OK Senate Bill Would Allow For Armed Legislators Statewide
Bill would let lawmakers carry weapons anywhere in the state
Qualified lawmakers could carry firearms on campus, in Capitol.
By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
OKLAHOMA CITY — Lawmakers would be able to carry weapons anywhere in the state, including on college campuses and into the state Capitol, under legislation filed by Sen. Mark Allen, R-Spiro.
“Any Oklahoma State Legislator may carry a firearm on his or her person anywhere in the State of Oklahoma if the person has successfully completed a handgun qualification course equivalent to the handgun qualification course for court officials as developed by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training,” according to Senate Bill 26.
Allen said law enforcement officers who enforce the laws and judges who interpret the laws are already allowed to carry a weapon anywhere in the state. Lawmakers, who make the laws, should also be allowed to do so, Allen said.
He said he doesn’t think that allowing lawmakers to carry weapons into the Capitol could cause problems.