Fellow Concealers-
If you are not aware, HB 2513 (Licensed Concealed Carry on Campus) has been stalled.
This is due to HB 2232, which proposed lowering the CCL age to 18. HB 2232 is illogical, as 18 year olds cannot even purchase a handgun. I chatted with Rep. Jason Murphy (author of 2513) who told me that 2232 does not have a chance of being heard on the floor as Representative Chris Benge (Speaker of the House), who sets the House agenda will not hear HB 2232. So for all effective purposes, HB 2232 is gone, and no longer an issue.
However, HB 2513 was headed to the house floor on March 6th, but got pulled due to 2232. The combination of these two bills scared some legislators, and caused them to drag their feet on both of them. With 2232 now dead, we must contact the following with regards to getting HB 2513 back on the agenda:
Representative Chris Benge (R) - Speaker of the House
chrisbenge@okhouse.gov
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd
Room # 432-D
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 557-7340
Representative Greg Piatt (R) - Majority Floor Leader
gregpiatt@okhouse.gov
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd
Room # 442
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 557-7326
Representative Ann Coody (R) - Majority Caucus Secretary
anncoody@okhouse.gov
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd
Room # 439
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 557-7398
Representative Paul Wesselhoft (R)
paulwesselhoft@okhouse.gov
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd
Room # 329
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 557-7343
We need to contact Benge and Piatt because they set the agenda, and Coody and Wesselhoft because they are opposed to 2513. Please contact each of them, preferably by multiple mediums (phone, email, mail) and urge them to get HB 2513 back on the agenda. Please also continue to contact your local representative and discuss why you should have the right to protect yourself on campus.
With HB 2232 dead we can hopefully now get HB 2513 back on the House schedule.
Keep fighting the good fight.
Heath Flowers
Senior MIS and Energy Management Student
The University of Oklahoma
Email: heathflowers@gmail.com
Please send the following to Representative Benge and Piatt:
Representatives Benge and Piatt,
As a student enrolled at _________________, I ask that you please Resurrect HB 2513, and get it back on the House agenda. I have a CCL and I am stripped of my right to self defense the instant I step on university property. Self defense is the most fundamental natural right, and you must act now to ensure that the students on campuses who have CCL's can have this right. I am sure you are aware of the other benefits of this bill, such as crime deterrence. Do coyotes try to attack porcupines?
Please, please get HB 2513 back on track. The lives of thousands of college students across the state depend on you.
Thanks for your time-
Your Name
OR:
Dear ______________,
I am writing this email as a concerned student at the _____________________. As a responsible firearm owner and law abiding citizen, I feel that HB 2513 needs to be put back into action. There is no denying that school shootings seem to be occurring more often now, so it would be advantageous to allow CCW holders the opportunity to defend their lives and the lives of others while on campus.
There has been much debate over the issue recently, but the facts still stand: gun-free zones only disarm those citizens who obey the law. Law enforcement officers do their best, but cannot be everywhere at any time, so we put faith in our fellow citizens to prevent violent college shootings.
I urge you to support the reinstatement of HB 2513. Please allow law abiding student citizens the opportunity to defend their lives.
Thank you,
Name