Simone Lawson
In 2018, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin vetoed a bill that would have allowed for permit-less carry, also known as the Constitutional Carry bill. Senate Bill 1212 would have eliminated the requirement to complete a firearms safety and training course from a certified instructor and demonstrate competency with a pistol before carrying a gun in public. Fallin cited public safety concerns and the need to maintain effective firearms laws as reasons for her veto, stating that the current laws serve to reassure our citizens that people who are carrying handguns in this state are qualified to do so. The decision was met with mixed reactions, with some criticizing Fallin for prioritizing money over rights, while others applauded her for addressing public safety concerns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Mary Fallin |
| Position | Governor of Oklahoma |
| Bill Vetoed | Senate Bill 1212 |
| Bill Alias | "Constitutional Carry" bill |
| Bill Introduced By | Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow |
| Bill Aim | To allow for permit-less carry |
| Governor's Reasoning | Safety concerns, reduction in background checks, and officer safety issues |
| Governor's Statement | "I believe the firearms laws we currently have in place are effective, appropriate, and minimal, and serve to reassure our citizens that people who are carrying handguns in this state are qualified to do so." |
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What You'll Learn
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin vetoes Constitutional Carry
On May 11, 2018, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin vetoed Senate Bill 1212, also known as the "Constitutional Carry" bill. The bill would have allowed for permit-less carry, eliminating the requirement to complete a firearms safety and training course from a certified instructor and demonstrate competency with a pistol before carrying a gun in public.
In a statement, Fallin stressed her support for the Second Amendment and her ownership of firearms. However, she cited safety concerns as the reason for her veto, stating that the current firearms laws in Oklahoma are "effective, appropriate and minimal" and provide reassurance to citizens that those carrying handguns in the state are qualified to do so. The bill would have removed the ability of law enforcement to distinguish between those who have been trained and vetted and those who have not.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) opposed the measure, citing concerns for "public safety" and the potential loss of revenue from licensing fees. However, some critics questioned the validity of the "public safety" argument, noting that other states with Constitutional Carry laws have not seen a significant increase in gun crime.
Supporters of the bill, including the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association (OK2A), expressed disappointment in Fallin's decision. They argued that better screening of potential gun buyers was needed, but current gun owners should not be punished. Fallin's veto was praised by some as a victory for gun safety, while others saw it as a setback for gun rights in the state.
This was not the first time Fallin had vetoed pro-gun legislation. During her tenure, she had previously vetoed several less controversial pro-gun bills. Fallin's decision on SB 1212 was made in the final year of her second term as governor, leaving no opportunity for the legislature to override the veto before adjourning for the year.
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Fallin's rationale for vetoing the bill
In 2018, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin vetoed the Senate Bill 1212, also known as the "Constitutional Carry" bill. The bill would have allowed for permit-less carry of firearms in the state.
In her statement, Fallin stressed her support for the Second Amendment and acknowledged her ownership of firearms. However, she cited safety concerns as the primary reason for vetoing the bill. Fallin believed that the existing firearms laws in Oklahoma were effective, appropriate, and minimal. She argued that the current laws served to reassure citizens that individuals carrying handguns in the state were qualified to do so.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation shared similar concerns, stating that the bill would impact "the safety and security" of Oklahomans. They also opposed the measure because it could "erode public safety." Additionally, Fallin's decision was influenced by the potential loss of revenue for the state, as the bill would have eliminated licensing fees, resulting in a significant financial impact.
Fallin's decision was met with mixed reactions. While some supported her rationale for prioritising public safety, others criticised her for not upholding the rights of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves. Critics, including the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association (OK2A), argued that the current laws were restrictive and that the bill would have ensured that only \"trained\" individuals could carry firearms. They accused Fallin of choosing "money over rights."
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The NRA's criticism of Fallin's veto
In 2018, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin vetoed a bill that would have allowed for permit-less carry, also known as the "'Constitutional Carry' bill." This bill, Senate Bill 1212, was presented by Sen. Nathan Dahm and had passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) criticised Fallin's veto, arguing that it was not motivated by public safety concerns. They pointed out that other states that have enacted Constitutional Carry have not seen a significant rise in gun crime. In addition, they suggested that Fallin's decision may have been influenced by financial considerations, as the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) opposed the measure due to the potential loss of licensing fee revenue.
