State Senator Backs Bill To Allow Concealed Guns On Buses

Monday, December 21st 2015, 10:45 pm

By: News 9

Right now, people with a concealed carry permit can carry a weapon just about anywhere, but there are some places it's prohibited including city transportation.

However, one lawmaker is looking to change that.

So far in Oklahoma, nobody has been in trouble for carrying a gun onto a bus, and some people want to make sure it never happens.

"The Second Amendment does not stop at the door of a city bus,” state Sen. Kyle Loveless, R-Oklahoma City, said.

Loveless thinks allowing weapons on board could stop attacks before they start.

"Terrorists, gangs, people who want to do us harm are going to do it on our soft targets,” he said.

Senate Bill 19 would allow open carry on public transportation. It is currently against the law and is a felony.

"So as soon as you put one foot up on that bus and you have a firearm even if you are attacked unprovoked that you can still be criminalized punished with a felony offense,” Don Spencer of the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association said.

"I don't believe that Oklahomans would agree that just by having the possession of a gun on a city bus deserves to be felony up to five years in prison or a ten thousand dollar fine,” Loveless said.

So Loveless is working to change that, and he's not the only one. The Oklahoma Second Amendment Association also supports the idea.

"Even in the act of self-defense on a bus, if you pull a weapon out if someone comes in spraying bullets, beating up the bus driver you are illegal and you never even get the chance to claim self-defense, because it was a felony when you stepped on that bus,” Spencer said.

"Someone should be able to protect themselves if they feel attacked whether they're on a city bus, in their home or just walking down the street,” Loveless said.

Loveless said the bill has been requested, and they're moving forward with it. A hearing on the matter is in the works for February.