An important piece of pro-gun legislation known as the “Constitutional Open Carry Bill” cleared the Oklahoma Senate Rules Committee Wednesday by a vote of 10-3. The measure would allow law-abiding citizens over 21 to openly carry a firearm. Based on the bill’s wide margin of support in committee, and the fact that the House version passed earlier this year by a vote of 73-15, the bill is expected to pass when it heads to the full Senate.
Oklahoma currently requires open-carry applicants to obtain a permit like for concealed carry. Rep Jeff Coody, who authored the House version, says this measure will bring Oklahoma in line with other states in protecting gun owners’ rights.
“In 30 other states people can carry out in the open without a permit, without asking permission and without paying a tax to the government, and it’s not been an issue in other states,” Coody told the Norman Transcript.
