Oklahoma Moms Demand Action, Everytown Respond After Oklahoma House Passes Dangerous Permitless Carry Bill

Permitless Carry is Opposed by 81 Percent of Oklahomans

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.– The Oklahoma chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following response after the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted to advance House Bill 2597, which would allow people to carry a loaded handgun in public without a permit, passing a background check or completing gun safety training.

“Today, our elected officials have shown a disgraceful disregard for the very lives of the people they are sworn to represent,” said Neil Hester, veteran and volunteer with the Oklahoma chapter of Moms Demand Action. “I joined the Air Force to protect the lives of Americans, so I won’t stand by and let our lawmakers pass a bill that they know will put the lives of Oklahomans at risk, as we’ve seen in states that have abolished their permitting systems. I implore Governor Stitt to fight as hard as I will to stop that from happening in this state.”

Permitless carry legislation is opposed by 81 percent of people in Oklahoma. Moms Demand Action volunteers have been urging legislators to oppose this bill since the opening day of the legislative session last week. Today, volunteers delivered a petition against the bill to House Speaker Charles McCall and House Minority Leader Emily Virgin which was signed by more than 2,400 Oklahomans from across the state. Lawmakers have also been urged to reject this bill by the Tulsa World editorial board.

Last year, lawmakers heard opposition on a similar bill from a coalition of 50 state associations, universities, business owners and law enforcement organizations, along with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. States that have enacted permitless carry laws have seen a substantial increase in firearm violence.