gun laws

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has released their scorecard. Oklahoma's position? Tied in 43rd place beside Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Montana with TWO (2) POINTS. There is a three-way tie for last between Alaska, Arizona, and Utah.

So where did those two points come from? Well, in Oklahoma, you're not allowed to carry a firearm on a college campus.

Friends, tell your legislators they can do better! Let's shoot for a score of ZERO POINTS! (Don't worry, we'll go for a negative score after we reach that goal.)

According to Politico, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) plans to introduce new gun control legislation ASAP, possibly as soon as today. Apparently, she believes the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and 19 others on Saturday provides an excellent opportunity to pander to emotions running high.

However, look at the contrast of the reaction to this shooting and the reaction to the Fort Hood Massacre. After Fort Hood, we were told not to pass judgment even though Hasan had thrown up many red flags prior to his rampage. After this shooting, we are told that it is Sarah Palin and the Tea Party's fault even though the shooter's political leanings seem to be in the opposite direction. Anyone who subscribes to such a conflict is a bona fide idiot.

I'm sure everyone knows by now about the school board shooting in Florida. Here's a demonstration of the old adage "when seconds count, police are minutes away." (From the Daily Blender)

In what is being hailed by many gun owners as a major victory, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday in McDonald v. Chicago that the Second Amendment applies to the state and local governments via the Fourteenth Amendment.  However, four of the Justices concurred that incorporation should be done via the Due Process Clause, while Justice Clarence Thomas thought it should be done via the Privileges or Immunities Clause.

The Privileges or Immunities Clause provides that "No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States."

On Monday, the FBI released their crime statistics for 2009.  They once again showed that more guns in the hands of law abiding citizens means less crime.  The data shows that while gun sales soared between 2008 and 2009, murders dropped 7.2%.  That makes for a 10.5% drop since the "assault weapons" ban expired in 2004.  Additionally, the murder rate in America is at a 45 year low.

Meanwhile, those seeking to take away our guns gave a standing ovation to Mexican President Felipe Calderón's call to Congress to reinstate the "assault weapons" ban in the video below:

There is an interesting editorial from the Oklahoman today about Senate Bill 2230 in Oklahoma.  For those who haven't kept up, this is the bill that would allow people to leave their weapon in their vehicle on CareerTech (vo-tech) campuses provided that it is unloaded, locked with a mechanical device, and the vehicle is locked.

I am actually against this bill as it is written (the unloaded and mechanical locking device provisions).  Until the substitute passed out of committee, I was for it.

Anyhow, here's a quote from the editorial:

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.