Omar Bennett
In 2019, Oklahoma's Republican Governor Kevin Stitt signed into law the controversial HB 2597, also known as the permitless carry or constitutional carry bill. This new law allows most people in Oklahoma to carry a firearm without a permit. In response, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and other opponents of the bill started a petition to repeal it. The petition needed 59,320 signatures by 5 p.m. on August 29, 2019, to qualify for the 2020 ballot. Those looking to sign the petition could find it at either of Representative Jason Lowe's law office locations: 228 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 630 in Oklahoma City or 525 S. Main St. in Tulsa.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Petition Name | Referendum Petition No. 26 |
| Petition Purpose | Repeal House Bill 2597, also known as "permitless carry" or "constitutional carry" |
| Petition Target | Oklahomans aged 21 and older, and veterans, active duty and reserve military members aged 18 and over |
| Petition Start Date | Monday, August 12, 2019 |
| Petition Deadline | Thursday, August 29, 2019, at 5 p.m. |
| Number of Signatures Required | 59,320 |
| Places to Sign | Lowe's law office locations: 228 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 630 in Oklahoma City or 525 S. Main St. in Tulsa; Oklahoma Moms Demand Action page |
| Supporters | Rep. Jason Lowe, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, Joshua Harris-Till, national president of the Young Democrats of America, Stillwater City Council |
| Opponents | Don Spencer, president of Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association |
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What You'll Learn
Where to physically sign the petition
In 2019, a referendum petition was filed in an attempt to recall HB 2597, which would allow for the permitless carry of firearms in Oklahoma. This bill was passed by the Oklahoma Legislature and was scheduled to take effect on November 1, 2019.
To physically sign the petition, individuals could visit one of two law office locations belonging to Rep. Jason Lowe, a proponent of the referendum:
- 228 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 630 in Oklahoma City
- 525 S. Main St. in Tulsa
Additionally, those interested in signing the petition could visit the Facebook page of Rep. Lowe or the Oklahoma Moms Demand Action page for more information.
Backers of the petition had until 5 p.m. on August 29, 2019, to submit 59,320 signatures to the Secretary of State's Office. Despite these efforts, the petition ultimately did not collect a sufficient number of signatures to get on the ballot, and Referendum Petition No. 26 was dismissed by the Oklahoma Supreme Court on October 7, 2019.
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The number of signatures required
In 2019, Oklahoma's permitless carry law, also known as "constitutional carry", was met with resistance from certain groups and individuals. To recall HB 2597, which would allow for the permitless carry of firearms in the state, supporters of the anti-gun-violence group Moms Demand Action joined Rep. Jason Lowe in his referendum petition. They had until August 29, 2019, to collect 59,320 signatures, which were required to qualify for a recall of HB 2597 on the 2020 ballot.
In addition to the number of signatures, there are other requirements that must be met for a petition to be valid in Oklahoma. For example, petition sheets must contain the names, addresses, and signatures of three primary initiative sponsors. Proponents of a ballot measure must also file a copy of their petition, along with separate copies of the measure's text, with the Oklahoma secretary of state and the Oklahoma attorney general. The text of the measure must also appear on the petitions. A ballot title, or a summary of the measure in 200 words or less, must be submitted along with the petition. This title is subject to revisions by the attorney general and challenges to the state supreme court if it is deemed inaccurate, biased, misleading, or difficult to read.
While the number of signatures required is crucial, it is important to note that simply collecting the necessary amount does not guarantee success. In the case of the petition against permitless carry in Oklahoma, despite the efforts of Lowe and his supporters, they were unable to collect a sufficient number of signatures, and Referendum Petition No. 26 was dismissed by the Court for numerical insufficiency on October 7, 2019.
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The deadline for signatures
The petition, introduced by Representative Jason Lowe, aimed to repeal the permitless carry law, which would allow Oklahomans aged 21 and older to carry a firearm without a permit. Veterans, active-duty military, and reserve members aged 18 and over were also permitted to carry without a permit. The bill also prohibited felons, those with domestic violence convictions, or anyone adjudicated as mentally ill from carrying firearms.
