Bill prohibiting open carrying of firearms in parks, zoos, heads to senate

Please enable Javascript to watch this video OKLAHOMA CITY - Legislation prohibiting where one can openly carry firearms in the state sailed out of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Wednesday at the same time the state senate was hearing the state's permitless carry legislation signed by the governor hours later. Oklahoma's so-called "Constitutional Carry" legislation, HB 2597, was passed by the senate Wednesday and became the first law signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt since taking office.[1] However, as the senate was hearing the legislation, the house was also hearing legislation that would curtail where people could openly carry firearms. The bill, HB 2010, would prohibit openly carrying a firearm in parks and zoos. Republican house leadership said the permitless carry trailer bill was part of a compromise with Tulsa, Oklahoma City and the National Rifle Association. "That was part of a deal cut with the senate, wanting to deal with parks. Currently you can open carry and conceal carry inside parks and zoos. The deal that was cut with Oklahoma City, Tulsa, the NRA and OK2A (Oklahoma Second Amendment Association), is to get rid of open carry in parks and zoos. Continue to allow conceal carry in parks and zoos," said House Floor Leader  Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, who ran both bills. "That's part of the entire idea between why this constitutional carry bill is different than constitutional carry bills in years past, because there were significant concessions made by all parties to come up with something that's workable." HB 2010 passed with near unanimous support, 94-0, and now heads to the senate. While none opposed the trailer bill, Democratic leadership said Thursday it's evident the permitless carry legislation went too far. "What it told this caucus was that we're already seeing problems with the permitless carry legislation. and that it clearly went

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