State of Oklahoma Archives: on Gun Control

Josh Breechen: Allow armed stand-your-ground in churches

Tulsa World analysis: A state lawmaker citing extensively from the Bible urged churchgoers and other people of faith to arm themselves against "knuckleheads" and "evil people" as a bill extending stand-your-ground immunity to places of worship passed the Oklahoma House. "Why should we give an open shooting gallery to whoever wants to come in and do whatever they will?" Rep. John Bennett. "It clearly states in the Bible to defend ourselves.... Jesus was not a pacifist."

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 42-1-4 on Apr/12/18; State Sen. Josh Breechen voted YES; Passed House 68-24-8 on Apr/30/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/7/18

Abby Broyles: Supports universal background checks; against confiscation

Chris Powell: Absolute right to gun ownership

A: Strongly support.

Drew Edmondson: Long history of being an advocate of the Second Amendment

Ervin Yen: Opposed permitless carry bill

Ervin Yen: Allow armed stand-your-ground in churches

Tulsa World analysis: A state lawmaker citing extensively from the Bible urged churchgoers and other people of faith to arm themselves against "knuckleheads" and "evil people" as a bill extending stand-your-ground immunity to places of worship passed the Oklahoma House. "Why should we give an open shooting gallery to whoever wants to come in and do whatever they will?" Rep. John Bennett. "It clearly states in the Bible to defend ourselves.... Jesus was not a pacifist."

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 42-1-4 on Apr/12/18; State Sen. Ervin Yen voted YES; Passed House 68-24-8 on Apr/30/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/7/18

Gary Richardson: Completely supportive of the Second Amendment

James Inhofe: Opposes more gun restrictions

Inhofe: Strongly Disagree

James Lankford: Uphold Constitution and our Second Amendment rights

Joan Farr: Supports 2nd amendment, especially with the pandemic

Joe Maldonado: Absolute right to gun ownership

A: Yes.

Joe Dorman: Ok for school employees to carry handguns in school

• Authorizes the board of education of a school district to allow school personnel to carry handguns into an elementary or secondary school
• Requires school personnel who seek to carry a handgun to undergo a minimum of 120 hours of specialized training
• Requires school personnel to undergo annual re-certification training for a minimum of 8 hours per year
• Requires the board of education of a school district to pay all necessary training expenses associated with the specified training program.

Joe Dorman: Co-sponsored "Stand Your Ground Law"

Vote to pass a bill that allows private citizens to use deadly force if they feel their property, lives, or the life of a family member is threatened by an intruder or attacker in their private residence, private vehicle or in public areas. The bill specifies that those who use deadly force in such circumstances are "immune from criminal prosecution and civil action." Source: Vote Smart's Synopsis of Oklahoma Legislative voting records May 26, 2008

Joy Hofmeister: I'm an Oklahoman; I have a conceal and carry permit

What's her stance on gun control? Has that changed since she changed from a Republican to a Democrat? "I'm an Oklahoman. I have a conceal and carry permit," Hofmeister said. "I grew up with guns in my family." Source: Tahlequah Daily Press on 2022 Oklahoma Gubernatorial race Dec 14, 2021

Kevin Stitt: NRA member who will fight for 2nd Amendment rights

Kevin Stitt will fight to protect Oklahomans' Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. He is a member of th e National Rifle Association. Source: 2018 Oklahoma Gubernatorial website StittForGovernor.com Jul 4, 2018

Mary Fallin: Veto constitutional carry: No handguns without a permit

Oklahoma's Republican Governor Mary Fallin vetoed a bill that would have allowed adults to carry handguns without a permit, angering gun rights groups.

Her veto of the gun bill dealt a rare blow to the National Rifle Association in a conservative state. But the proposal to authorize adults to carry firearms without a permit or training was opposed by law enforcement officials, who said it would weaken background checks and hurt public safety.

In a statement announcing her veto, Fallin stressed her support for the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms and noted she had signed concealed and open carry measures in the past. "I believe the firearms laws we currently have in place are effective, appropriate and minimal," she said. The bill is similar to so-called "constitutional carry" legislation adopted in a dozen other states.

The NRA blasted Fallin for what it said was ignoring her promise when she ran for re-election in 2014 to support a constitutional carry gun law.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle on 2018 Oklahoma governor race May 12, 2018

Mary Fallin: Allow armed stand-your-ground in churches

Legislative Summary: HB2632: Expanding right to use deadly force at place of worship.