Fallin defended her decision, stating that she believed the existing firearms laws in Oklahoma were "effective, appropriate, and minimal" and served to reassure citizens that those carrying handguns in the state were qualified to do so. She argued that the bill would have eliminated the ability of law enforcement to distinguish between individuals who had been trained and vetted to carry guns and those who had not.
The NRA and its supporters criticised Fallin's statement, claiming that criminals would not abide by permit requirements regardless. They also accused her of valuing money over rights, referencing her previous veto of the "Shall Sign" bill for persons seeking a tax stamp for NFA firearms.
Fallin's veto of the Constitutional Carry bill was not an isolated incident. She had previously vetoed several other pro-gun bills, including a bill to shorten the waiting period for background checks on certain firearms. These actions had already risked alienating Second Amendment and gun rights advocates, including the NRA.
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The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation's opposition to the bill
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) opposed the bill because it could "erode public safety". The OSBI also stood to "lose nearly $5 million annually in licensing fees under the new law and would have to eliminate about 60 full-time positions".
The OSBI recognised the leadership shown by Governor Fallin in vetoing SB1212. They believed that Governor Fallin "heard the public safety concerns created by SB1212, namely a lack of training requirement, reduced level of background checks, and officer safety issues, and acted accordingly in vetoing the bill".
SB 1212 would have eliminated the requirement to complete a short firearms safety and training course from a certified instructor and demonstrate competency with a pistol before carrying a gun in public. This would have removed the ability of Oklahoma law enforcement to distinguish between those carrying guns who have been trained and vetted and those who have not.
In Oklahoma, the OSBI is generally responsible for issuing a handgun license to any applicant who meets all the minimum qualifications. To be approved, a person seeking a handgun license must be a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident, establish residency in Oklahoma, complete a firearms safety and training course, submit the required fee and complete the application process. Each year, the OSBI must submit a statistical report on handgun licenses to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
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The Oklahoma Second Amendment Association's support for the bill
The Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association (OK2A) is the state's leading advocate for Second Amendment rights. In 2018, the OK2A urged its supporters to contact their representatives to express their support for HB2951, the Constitutional Carry bill. The bill, also known as SB 1212, would have eliminated the requirement for Oklahomans to obtain a permit or complete a firearms safety and training course before carrying a gun in public.
The OK2A argued that the bill was necessary to protect the Second Amendment rights of Oklahomans. They believed that the bill would ensure that law-abiding citizens could carry a firearm without unnecessary government interference. The association also argued that the existing firearms laws were effective and minimal, serving to reassure citizens that those carrying handguns in the state were qualified to do so.
However, Governor Mary Fallin vetoed the bill, citing public safety concerns. She stated that the current firearms laws in Oklahoma were effective and appropriate, and that the bill would allow unqualified individuals to carry guns. Fallin's decision was met with criticism from pro-gun groups, who argued that her rationale was disingenuous and that similar measures in other states had not led to an increase in gun crime.
Despite the setback, the OK2A and other pro-gun organizations in Oklahoma continued their efforts to protect and expand Second Amendment rights in the state. In 2023, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and other gun rights groups applauded Governor Stitt for signing two important Second Amendment bills: the Boat Carry bill and the Constitutional Carry Cleanup bill. These bills clarified the language in the existing constitutional carry law, ensuring that law-abiding citizens could carry firearms without unnecessary government permission slips.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Governor Mary Fallin vetoed the Oklahoma Constitutional Carry bill in 2018.
The Oklahoma Constitutional Carry bill, also known as Senate Bill 1212, was a bill that would have allowed for permit-less carry of firearms in the state of Oklahoma.
Governor Mary Fallin vetoed the bill because she believed that the firearms laws currently in place in Oklahoma were effective and served to reassure citizens that those carrying handguns in the state were qualified to do so. She also cited safety concerns as a reason for her decision.
