OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin has vetoed a bill that would have allowed for permit-less carry.
Senate Bill 1212, also referred to as the “Constitutional Carry” bill, was presented by Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow.
On 2 May, 2018, the Oklahoma Senate passed Constitutional Carry. The popular bill passed both the House and the Senate by veto proof margins. It passed the Senate on a 33-8 vote. The Senate was able to vote for the bill because maneuvering in the Oklahoma legislature allowed it to bypass the Senate committee that was blocking it.
On 25 April, 2018, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed Constitutional Carry by a vote of 59-28. The bill had already passed the Senate unanimously on March 6th, 2018, but as a bill removing wildlife refuges as gun free zones.
While SB1212 passed with strong, veto proof margins, the legislature has adjourned. The legislature no longer has the power to override Governor Fallin's veto.
Second Amendment supporters and anti-carry groups engaged in heavy lobbying urging Governor Fallin to sign the bill, or to veto the bill as a last ditch effort to stop the popular measure. From newsok.com:
Fallin has about two weeks to decide whether to sign Senate Bill 1212, which would allow Oklahoma residents who are at least 21 to carry a firearm without a permit or training.Most of the power of Second Amendment groups is in the votes they can mobilize. They have relatively little money. The strong suite of the anti-carry groups is lots of money to lobby with from former Mayor Bloomberg and other billionaires. Governor Fallin, as a term limited Governor,
Michael McNutt, the governor's spokesman, said Monday, "The governor's office is receiving heavy traffic in the form of emails and calls from both sides of the issue regarding SB 1212. The governor is discussing the measure with her staff as well as reviewing input from citizens, groups, agencies and others."
Constitutional Carry refers to the state of law when the Bill of Rights was passed in 1791. At that time, no permits were required to buy, possess, or carry firearms in the United States. In states with Constitutional Carry, no permit is required for most adults to carry firearms openly or concealed.
A resurgence in Constitutional Carry has been happening since 2003.
In 2003, Alaska passed the reform to restore the exercise of Second Amendment rights. After seven more years, in 2010, Arizona passed Constitutional Carry. In 2011 Wyoming passed their version of the concept.
In 2013, Arkansas passed Act 746 into law. It is effectively Constitutional Carry, but is disputed by some county prosecutors. In 2015, Kansas, and Maine joined the Constitutional Carry club. In 2016, Idaho, Missouri, West Virginia, and Mississippi enacted Constitutional Carry. In 2017, New Hampshire, and North Dakota were added to the list. Vermont has always been a Constitutional Carry state.
Several other Governors have vetoed Constitutional Carry bills. They include Governor Bullock (D) of Montana, Governor Tomblin (D) of West Virginia (overridden by the legislature), Governor Nixon of Missouri (D) (overridden by the legislature), Governor Hassan (D) of New Hampshire (since passed), Governor Daugaard of South Dakota (R) twice, and Governor Herbert (R) of Utah twice.
Montana, South Dakota, and Utah have all failed to pass Constitutional Carry to the present day.
There will be a serious push to pass Constitutional Carry in Texas in 2019 during the next legislative session.
©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
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1 comment:
Tyranny as opposed to the Will of the People. Sounds like time for a recall effort, or at least a vote to censure, useless though that would be.
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