Mr. Derby, Where's the Open Carry Provision You Attached?

UPDATE:  So rumor has it that HB3239 is dead, but open carry may or may not appear elsewhere later in this session.

You might recall that Rep. David Derby (R - Owasso) introduced HB3239, the Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act, not too long ago.

Fellow Oklahoman’s might have read in the newspapers or seen on News9 that Derby had attached an amendment to HB 3239. The amendment is supposed to include a provision to allow Oklahoma concealed weapons license holders the option of carrying a firearm in the open.

Because of a lack of evidence on the Oklahoma State Legislature’s database of all text that is submitted, a lack of evidence in the House Journal where all activity on the House floor is recorded, and a lack of evidence in my short e-mail exchange with his office, I’ve come to the conclusion that this was nothing more than public posturing in preparation for the November elections.

Why do I say that? For one, the issue of open carry in Oklahoma is quite a popular one. Many Oklahomans rightfully believe that the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution means what it says. While Oklahomans have conceded that right to a compromise of requiring a permit to bear a handgun and requiring that weapon to be concealed, that concession is seen by many as a baby step on the path to having our rights secured again.Oklahoma is one of seven states that explicitly forbid the practice of carrying a weapon in plain view. This is quite ironic considering that Oklahoma is seen as being an extremely gun-friendly state.

One of the main reasons for the support of a measure to allow weapons to be carried openly is to eliminate the possibility of being charged with a crime for the accidental exposure of a concealed weapon. As it stands now, with the right District Attorney you can be charged with a crime in the State of Oklahoma if the wind catches your shirt the wrong way or you reach to high for that box of cereal on the top shelf.

Another reason is convenience. With holsters as comfortable as they are, many people who carry a concealed weapon don’t bother to remove it when they get home. If they need to go to the street to get the mail, or they are working in their garage and a neighbor wants them to come by for a minute, then they have to find some sort of cover garment to stay legal even if all of their neighbors know they own and carry firearms.

...and that’s not even getting into the Constitutionally protected Right to keep and bear arms...

So why did offer a few explanations of why Oklahoma should allow open carry of firearms? Because this is exactly what Derby is trying to take advantage of by touting an amendment that (so far) does not exist. Derby knows that a majority of Oklahomans, especially those that make up his constituency, are for open carry. (According to the poll on the story about the amendment on News9’s website, it’s 90% in favor... but we all know that media polls are far from scientific.)

He also knows that the vast majority of the People take what the media says and run with it. If the media says that a bill has a certain provision in it, 99% of the People will not bother to research that claim... they’ll just go to the polls with what the media said in their mind.

The longer it takes for an amendment (that was supposedly already introduced) to surface, the more inclined I am to believe that this is nothing more than political posturing for November. After all, the People will only remember that News9 reported that Derby had attached an amendment to HB3239 that would allow open carry, but they will be unable to recall whether that amendment ever materialized. They will only remember that “he fought for our gun rights” — which is incorrect so far.