Mike
Site Co-Founder
http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/a...ticleid=20120617_211_G1_CUTLIN249456&allcom=1
SNIP
. . . when our new open-carry law goes into effect on Nov. 1? Are conflicts between police and gun-carriers inevitable? Are protests, lawsuits, and other such ramifications on the horizon for us?
Even before the law has become effective, gun-rights advocates have made it clear they'll be keeping an eye on Oklahoma. Reacting to comments from some members of Oklahoma law enforcement, advocacy leaders have declared they "will be watching the police" and will take appropriate actions they deem necessary to protect the right to open carry.
After several failed attempts, Oklahoma lawmakers last session passed an open-carry law that essentially allows anyone who has a concealed-carry permit to also openly carry their weapon.
The legislation prompted a welcome note from OpenCarry.org, a national advocacy group claiming to have more than 28,000 members, which joined with the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association (known as OK2A) to also issue a warning.
"Though we are disappointed that the Oklahoma Legislature saw fit to require a license to open carry, this reform is still a great step forward for freedom and self-defense rights. But we are also alarmed that some Oklahoma law enforcement officials seem ready to hijack the license requirement as an excuse to violate gun owners' Fourth Amendment rights," said a joint press release from the two organizations.
. . .
OpenCarry.org co-founder and spokesman John Pierce had this response: "Earth to Oklahoma police: In the United States, guns are not contraband, and gun ownership is not suspicious."
The two advocacy groups called on Attorney General Scott Pruitt and law enforcement leaders to "ensure that all Oklahoma law enforcement officers are reminded that gun, or no gun, the Fourth Amendment requires at least 'reasonable articulable suspicion' of crime afoot before they may seize any person. And this goes for license checks as well."
Police may not seize or detain someone openly carrying a weapon "just to demand production of a license to carry," the two groups maintain.
Tim Gillespie, director and founder of the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association, declared: "We will be watching the police, and if need be, we will conduct open carry freedom of movement exercises and file lawsuits if we detect unconstitutional practices aimed at chilling the right to open carry."
. . .
SNIP
. . . when our new open-carry law goes into effect on Nov. 1? Are conflicts between police and gun-carriers inevitable? Are protests, lawsuits, and other such ramifications on the horizon for us?
Even before the law has become effective, gun-rights advocates have made it clear they'll be keeping an eye on Oklahoma. Reacting to comments from some members of Oklahoma law enforcement, advocacy leaders have declared they "will be watching the police" and will take appropriate actions they deem necessary to protect the right to open carry.
After several failed attempts, Oklahoma lawmakers last session passed an open-carry law that essentially allows anyone who has a concealed-carry permit to also openly carry their weapon.
The legislation prompted a welcome note from OpenCarry.org, a national advocacy group claiming to have more than 28,000 members, which joined with the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association (known as OK2A) to also issue a warning.
"Though we are disappointed that the Oklahoma Legislature saw fit to require a license to open carry, this reform is still a great step forward for freedom and self-defense rights. But we are also alarmed that some Oklahoma law enforcement officials seem ready to hijack the license requirement as an excuse to violate gun owners' Fourth Amendment rights," said a joint press release from the two organizations.
. . .
OpenCarry.org co-founder and spokesman John Pierce had this response: "Earth to Oklahoma police: In the United States, guns are not contraband, and gun ownership is not suspicious."
The two advocacy groups called on Attorney General Scott Pruitt and law enforcement leaders to "ensure that all Oklahoma law enforcement officers are reminded that gun, or no gun, the Fourth Amendment requires at least 'reasonable articulable suspicion' of crime afoot before they may seize any person. And this goes for license checks as well."
Police may not seize or detain someone openly carrying a weapon "just to demand production of a license to carry," the two groups maintain.
Tim Gillespie, director and founder of the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association, declared: "We will be watching the police, and if need be, we will conduct open carry freedom of movement exercises and file lawsuits if we detect unconstitutional practices aimed at chilling the right to open carry."
. . .
