fact that the bill had been amended.
“Obviously part of the legislative process is working with all of the involved
parties and trying to come up with a compromise that is as favorable to your position as
possible,” he said. “I certainly think it makes it hard for the opposition to argue that our
veterans should not be trusted to protect themselves and their classmates.”
Opposition to the bill came from Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, who
issued a statement about the bill following its passage.
“Oklahoma has taken a giant step to reduce the safety of our college students,” he
said in the statement. “The leadership of every college in the state is against this bill, yet
the House has voted against the wishes of the individuals with the most knowledge about
campus safety.”
Shelton called the bill “ridiculous” and said “Oklahoma legislators are working
hard to send a bad message to the rest of the world about Oklahoma.”