Lowe, working with the anti-gun-violence group Moms Demand Action, urged common-sense Oklahomans to sign the petition. He argued that the bill could lead to the state being labelled the "Wild, Wild West", with situations resolved through gunfire and gunfights. Joshua Harris-Till, national president of the Young Democrats of America, supported the petition, emphasizing that African Americans are disproportionately affected by gun violence and that permitless carry would result in more people carrying firearms with less training and accountability.
Despite the efforts of Lowe and other supporters, the petition ultimately fell short of the required number of signatures. The Oklahoma State Supreme Court provided clarity on the next steps for the petition organizers, who submitted all the signatures they had gathered to the Secretary of State's office by the deadline. However, the specific outcome of this submission is unclear.
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Who is supporting the petition
The petition to stop Oklahoma's permitless carry law, or "constitutional carry", has gained support from various individuals and groups. One prominent supporter is Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, who signed the petition and tweeted a picture of his signature, saying that a vote should settle the debate. Joining Mayor Holt in support of the petition are four members of the Oklahoma City Council: JoBeth Hamon, Nikki Nice, James Cooper, and Joshua Harris-Till, national president of the Young Democrats of America.
The petition was introduced by Representative Jason Lowe, who is working with the anti-gun-violence group Moms Demand Action. Lowe and his supporters face an uphill battle in a largely pro-gun state like Oklahoma, and they have a narrow window to collect the necessary signatures to qualify for a recall of HB 2597 on the 2020 ballot.
Lowe has received support from various individuals who have spoken out against the permitless carry law. One such individual is Joshua Harris-Till, who emphasised that African Americans are disproportionately impacted by gun violence and that permitless carry would lead to more people carrying firearms without adequate training or accountability.
In addition to these supporters, the petition has likely gained support from tens of thousands of Oklahomans who signed the petition, as indicated by Lowe's hopes to gather that number of signatures. The success of the petition in gathering enough signatures to qualify for the ballot reflects the support of a significant portion of Oklahoma's population.
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Who is against the petition
The petition to recall HB 2597, also known as the permitless carry or constitutional carry bill, faced opposition from several individuals and organizations. Here is a detailed look at who was against the petition:
Don Spencer, President of the Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association: Spencer was a vocal opponent of the petition and advocated in favor of the permitless carry law. He argued that citizens of Oklahoma had waited for over a century to exercise their Second Amendment rights and would not support efforts to take those rights away. He dismissed the referendum as a "political stunt" with "no chance of passing."
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt: The governor's office expressed support for the permitless carry bill, highlighting that it reflected the will of the people. The governor's office also acknowledged Oklahomans' support for constitutional carry during the campaign trail and through the passage of previous legislation.
Oklahoma Legislature: The Oklahoma Legislature, which passed HB 2597 overwhelmingly, demonstrated its support for the permitless carry bill. The bill's passage indicated that a significant number of legislators were in favor of removing training and permit requirements for firearm possession.
Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association: As an organization dedicated to protecting Second Amendment rights, the Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association actively opposed the petition. They challenged the legal sufficiency of Initiative Petition No. 425, which aimed to amend the Oklahoma Statutes and reinstate the licensing requirement for carrying firearms.
It is worth noting that the petition faced an uphill battle in a largely pro-gun state like Oklahoma, and the supporters of the petition faced a challenging task in gathering the required number of signatures to qualify for a ballot.
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Frequently asked questions
You can sign the petition at either of Rep. Jason Lowe's law office locations: 228 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 630 in Oklahoma City or 525 S. Main St. in Tulsa.
The petition, also known as Initiative Petition No. 425, State Question No. 809, seeks to repeal House Bill 2597, which allows for the constitutional or permitless carry of firearms in Oklahoma.
The petition needed 59,320 signatures to qualify for a recall of HB 2597 on the 2020 ballot.
The deadline for submitting signatures was 5 p.m. on August 29, 2019.
The petition was introduced by Rep. Jason Lowe and supported by Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, the anti-gun-violence group Moms Demand Action, and Joshua Harris-Till, national president of the Young Democrats of America, among others.
