A measure filed at the Oklahoma Senate aims to silence critics in the gun control debate who use public funds to get their word out.

The bill would ban the use of taxpayer money to lobby against gun rights expansion.

State Sen. Nathan Dahm's legislation covers all public employees, but on Tuesday he specifically cited attempts by universities and local governments to sway opinion about his bills and others filed by lawmakers. Those institutions regularly hire lobbyists to advocate for or against a broad swath of measures, and Oklahoma's higher education system has come out strongly against proposals that would, for example, allow guns on campuses.

If adopted, Senate Bill 65 could also prevent public officials from using taxpayer money to advocate for tighter gun restrictions.