22-May-95
The concealed carry law in its final form easily passed the state Senate on Monday and now goes to the House for final consideration possibly Tuesday. The house is expected pass the law and Governor Keating has stated he will approve it.
The law in its final form gives the citizens of Oklahoma the ability to obtain a four year license. The license and required training may cost as much as $195: $100 fee paid to OSBI, $25 to local sheriffs, $10 for pictures and $65 for training from certified instructors
To qualify for a license a person would have to be 23 years of age or older, an Oklahoma resident for at least 6 consequtive months, complete a firearms safety and training course, and submit to an OSBI background check.
License applicants would have to obtain forms from the OSBI and file the application with their local sheriff's office.
A person would not qualify for a license if he within the past three years was: convicted of a felony, judged incompetent, involuntarily committed for mental illness, treated for mental illness, inpatient for substance abuse, convicted of two or more DUI charges, or had charges pending, or convicted of assault and battery, stalking or illeagal drug use or possession of illegal drugs.
Other grounds for denying a concealed weapons license: attempted suicide, habitual criminal activity and conviction of making a false or misleading statement in the license application.
Instructors for firearm training would have to be certified by the the Center for Law Enforcement Education and Trainging (CLEET).
Persons licensed to carry concealed weapons would be prohibited from carrying them where they are currently banned by law: any city, county, state or federal buildings; jails or prisons and college and university campuses, unless with the permission of the college or univeristy president.
The bill allows businesses to ban weapons, but it does not provide any penalty for those who ignore the ban.
Anyone who fails to immediately identify himself to a law officer as actually carrying a concealed weapon could be fined up to $500, assessed an administrative fine of $50 and be sentenced to 90 dayes in the county jail.
23-May-95
Following the Senate's lead the House passed the bill allowing law-abiding, mentally sound Oklahoma citizens to carry concealed weapons. The bill now goes to Gov. Frank Keating, who said he supports the idea of allowing people to carry concealed handguns as "sound public policy," provided there are adequate safeguards.
Much of the above information was taken from Tulsa World newpaper articles including Chuck Ervin's article in Tuesday's edition.