Tulsa World analysis: A state lawmaker citing extensively from the Bible urged churchgoers and other people of faith to arm themselves against "knuckleheads" and "evil people" as a bill extending stand-your-ground immunity to places of worship passed the Oklahoma House. "Why should we give an open shooting gallery to whoever wants to come in and do whatever they will?" Rep. John Bennett. "It clearly states in the Bible to defend ourselves.... Jesus was not a pacifist."

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 42-1-4 on Apr/12/18; Passed House 68-24-8 on Apr/30/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/7/18

Source: The Tulsa World on Oklahoma HB2632 voting records May 7, 2018

Matt Silverstein: Support the 2nd amendment's right-to-bear arms

Noting his Choctaw grandmother, Silverstein said her stories of being thrown into a government boarding school and beaten if she spoke her native language, taught him that government can't be allowed to get too big or too powerful, while also helping him recognize the importance of supporting the 2nd amendment's right-to-bear arms. Source: RedDirtReport.com coverage of 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Aug 13, 2013

Mick Cornett: Supports 2nd Amendment; enforce laws already on the books

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said Friday that he is a "lifelong supporter of the 2nd Amendment." Cornett said, "We have laws on the books and we need to make sure we are doing our due diligence in enforcing them." Source: The Oklahoman on 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial race Feb 24, 2018

Mike Workman: Favors common sense gun laws

Workman's campaign issues are all in the right place: he's for income equality, a $15 minimum wage, expanding the Affordable Care Act with the goal of eventual universal coverage, comprehensive immigration reform including a path to citizenship, and automatic voter registration. He's unapologetically pro-choice and in favor of common sense gun laws, although in Oklahoma he might get farther by advocating the sale of assault rifles to fetuses. Source: Wonkette.com on 2016 Oklahoma Senate race Jun 26, 2016

Nathan Dahm: 2nd Amendment among most important in Constitution

[On gun rights]: "I believe that the Second Amendment is one of the most important, if not the most important provision in the Constitution," Dahm said. "It's our means of protecting every other right. Unfortunately, this means it is on the top of every tyrant's hit list."

"The founders believed that well-armed citizens would never allow their rights to be taken away by a tyrannical central government," Dahm said.

Source: State Senate press release on 2022 Oklahoma U.S. Senate race Jan 18, 2022

Scott Inman: Don't allow armed stand-your-ground in churches

Legislative Summary: HB2632: Expanding right to use deadly force at place of worship.

Tulsa World analysis: A state lawmaker citing extensively from the Bible urged churchgoers and other people of faith to arm themselves against "knuckleheads" and "evil people" as a bill extending stand-your-ground immunity to places of worship passed the Oklahoma House. "Why should we give an open shooting gallery to whoever wants to come in and do whatever they will?" Rep. John Bennett. "It clearly states in the Bible to defend ourselves.... Jesus was not a pacifist."

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 42-1-4 on Apr/12/18; Passed House 68-24-8 on Apr/30/18; State Rep. Scott Inman voted NO; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/7/18

Source: The Tulsa World on Oklahoma HB632 voting records Apr 30, 2018

Stephanie Bice: Allow armed stand-your-ground in churches

Legislative Summary: HB2632: Expanding right to use deadly force at place of worship.

Tulsa World analysis: A state lawmaker citing extensively from the Bible urged churchgoers and other people of faith to arm themselves against "knuckleheads" and "evil people" as a bill extending stand-your-ground immunity to places of worship passed the Oklahoma House. "Why should we give an open shooting gallery to whoever wants to come in and do whatever they will?" Rep. John Bennett. "It clearly states in the Bible to defend ourselves.... Jesus was not a pacifist."

