Governor Stitt on Wednesday signed House Bill 2597 just hours after the Oklahoma Senate passed the measure allowing for permitless carry by Oklahomans who can legally own a firearm. This is Stitt’s first piece of legislation he has signed into law as governor.
HB 2597 allows Oklahomans age 21 years old or older to carry a firearm without a permit, permits veterans, active duty, and reserve military aged 18 years old or older to carry without a permit and prohibits felons, domestic violence offenders, and individuals who have been adjudicated as mentally ill from carrying a firearm.
The measure leaves in place the protections for private property owners to restrict firearms from being carried on their property. Higher education institutions will be able to set their carry policies as well.
Senate Floor Leader Kim David is the Senate author of HB 2597.
“This is great legislation that enhances and strengthens both Second Amendment rights and private property rights of Oklahomans. This bill also grants the same rights and trust to Oklahomans that the citizens of 15 other states have had in our state for years. I appreciate the members of the Senate for sending this measure to the governor’s desk and look forward to it being signed into law,” said David.
Just hours after the measure passed the Senate by a vote of 40 to six, Stitt held a bill signing press conference.
“Oklahomans are strong supporters of the Second Amendment, and they made their voice known as I traveled across all 77 counties last year,” said Stitt. “I would like to thank Representative Jon Echols and Senator Kim David for championing this piece of legislation and for finding balance for both private property owners and our Second Amendment rights.”
The move makes Oklahoma the 16th state to allow permitless or constitutional carry. The law goes into effect on November 1, 2019.
A similar bill was passed by the Oklahoma Legislature last year but was vetoed by then Governor Fallin.
