Amendment That Would Allow Oklahoma Lawmakers To Carry Guns Removed

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Senate has removed an amendment to a bill that would have allowed state lawmakers to carry a firearm anywhere in the state of Oklahoma, including on the floor of the House and Senate.

In a bipartisan vote on Tuesday, the Senate voted 29-19 to strip the language from the bill. Freshman Sen. Ralph Shortey, R-Oklahoma City, added the amendment to the bill in committee, claiming he had received death threats since taking office in January. His proposal would have required lawmakers to successfully complete a firearms training course.

But Sen. Kim David, R-Wagoner, says her bill to allow federal prosecutors to carry firearms is different because they deal with criminals on a daily basis. After Shortey's amendment was removed, the bill passed 45-3.