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 42-1-4 on Apr/12/18; State Sen. Stephanie Bice voted YES; Passed House 68-24-8 on Apr/30/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/7/18

Source: The Tulsa World on Oklahoma HB2632 voting records Apr 12, 2018

T.W. Shannon: Right to keep and bear arms, without restrictions

• I believe in our Constitution.
• I believe the Constitution was written to limit the tyranny of our government, not to restrict the freedom of our people.
• I believe we are guaranteed the right to keep and bear arms, and that we should not restrict that right.
• I believe the private sector creates jobs, not the government.
• I believe government taxes too much, spends too much, and regulates too much.
• And I believe in the promise of the American Dream.
Source: Fundraising press release on 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Jan 29, 2014

Markwayne Mullin: No wiggle room: support assault rifle ownership

The two candidates said they would not support any gun control measures. "Most of the gun violence that we see is happening in Democrat-controlled cities, where they have some of the strictest gun laws and they're not keeping people safe," T.W. Shannon said [See factcheck disputing this]. "In order to protect your family, it's important to understand gun safety, but that does not start with disarmament from Washington, D.C."

Markwayne Mullin said Oklahomans "support assault rifles. We support the right to bear arms, without question." He said the Second Amendment's protection of the right to bear arms gives legislators "no wiggle room."

Source: The Oklahoman on 2022 Oklahoma Senate race Aug 2, 2022

T.W. Shannon: Most gun violence happens in Democrat-controlled cities

The two candidates said they would not support any gun control measures. "Most of the gun violence that we see is happening in Democrat-controlled cities, where they have some of the strictest gun laws and they're not keeping people safe," T.W. Shannon said [See factcheck disputing this]. "In order to protect your family, it's important to understand gun safety, but that does not start with disarmament from Washington, D.C."

Markwayne Mullin said Oklahomans "support assault rifles. We support the right to bear arms, without question." He said the Second Amendment's protection of the right to bear arms gives legislators "no wiggle room."

Source: The Oklahoman on 2022 Oklahoma Senate race Aug 2, 2022

T.W. Shannon: FactCheck: gun violence rate higher in GOP-controlled states

[T.W. Shannon said, "Most of the gun violence that we see is happening in Democrat-controlled cities." Is that true?]

Many prominent Republicans discuss America's gun violence epidemic [saying] that most shootings only occur in large cities in Democratic states, proving that gun laws make no difference. According to experts, however, it's an epidemic that touches rural communities just as much as urban ones, with disproportionate impacts on Republican-led states.

Between 2019 and 2020, Republican, largely rural states with low populations--MS, LA, WY, MO, AL, and AK--had the six highest per capita rates of gun deaths. These states also had the highest rates of gun ownership for the same period. In Mississippi, about half of adults live in a household with a gun.

The states with the lowest rates of gun deaths--HI, MA, and NJ--all were Democratic and have stricter gun laws. Rural America saw nearly the same spike in homicides as cities did in 2020, with deaths rising by 25%, .

Source: The Independent (UK) FactCheck on 2022 Oklahoma Senate race Jul 26, 2022

Nathan Dahm: Allow armed stand-your-ground in churches

Legislative Summary: HB2362: Expanding right to use deadly force at place of worship.

Tulsa World analysis:A state lawmaker citing extensively from the Bible urged churchgoers and other people of faith to arm themselves against "knuckleheads" and "evil people" as a bill extending stand-your-ground immunity to places of worship passed the Oklahoma House. "Why should we give an open shooting gallery to whoever wants to come in and do whatever they will?" Rep. John Bennett. "It clearly states in the Bible to defend ourselves.... Jesus was not a pacifist."

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 42-1-4 on Apr/12/18; State Sen. Nathan Dahm voted YES; Passed House 68-24-8 on Apr/30/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/7/18

Source: The Tulsa World on Oklahoma HB2362 voting records Apr 12, 2018

Jake Merrick: Expand gun rights for convicted felons

Former Republican Senator Jake Merrick is running to become Oklahoma's next governor in 2026. During his time in office serving Northwest Edmond's Senate District 22, Merrick carried measures to expand gun rights for convicted felons, restrict transgender children from using certain restrooms in schools and prohibit state agencies from requiring vaccines before delivering on services. Source: KOSU, "Joins race", on 2026 Oklahoma Gubernatorial race May 1, 2025

The above quotations are from State of Oklahoma Politicians: Archives. Click here for definitions & background information on Gun Control. Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2024 Presidential contenders on Gun Control:
	Candidates for President & Vice-President: V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA) Chase Oliver(L-GA) Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA) Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL) Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH) Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN) Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)	2024 presidential primary contenders: Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE) N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R) N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R) Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R) S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R) Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R) Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN) Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH) S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org! Click for details -- or send donations to: 1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140 E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org (We rely on your support!)


Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026