Strengthening our 2nd Amendment protections

We passed several measures in the House this week that strengthen Oklahomans’ Second Amendment rights. With what is happening at the congressional level, this is more important than ever.

House Bill 1629 would preempt any attempt to infringe on our Second Amendment rights by passage of laws, presidential executive order or any other means.

Specifically, the measure declares that any federal, state, county or municipal act, law, executive order, administrative order, court order, rule or regulation ordering the confiscation of firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition from law-abiding citizens of this state is considered an infringement on the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution of Oklahoma.

The measure clarifies that it is the duty of the courts and law enforcement agencies to protect the rights of lawabiding citizens to keep and bear arms. It prohibits law enforcement officers from obeying or enforcing any order that violates the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution or our state Constitution, or the oath of the law enforcement officer.

Any retaliation against a law enforcement officer who refuses to obey or enforce any order that violates the Second Amendment is prohibited. The measure also prohibits the reduction of funding to any county sheriff’s office or municipal police department that refuses to obey or enforce an order that violates the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution or the Oklahoma Constitution, or the oath of the law enforcement officer or for making any county or municipality a Second Amendment sanctuary county or municipality.

A similar measure was passed in the Senate. The governor has been very much in favor of bills that protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Oklahomans, so I think it is safe to say these measures have a great possibility of being signed into law.

The Second Amendment has been fought for since the birth of our nation and is one of our most sacred rights. Citizens must be allowed to protect themselves especially at a time when so many of our liberties are being threatened.

While we fight to protect our Second Amendment rights, however, we want to ensure the language in state law still protects our citizenry from violent felons and delinquent youth.

On this issue, I authored House Bill 2401.

This measure makes it unlawful for a person convicted of a violent felony, or a felony requiring the person to serve at least 85% of a sentence, as well as any person serving a term of probation for a violent felony, to have in his or her possession or under his or her immediate control or at the residence where the convicted person resides, any pistol, imitation or homemade pistol, altered air or toy pistol, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun or sawed-off rifle, or any other firearm.

Any person that knowingly or intentionally allow a convicted felon or an adjudicated delinquent or a youthful offender to possess or have control of any firearm would face a felony charge and a $5,000 fine.

It restores the right of person previously convicted of a nonviolent felony and who has not been convicted of any other felony or misdemeanor offense for a period of five years to possess, carry or transport any non-semiautomatic firearm. It also permits the person to apply for and carry a handgun, concealed or unconcealed, or as otherwise permitted by law, and have the right to perform the duties of a gunsmith but not of a peace officer or for firearms repair.

This measure passed the House and now resides in the Senate.

As always, thank you for giving me the opportunity to represent you at the Capitol. God bless you, and God bless Oklahoma! If I can ever help you in any way, please contact me at Todd. Russ@okhouse.gov or (405) 557-7312.

Todd Russ is a state Representative for District 55, which includes Washita County.