Obama Administration threatens veto over important NRA-backed provision!
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JUNE 16-17, 2012 (click for more info.)

  PRESS RELEASE on Open Carry - click to read

Bill increases Second Amendment protection

SHAWNEE News Star Posted April 9, 2012-04-09

Senate Bill 1760, by state Sen. Anthony Sykes and state Rep. T.W. Shannon, would specify that Oklahomans’ Second Amendment rights cannot be taken away during a declared state of emergency.

“While government may assume greater police powers to preserve public safety during times of emergency, the government should never be allowed to strip citizens of their most basic constitutional rights,” said Shannon, R-Lawton. “This legislation simply makes clear that Oklahomans will continue to have the right to self-defense during emergency situations.”
Shannon noted that law enforcement officials reportedly seized guns from citizens who were not engaged in acts of lawlessness after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, which led many states to reconsider laws dealing with an official state of emergency.

Senate Bill 1760 amends the Oklahoma Riot Control and Prevention Act to state that “neither the governor nor any official of a municipal or state entity shall prohibit or suspend the sale, ownership, possession, transportation, carrying, transfer and storage of firearms, ammunition and ammunition accessories during a declared state of emergency that are otherwise legal under state law.” The bill would apply to situations where a state of emergency has been declared to deal with a public disorder, disaster, or riot.

Under the bill, the Oklahoma Riot Control and Prevention Act would continue to allow the governor to issue proclamations imposing a curfew, banning the sale of alcohol, targeting individuals using explosive devices, and other activities the governor “reasonably believes should be prohibited to help preserve and maintain life, health, property or the public peace” during a disaster or riot.

“In a situation where a riot is severe enough that the governor declares a state of emergency, citizens in the affected area will likely have much greater need for self-defense than at any other time,” Shannon said. “It makes no sense to force those law-abiding citizens caught in a bad situation to disarm when they may be threatened with violence by lawless individuals.”
Senate Bill 1760 passed the House Public Safety Committee on a bipartisan 12-0 vote. It now proceeds to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
 

In the late Summer of 2005, ORA Executive Director Charles Smith walked into the Capitol office of longtime ORA member and friend State Rep. Kevin Calvey.  “Kevin, we need something like this,” handing him a copy of Florida’s “Castle Doctrine” law.  Rep. Calvey subsequently authored the bill,  adding additional safeguards.  During the next session his bill was introduced and adopted.   Oklahoma now had the best “Castle Doctrine” law in the nation, thanks to Kevin Calvey and the ORA. 

"CASTLE DOCTRINE” LEGISLATION:

 PROTECTING YOUR RIGHT

TO PROTECT YOURSELF
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NRA/ORA-Backed Legislation Facing Thursday Deadline in Oklahoma Senate

Please Contact Your State Senator Immediately to Urge Support of Senate Bills 1760, 1420 and 1743!

Important NRA/ORA-backed bills must be voted out of the state Senate by this Thursday or these bills will be ineligible to be heard in the House. Contact your state Senator today and urge him or her to support and pass the following NRA-backed bills before March 15.

Senate Bill 1760, authored by state Senator Anthony Sykes (R-24), is a bill with complete “Emergency Powers” language. As previously reported, this bill is necessary to fill the current gap in the language of the state riot control statute. It is vital that this language to preserve the self-defense rights of Oklahoma citizens is approved this session by both the Senate and the House.

Senate Bill 1743, previously reported here, is known as the “Landowner’s Hunting Freedom Act." This bill would allow Oklahoma landowners and their guests to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms for hunting. This legislation is particularly important this session, as noise complaints are being used more frequently as an excuse to close shooting ranges, informal shooting areas, and hunting lands throughout the country. Increased use of suppressors will help to eliminate many of these complaints and protect hunting and shooting areas well into the future. For more information on firearms and suppressors, click here.

Senate Bill 1420, authored by state Senator Ralph Shortey (R-44), is a pro-hunting bill that would legalize the use of laser scoping devices for the blind, including disabled veterans and children.

Please contact your state Senator TODAY! Your support is necessary to move this important pro-gun legislation to the House and ensure their passage this session.  Contact information for your Senator can be found here. 

The Oklahoma Rifle Ass'n would like to announce the following additions to the ORA Board of Directors:

SE Regional Director: Mr. Ron Hull

The Flap Over SB 1556

The Oklahoma Legislature is convening this month, but controversy over some proposed bills is already stirring.  One such bill, SB 1556 by Sen. Jerry Ellis (Valliant), has been drawing a lot of flak.

As with every pro-gun bill, it is being attacked by some “pro-Second Amendment” groups and individuals one would expect to support improvement of our concealed-carry law. (read more....)

Check out the 2011 ORA Winners

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