Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would allow people to carry a firearm without a permit.House Bill 2597 would allow people age 21 or over, veterans and active duty and reserve military members age 18 or over to carry without a permit. The bill prohibits felons, people convicted of domestic violence and people who have been adjudicated as having a mental illness from carrying a firearm.The proposed legislation, which was written by Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, passed on a 70-30 vote.HB 2597 does not affect current federal law, which requires a background check for the purchase of firearms at stores, officials said in a news release.“This bill solidifies the Second Amendment rights of Oklahomans while protecting private property rights,” House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, said in a news release. “We worked with private businesses, schools and college campuses to ensure that their rights are protected.”Private property owners and college campuses would be allowed to continue to set their own policies about carrying firearms on their properties.Fifteen states, including nearby states Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas, already allow some form of permitless carry.“Oklahoma has long had permitless carry, but only for citizens visiting from one of those surrounding states that allow it,” Echols said. “I am excited to give our citizens the same rights and trust that we have afforded those visitors for so many years.”The bill now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.House Bill 2597 can be read in its entirety here.

Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would allow people to carry a firearm without a permit.

House Bill 2597 would allow people age 21 or over, veterans and active duty and reserve military members age 18 or over to carry without a permit. The bill prohibits felons, people convicted of domestic violence and people who have been adjudicated as having a mental illness from carrying a firearm.


The proposed legislation, which was written by Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, passed on a 70-30 vote.

HB 2597 does not affect current federal law, which requires a background check for the purchase of firearms at stores, officials said in a news release.

“This bill solidifies the Second Amendment rights of Oklahomans while protecting private property rights,” House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, said in a news release. “We worked with private businesses, schools and college campuses to ensure that their rights are protected.”

Private property owners and college campuses would be allowed to continue to set their own policies about carrying firearms on their properties.

Fifteen states, including nearby states Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas, already allow some form of permitless carry.

“Oklahoma has long had permitless carry, but only for citizens visiting from one of those surrounding states that allow it,” Echols said. “I am excited to give our citizens the same rights and trust that we have afforded those visitors for so many years.”

The bill now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.

House Bill 2597 can be read in its entirety here.